Efficient standalone micro thermoelectric generator powered by low noise premixed combustion

The distributed backup power source is vitally important under emergency conditions. Micro combustion powered thermoelectric generator (μ-CPTEG) is a promising candidate as a distributed backup power source. This study innovatively designed an all-in-one configuration to develop an efficient, standalone, and silent μ-CPTEG. The newly proposed all-in-one configuration organically integrates air-preheating, fuel premixing, low-noise combustion, efficient heat collection, and smooth heat compensation and spreading. Such an all-in-one configuration creates a standalone μ-CPTEG with an overall efficiency greater than 4.2 %, which is much larger than those in previous standalone μ-CPTEGs. The present μ-CPTEG incorporates 8 TE modules, and generates an electric power of 53.2 W with a running sound pressure level of 48 dB. Such performance indicates that the average electric power per TE module reaches 6.65 W, corresponding to a TE potential release level of 80.7 % systematically. The overall efficiency, as well as the efficiency of heat recovery, combustion, heat collection, TE and combined heat and power, are explored in detail. Comprehensive discussions are conducted to uncover the dense fog of releasing the TE potential at a systematic level in an μ-CPTEG. The present study provides a concrete method to develop a powerful, standalone, and silent μ-CPTEG. •Powerful, standalone, and silent μ-CPTEG is developed by a new technical framework.•An electric power of 53.2 W with an overall efficiency of 4.2 % is generated.•The running sound pressure level is 48 dB.•The performance is much better than previous standalone μ-CPTEGs.•The energy conversion density of propane by the μ-CPTEG reaches 271 Wh/kg.