The Thermoambient Generator uses special thermoelectric modules, type
HETM - High Efficiency Thermoelectric Module to transform ambient heat into electrical energy. The power of each generator depends on the amount of modules installed inside it. Unlike traditional thermoelectric modules (TEGs), HETM type modules do not need a "cold source" (heatsink) to turn heat into electricity. HETMs use the
Seebeck effect and the Thomson effect, taking into account Coulomb"s law, but in an unprecedented and innovative way. So, unlike traditional thermoelectric modules, MTAE do not need a cold source to turn heat into electricity. Only a hot source is needed, which can even be the temperature of the environment itself.
The second important feature of MTAE is that it has a very high energy efficiency. This is possible because the MTAE's thermocouples have a device that simulates a negative temperature at the special junctions that, traditionally, would be connected to a cold source (to a heatsink). So even if these special junctions are at room temperature, the negative temperature simulator makes the electrons at these junctions behave as if they are below room temperature. This special feature creates a virtual, negative ΔT, ensuring high energy efficiency because it makes the heat losses that occur in the cold source of traditional thermoelectric modules (TEGs) impossible.
In addition to converting ambient heat into electricity, the thermoambient generator can also convert heat from any other source, regardless of its temperature. The only limit is the maximum and minimum operating temperature of the semiconductor materials used in HETM.
See details of how
HETM - High Efficiency Thermoelectric Module works.