New iron-based thermoelectric junctions and thermoelectric generation concept

This article describes a new concept of the thermoelectric power generation from the immense low-temperature heat sources. The thermoelectric junction used is a new p-n junction consisting of Fe12%Al12%Si(p)-Fe12%Al(n) (% in weight) which exhibits a thermoelectric power as high as 70 /spl mu/V/K and relatively high electrical conductivity even at low temperatures, and which can be manufactured on an effective mass production basis. An important issue of this study is the heat-exchanger type multi-stage thermoelectric generation system. The theoretical approach was dealt with in order to organize the system so as to make the electrical recovery efficiency close to 80%.