Integration of Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting with IoT-based Home Automation

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions is growing day by day, so this project focuses on using heat loss from electronic and automotive systems to produce electrical energy. The suggested system works by harnessing the Seebeck effect to harvest heat energy and transform it into electricity through the use of thermoelectric generators (TEG), wherein the difference in temperature of the TEG produces the output voltage. A cooling system is required to maintain the temperature gradient for generating voltage and improving efficiency. A boost converter is deployed to step up lower output voltage levels to usable levels, which supports low-power devices. To monitor how much output energy is being generated, an INA219 sensor is used to measure voltage and current, which is interfaced with an ESP8266 module, and the readings are shown live on an LCD display. An ESP8266 module is included in the system, which enables wireless control of electrical loads through a mobile application called SinricPro. The setup can be understood in three sections: one-part deals with generating energy, the second part deals with monitoring, and the other handles load controlling using IoT. A relay is used to switch on and off devices based on the signals received from the app. Meanwhile, the system keeps tracking the output values continuously. The system offers the feasibility of combining waste heat recovery with IoT technology, contributing to sustainable energy management despite challenges like low conversion efficiency and dependence on temperature gradient.