Abstract—A thermoelectric module using local minerals composed of a pair of p-type SiO₂-Fe₂O₃-CaO-SO₃-MgO-others and n-type MnO-Fe₂O₃-SiO₂-BaO-Al₂O₃-others bulks, copper electrodes, and thermal pads. Dimension of both legs were 1.0 cm width and length, and 2.0 cm height. Copper sheets of 1.0 cm width, 3.0 cm length, and 0.05 cm thickness were used to make the electrodes. Mica pads of 1.0 cm width, and 3.0-5.0 cm length, 0.2 cm thickness were used for the thermal translation from the hot and cold sides. For preliminary test, a built module was used for the electrical generation at room temperature in air. It was found that the open circuit voltage increased with increasing temperature difference from 1.3 mV at 4.4 K up to 31.0 mV at 116.0 K. While the internal resistance decreased from 512.0 kΩ to 265.0 kΩ. Results demonstrated that a thermoelectric device can be generated the electricity. Therefore, it can be used as an important platform for further research studies and development of the thermoelectric technology.

Index Terms—thermoelectric module, electrical generation, SiO2-Fe2O3-CaO-SO3-MgO, MnO-Fe2O3-SiO2-BaO-Al2O3

Cite: Watcharin Detkunthong, Kittiya Panphum, Wichuda Boonpong, and Weerasak Somkhunthot, "Thermoelectric Module Using Local Minerals p-Type SiO₂-Fe₂O₃-CaO-SO₃-MgO and n-Type MnO-Fe₂O₃-SiO₂-BaO-Al₂O₃," Jounal of Automation and Control Engineering, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 176-180 June, 2014. doi: 10.12720/joace.2.2.176-180