A multi-layered thermoelectric power generator fabricated by stacking thermoelectric plates

This paper deals with a minor metal free, plate-type thermoelectric power generator, comprising an Fe plate with an Al layer. The dimensions of the power generator were reduced significantly compared with the previously reported power generator without decreasing the thermoelectromotive force, which was measured in the open circuit condition. A multi-layered thermoelectric power generator was fabricated by stacking up to five layers of these small thermoelectric plates. Stacking the thermoelectric plates in this way was found to be effective not only for increasing the thermoelectromotive force but also the efficiency for power generation, which was measured in the closed circuit condition. In this study, the maximum power was generated when the number of stacked thermoelectric plates was 4, and the value was 0.22μW at a temperature difference of 40 K. From the maximum power, the power density was determined to be 7.3Wm%3.