Thermoelectric Energy Recovery From Power Amplifier Transistors

A thermoelectric energy recovery module (TERM) is proposed. The TERM seeks to generate electrical energy from waste heat of power amplifier transistors. The TERM consists of a thermoelectric generator (TEG), a heat spreader, and a heat sink. A fully-coupled thermoelectric (TE) model of the TERM is developed to predict the power generation and the thermal performance of the TERM. A first order prototype of the TERM and a measurement setup are constructed to demonstrate the TERM performance. Power generation values and junction temperatures of a heat source are measured at various source heat flows. The measured results are used to verify the predicted results and to demonstrate the TERM performance. Load resistance effects to the TERM performance are also investigated utilizing the TE model and the measurement setup.