Thermoelectric power generation is based on the thermocouple, a simple device consisting of a pair of electrical conductors, joined at both ends, that produces a voltage when there is a temperature difference between its "hot" and "cold” junctions. Thermopiles are arrangements of multiple thermocouples in an electrical series. In these devices, the voltages produced by each thermocouple are additive. Therefore the output of a thermopile is equal to the number of thermocouples multiplied by the voltage generated by each one. The voltage produced by an individual thermocouple is generally quite small and in the low millivolt range. Our new technology, however, provides for incorporating an extraordinarily large number of thermocouples in an electrical series to produce a relatively large aggregate thermoelectric effect and a substantial power level usable in practical applications.

Importance of High-Temperature Operability

TwoPointEnergy's thermopile devices are designed to provide low-cost, efficient, and reliable thermoelectric power-generation capabilities. These devices are being designed for use at elevated temperatures up to 1,000°C/1832°F and beyond. This high-temperature operability of our devices is vital to thermoelectric waste-heat recovery in heat-intensive applications such as:

• Ceramic/glass/cement processing (up to 1,649°C/3,000°F)

• Metal fabrication (up to 1,649°C/3,000°F)

• Natural gas/petroleum/coal combustion for power generation (up to 1,427°C/2,600°F)

• Solid waste disposal (up to 760°C/1,400°F)

• Petroleum processing (up to 677°C/1,250°F)

• Wood/paper/pulp processing (up to 1,038°C/1,900°F)

• Automotive engine operation (up to 700°C/1292°F)

Additionally, primary power sources using concentrated solar energy, biomass combustion, and nuclear heat sources require operability and resiliency at elevated temperatures ranging from 593°C/1,100°F to 1,000°C/1,832°F.


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