The explosive expansion in microelectronics, with a relentless drive towards smaller and smaller circuits, is accompanied by a requirement for miniature power sources. Thermoelectric generating devices offer a potential for meeting this requirement. In this paper an introduction to the...

A thermoelectric generator is a unique heat engine in which charge carriers serve as the working fluid. It has no moving parts, is silent in operation and very reliable. However, its relatively low efficiency (typically around 5%) has restricted its use to specialised medical, military and space...

During the winter months in regions where constant electric power supply cannot be relied upon, power may be derived parasitically from heating stoves. A proportion of heat from these 20–50 kW wood or diesel-heated stoves may be utilized to drive a thermoelectric generator (TEG) consisting of...