Reference : P2410700

Principle

In a semiconductor thermogenerator, the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current are measured as a function of the applied temperature difference. These measurements are used to determine the Seebeck coefficient, internal resistance, and energy conversion efficiency of the thermogenerator.

Benefits

• Open design provides a clear understanding of the system's operating principle and applications.
• Individual instruments are used for specific functions, avoiding a “black box” approach.
• The key components of the experimental setup can also be used to investigate the Peltier effect.

Experimental Tasks

• Measure the open-circuit voltage U₀ and short-circuit current I_s at different temperature differences, and determine the Seebeck coefficient.
• Measure the current and voltage at a constant temperature difference using different load resistors, and determine the internal resistance R_i from the measured values.
• Determine the energy conversion efficiency from the amount of heat consumed and the electrical energy produced per unit of time.