Heat Conversion into Electrical Energy

A brief review of the mechanisms and materials on the heat transformation dissipated in the environment into electrical energy is given. The main methods and directions of research in this field are shown. To a greater extent, the article is devoted to the transformation of low-potential heat by using pyroelectric materials. Here are given materials that can be used to effectively convert heat into pyroelectricity. The physical principles of conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy by polarization of domains under the influence of temperature changes are considered. It is shown that the pyroelectric coefficient of heat conversion into electric charge plays the decisive role. The main formulas for the calculation of current, voltage and energy are given, from which it follows that the charge energy is determined by the pyroelectric coefficient, the amplitude of the temperature fluctuation, the surface area and the thickness of the element. Generators of electric energy with small consumption currents, where thermal (temperature fluctuations) are used as an energy source, can be used in mobile installations, which include rail transport.

изменение температуры, пироэлектрик, спонтанная поляризация, пирокоэффициент, ток, напряжение

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