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Thermoelectric Harvesting Using Warm-Blooded Animals in Wildlife Tracking Applications

Author

Listed:
  • Eiko Bäumker

    (Laboratory for the Design of Microsystems-IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 102, 79110 Freiburg, Germany)

  • Pascal Beck

    (Laboratory for the Design of Microsystems-IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 102, 79110 Freiburg, Germany)

  • Peter Woias

    (Laboratory for the Design of Microsystems-IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 102, 79110 Freiburg, Germany)

Abstract

This paper focuses on the design of an optimized thermal interface for a thermoelectric energy harvesting system mounted at endothermic animals. In this application scenario the mammal’s fur reduces the heat flux from the animal’s body through a thermoelectric generator (TEG) to the ambient air. This requires an adapted design of the thermal interface between TEG and body surface, to increase its thermal conductivity without harming the animal. For this purpose the thermal conductivity through a mammal’s fur is determined with a specially designed heatsink. An analytical model is built to predict the resulting thermal resistances and is validated with experimental results for two different fur lengths. We show that an optimized design of the thermal interface reduces its thermal resistance up to 38% compared to a trivial design while lowering its weight for about 23%. It is found that the most important design parameter of such a thermal connector is the ability to slide into the fur.

Suggested Citation

  • Eiko Bäumker & Pascal Beck & Peter Woias, 2020. "Thermoelectric Harvesting Using Warm-Blooded Animals in Wildlife Tracking Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-10, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:11:p:2769-:d:365684
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    Cited by:

    1. Eiko Bäumker & Luca Conrad & Laura Maria Comella & Peter Woias, 2021. "A Fully Featured Thermal Energy Harvesting Tracker for Wildlife," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-21, October.

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