The Impact of Different Electric Connection Types in Thermoelectric Generator Modules on Power

Recently, there is a need for increase in energy efficiency and more energy due to increase in the human population and increased production with the development of technology. This pushes scientists to search for alternative energy.  In this respect, interest in renewable energy sources is increasing day by day due to the fact that it is clean energy. Thermal sources have some advantages when compared to other sources, which is why they are at the forefront of renewable energy sources. Today we make use of thermal sources in many fields ranging from greenhouse, fish breeding, thermal facilities, city heating and electricity production. When generating electricity from geothermal electricity conventional methods such as steam turbine-generator cycle are used as well as innovative methods such as semiconductor thermoelectric modules.  In the light of developing technologies and researches, we know that we can produce electricity using the heat that the thermal energy gives out while it is being transmitted from one place to another.  In this study, in order to shed light on the technological developments in electricity generation using thermal sources, Thermoelectric Coolers (TEC) which convert heat energy into electricity have been used. Two different TEC1-12706 and TEC1-12710 materials from the market were used.  The effects of the serial and parallel connections of these materials on the generated power have been observed. Following the experimental studies, the reactions of the different connection types of the TECs to the load were examined.  It was observed that the power values obtained from different TECs used varied according to the connection types, both loaded and unloaded.