Monitoring of electricity generation from exhaust waste heat and wireless data recording from a mobile phone in real driving conditions of a vehicle

Abstract This study is aimed to design electrical energy production and wireless data monitoring system by utilizing the working principles of thermoelectric generators from the exhaust waste heat of vehicles in traffic. In order to transmit the heat transfer in the exhaust pipe to the thermoelectric generators, a modular system has been developed in a hexagonal form that can be dismounted and mounted from aluminum material. Six thermoelectric generators (TEG-SP1848) are used on the aluminum module, and a heat sink is used to cool each thermoelectric generator. The voltage and current values of the electrical energy produced from the exhaust waste heat of the vehicle in real driving conditions are recorded with a special program written on the card on the system. Depending on the results obtained from the test drives, electrical energy was obtained at a maximum voltage of 9.8 V and a current of 0.32 A. This electrical energy obtained from the exhaust waste heat can be stored in the vehicle's existing battery if desired. In this way, since the alternator used for the electricity generation of the vehicle will be activated less, some fuel savings will be achieved in the engine, and harmful exhaust emissions will be reduced. In addition, the electrical energy obtained by this method can be stored in an external battery independent of the vehicle battery and used for various purposes when the vehicle is at a standstill or with a portable battery.