Military and aerospace, in a closed, hostile environment, rugged operation and reliable performance are the most important, and have been the main market for thermoelectric energy harvesting. Typically, thermoelectric devices use heat from engines and motors and use its power sensors and wireless sensor networks for condition monitoring applications.
This article will review some of the major avionics and aerospace applications that use thermoelectric equipment. For example, commercial and military aircraft powering sensors and sensor networks with thermoelectric generators to monitor aircraft damage can cause stress and structural weaknesses. In the aerospace field, the Mars rover, Curiosity, Galileo satellite, space probe and new horizons, the Cassini spacecraft are all TEG users.
Typical equipment will be considered to include TEG range from Chief Choi, and ETEC modules from Laird. Further consideration will be generated from the TEG energy management reference from the linear technology LTC3108 DC / DC converter.
Thermal difference
The principle phenomenon that supports thermoelectric generators (TEGs) is the use of electrical energy generated by the heat flow between two materials with a temperature difference. This is the so-called Seebeck effect. Larger differences can produce more energy.
in conclusion
Utilizing the power generated by thermoelectric components The use of thermoelectric modules becomes a more attractive area of application, but especially in the military and aerospace sectors. These rugged devices enable the sensors and their associated communication circuits to be reliably powered and, in the long run, independent of batteries.