Experimental development of a novel thermoelectric generator without moving parts to harness shallow hot dry rock fields

Nowadays, geothermal energy in shallow hot dry rock fields is not exploited enough due to the high economic and environmental impact as well lack of scalability existing technologies. Here, thermoelectricity has a great future potential its robustness, absence moving parts modularity. However, efficiency thermoelectric generator depends highly on heat exchangers. In this work, novel experimentally developed, characterizing different configurations biphasic exchangers obtain low thermal resistances that allow maximum modules. As result, robust passive were obtained with 0.07 K/W 0.4 cold sides, respectively. The was built most effective experimented under temperature convection conditions, generating 36 W (17 by prototype 10 modules 19 6 modules) for difference 160 °C between source environment. Furthermore, experimental development showed it possible increase electricity generation more compact generator, since decrease number from increases 3.72% 4.06%. With research, feasibility whose working principle phase change been demonstrated, importance compactness maximize thus, power generation.