Developing a Portable Thermal Electric Battery

School Name

Center for Advanced Technical Studies

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Consumer Science

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

Batteries are harmful to the environment, releasing harmful chemicals that can endanger plants and animals. A thermal electric battery is a non-toxic battery that is portable and can be used at anytime to generate portable electricity. If the thermal electric battery works properly when using a Zippo™ hand warmer or Hothands™ hand warmer, then it will be able to produce enough electricity to charge a phone or even power a small light. The prototype battery is tested by using a constructed plastic box that has multiple thermal electric generators (TEGs) secured in the walls so that the hot side is able to heat up by having a Zippo and Hot Hands and the battery is hooked up in a series circuit to bring the voltage output higher. The battery is tested by using a Spark device through the graphing of the average DC voltage output over time. The voltage output is around .3 to .5 volts over a 24hr period. In conclusion, the battery cannot generate enough voltage to power a phone or small light at this point in the prototype development. More TEGs must implemented into the design in order to increase voltage significantly. In future work, there will be additional prototypes that are able to produce even higher voltages and then the battery will begin to shrink into a small battery that can be transported easily.

Location

Founders Hall 255 A

Start Date

3-30-2019 9:00 AM

Presentation Format

Oral Only

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 30th, 9:00 AM

Developing a Portable Thermal Electric Battery

Founders Hall 255 A

Batteries are harmful to the environment, releasing harmful chemicals that can endanger plants and animals. A thermal electric battery is a non-toxic battery that is portable and can be used at anytime to generate portable electricity. If the thermal electric battery works properly when using a Zippo™ hand warmer or Hothands™ hand warmer, then it will be able to produce enough electricity to charge a phone or even power a small light. The prototype battery is tested by using a constructed plastic box that has multiple thermal electric generators (TEGs) secured in the walls so that the hot side is able to heat up by having a Zippo and Hot Hands and the battery is hooked up in a series circuit to bring the voltage output higher. The battery is tested by using a Spark device through the graphing of the average DC voltage output over time. The voltage output is around .3 to .5 volts over a 24hr period. In conclusion, the battery cannot generate enough voltage to power a phone or small light at this point in the prototype development. More TEGs must implemented into the design in order to increase voltage significantly. In future work, there will be additional prototypes that are able to produce even higher voltages and then the battery will begin to shrink into a small battery that can be transported easily.