Utilization of thermal energy for power generation
Given Hungary’s natural conditions, geothermal energy could be of outstanding importance.
In contrast to the erratic output of weather-dependent systems, thermal power plants provide continuous power generation, similar to fossil fuel power plants.
The use of thermal energy for power generation presents numerous technical challenges; in response, we are currently developing our own innovative solutions in the form of experimental models.
Renewable energy sources are playing an increasingly significant role in electricity generation worldwide.
The potential varies from country to country; in our country, geothermal energy resources are quite significant.
There is an abundance of geothermal energy, but unlike in Iceland – where volcanic activity causes very high -temperature steam to erupt, which can be directly harnessed in turbines to generate electricity – we have thermal waters with much lower temperatures.
Thermoelectric energy conversion
There is a pair of thermoelectric effects, one discovered by the German physicist Thomas Johann Seebeck and the other by Jean Peltier.
Both effects are two sides of the same phenomenon.
The essence of this phenomenon is that the temperature difference can be directly used to generate electrical energy by heating the two ends of two different conductive materials to different temperatures, causing the resulting heat flow to generate an electric potential; and, on the other hand, heat flow (cooling/heating) can be generated directly using only electric current, without any moving parts.
This effect has been known since the 19th century.
This raises the question: Why don’t we use this everywhere?
Because the electrical efficiency of this effect is quite low – around 4-9% – it would not be economical to generate electricity this way.
However, in a device such as a heat exchanger – which operates on the principle of a temperature difference and whose sole purpose is to transfer thermal energy between two circuits – efficiency doesn’t matter. Whatever we extract as electrical energy is pure profit.
Another major advantage of Seebeck cells is that they are so-called solid-state devices – that is, semiconductor devices – with absolutely no moving parts.
They are maintenance-free; they require no more maintenance than the pipes through which the water flows.
Their service life is more than 100,000 hours.
In addition, because they have no moving parts, they are completely silent.
Our development goals & Vision
Semiconductor technology
Experimental models of semiconductor active heat exchangers.
Turbine concepts
Thermal-difference turbine concepts and tests.
Industrial Pilot Project
We are scaling up our current experimental systems into industrial-scale pilot projects and developing solutions that generate electricity from thermal energy more efficiently and cost-effectively; we plan to implement these solutions on an industrial scale in the form of pilot projects.
Thermal waters in Hungary
In many places in Hungary, thermal water with a temperature of up to 80°C is available; however, on the one hand, it is too hot for direct use in heating, and on the other hand, due to its mineral content, it is not typically mixed directly into either the swimming pool water or the heating water, so heat exchangers are used to allow the incoming thermal water to transfer its energy to the internal heating circuit.
However, we could use this heat cascade as a first step to generate electricity, since electricity has a higher value than thermal energy, and the “leftover” heat can then be used for heating.
Where is this used in practice?
We use this in electric coolers at the beach. A miniature Peltier element keeps the inside of the cooler cold, and it’s usually powered by a battery.
They are also used in places where a constant heat source or temperature difference is available, but there is no access to the electrical grid.
Examples include thermoelectric generators that can be attached to a stove pipe, which provide electricity for lighting, charging phones, etc., in places without access to the power grid.
Seebeck cells also provide electrical power in many spacecraft.
Where are we now?
We are currently building a unit with a rated electrical power of 1 kW, which takes in hot water at 70–80 degrees and cooling water at 10–20 degrees, and outputs DC voltage that can be used, for example, to charge a battery or, with an inverter, to directly generate 230/380 V AC voltage.
Details coming soon…
We develop the equipment in collaboration with Mes-Tech Kft.
Request for proposal
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