Temperature difference between two points in a conductor leads to an electric voltage generation. Is there any limit for the power generated by this method owing to the electric properties of the conductor in use?
In fact I have found a formula for a limiting electric power generated by electrothermal process that is equal to mc^2/tau, where tau is the relaxation time of the electron in the material, m is its mass, and c is the speed of light in vacuum. This puts a limit of about 90 watt.
Thermoelectric generators are an intriguing way to generate renewable energy directly from waste heat. However, their efficiencies are limited due to their thermal and electrical properties being dependent on each other. Nevertheless, their solid state scalable technology makes them appealing and even more efficient in selective applications.
Arbab - try http://www.electrostatics.org/images/ESA2013_H5_Seaver_Seaver.pdf.
A good introduction to the subject.
The current flow from hot to cold in a single conductor is limited to a proportion of the free electrons ( a strictly finite source approaching zero) unless some form of return circuit is provided - and that leads to a whole host of other complexities.
See this link:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318573241_Effects_of_temperature_in_the_performance_of_the_thermoelectric_devises_Power_generation?_iepl%5BviewId%5D=Dl1gex9GSuughNMCSTpIljN1&_iepl%5BprofilePublicationItemVariant%5D=default&_iepl%5Bcontexts%5D%5B0%5D=prfpi&_iepl%5BtargetEntityId%5D=PB%3A318573241&_iepl%5BinteractionType%5D=publicationTitle
Conference Paper Effects of temperature in the performance of the thermoelect...
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