Iceland’s harsh climate limits the number of harvestable cultivars that can be grown outdoors. Wh... more Iceland’s harsh climate limits the number of harvestable cultivars that can be grown outdoors. While Icelandic heated greenhouses enable a larger variety of crops to be grown, their upkeep is labor and resource intensive, and the associated costs can be prohibitive. Professor Robert Dell, Director of the Laboratory for Energy Reclamation and Innovation (LERI) at the Cooper Union has developed an intensive cascade utilization system using waste steam condensate and hot water as a working fluid that creates an outdoor shallow network of plastic pipes for heating garden soil. This research and development, which began in 2007 in New York City and 2009 in Iceland, compares plant growth between heated and control gardens. Previous studies’ test beds used municipal district heated wastewater, waste fluid from a geothermal heated swimming pool, and waste hot water from a traditional heated greenhouse. This paper analyzes the results of enhanced outdoor crop production using a new small-sca...
A small-scale thermoelectric generator (TEG) system produces a power of 1.43 W at a temperature d... more A small-scale thermoelectric generator (TEG) system produces a power of 1.43 W at a temperature differential between the thermoelectric module (TEM) surfaces of 70.00°C. This can cold-start a GSM locator and broadcast coordinates using an SMS message. Ultra-low power off-the-shelf electronics are combined to produce a reliable cellular signal and generate the coordinates, eliminating the need for dedicated GPS modules and reducing the total power consumption. A supercapacitor-based charging system was designed to store charge from the TEMs and discharge a constant 5.2 V to power the electronics. The system requires approximately 60 seconds from a cold start to send geographic coordinates. Designs for several cold blocks, used to generate the temperature differential for the TEMs, were investigated, including designs utilizing phase-change material (PCM) and water.
The authors have been developing and testing an enhanced system of heated ground agriculture that... more The authors have been developing and testing an enhanced system of heated ground agriculture that uses buried plastic pipes to cool waste hot water and steam from municipal, CHP, and geothermal sources. The average heat dissipation rate is 3.3 kW of heat per square meter in test beds under 50 square meters. Plant data indicates increased yields of up to 20% and the successful small harvest of cultivars in outdoor settings that are only native to warmer climates. A heated green roof in New York City produced a small cotton harvest and January pansies. In 2018 a small harvest of non-indigenous oregano and turnips was commercially test marketed in Iceland. Test results indicate that a larger scale study to determine economic viability is warranted.
A robust thermoelectric-based point of use power generation system with no moving parts that is d... more A robust thermoelectric-based point of use power generation system with no moving parts that is designed to be clamped onto the outer wall of a steam pipe with a temperature of 160 C plus was built and tested in ambient temperatures from 30 to 85 C. The system consists of a pair of assemblies mounted on opposite sides of a pipe. Each assembly consists of a hot block, an array of three thermoelectric modules wired in series and a cold block heat pipe system. The steel hot block creates a thermal channel to the hot plates of the modules. The cold block consists of a 35 centimeters long heat pipe onto which 41 square fins are attached with a spacing of 0.6 centimeters. The first iteration produced a steady state direct current voltage of 17.2 (open circuit) and an amperage of 0.64 (short circuit) after more than a year of continuous operation. Later versions produced 31.5 volts (open circuit) and 0.89 amps (short circuit), and 21.36 volts open circuit volts and 1.14 short circuit amps ...
A new energy intensive outdoor shallow system of geothermal heated ground agriculture was constru... more A new energy intensive outdoor shallow system of geothermal heated ground agriculture was constructed and has been tested at the Agricultural University of Iceland in Hveragerdi since 2007. The 5 by 10 square meter experimental heated garden and a 5 by 5 square meter control garden both have three different soil mixtures and depths of 10 and 20 centimeters (cm) depth over a piping system that is analogous to a heated sidewalk. A geothermal borehole supplies steam and steam condensate at temperatures from 100 °C to 125 °C. A traditional shell and tube heat exchanger circulates a mixture of water and automotive anti-freeze continuously throughout the year in a closed loop at temperatures between 45-65 °C. Soil temperatures at 10 cm range from 25-40 °C. A similar system in New York City is incorporated into green roofs. Both heated bed systems have extended growing seasons and an average seasonal increase in plant growth of 20%. In Iceland out of range cultivars grow in the heated beds...
The author’s patented thermoelectric generator system uses a steam pipe as a heat source and ambi... more The author’s patented thermoelectric generator system uses a steam pipe as a heat source and ambient cooling in an exterior location at the Agricultural University of Iceland. This produces up to 7.2 watts (W) steady state using 6 thermoelectric modules. The system has been powering a 3G webcam system since 2017 while it’s surplus power trickle charges 12 volt (V) batteries. New low power monitoring options originally developed for photovoltaic systems can be easily retrofitted for improved efficiency, additional and control options. The test results confirm the viability of a thermoelectric generator as power sources for security systems.
Geothermal bore holes and steam pipes are often in remote locations where normal powering methods... more Geothermal bore holes and steam pipes are often in remote locations where normal powering methods for monitoring systems are difficult due to distance from the electrical grid. Solar power options are limited during the winter months, and colder temperatures are detrimental to stand-alone batteries. The authors have successfully field tested their patented thermoelectric generator in Hveragerdi at the Agricultural University of Iceland. It was retrofitted directly to the surface of a geothermal steam pipe in less than 30 minutes. The generator can produce more than 5 watts (W) in steady state in an environment which has a delta T of 130 °C between the ambient air temperature and the surface of the steam pipe. Cellular video surveillance systems, rudimentary control systems, and small robotic systems have been powered while trickle charging 12 volt (V) 9 ampere-hour (Ah) lead acid batteries. Recent applications use a standard commercially available 3G mobile broadband connection with a low power modem for a web cam. The charged batteries can be used for peak power applications. Reliability studies are in progress and additional options will be investigated.
Thermoelectrics for Power Generation [Working Title]
This chapter presents an analysis of a point-of-use thermoelectric generator that is patented by ... more This chapter presents an analysis of a point-of-use thermoelectric generator that is patented by one of the authors. The design, implementation and performance of the generator for powering electronic monitoring devices and charging batteries is discussed. This passive generator has no moving parts and relies on ambient air cooling. In one iteration it produces 6.9 W of steady state power using six Laird thermoelectric modules (Laird PB23 Series, HT8, 12) when placed on a 160°C steam pipe with a 30°C ambient environment (ΔT of 130°C). The generator produced 31.2 volts (V) open circuit and 0.89 amperes (A) short circuit. It successfully powered two microcontroller-based security cameras, one with a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) and another with cellular connectivity. In another scenario, the generator produced approximately 6 W with a steam pipe temperature of 140°C and an ambient of 25°C (ΔT of 115°C). This second system powered LED lights, a cellularinterfaced video surveillance system, and monitoring robots, while simultaneously trickle charging batteries. A third installation totally powered a stand-alone 3G web security camera system.
Iceland’s harsh climate limits the number of harvestable cultivars that can be grown outdoors. Wh... more Iceland’s harsh climate limits the number of harvestable cultivars that can be grown outdoors. While Icelandic heated greenhouses enable a larger variety of crops to be grown, their upkeep is labor and resource intensive, and the associated costs can be prohibitive. Professor Robert Dell, Director of the Laboratory for Energy Reclamation and Innovation (LERI) at the Cooper Union has developed an intensive cascade utilization system using waste steam condensate and hot water as a working fluid that creates an outdoor shallow network of plastic pipes for heating garden soil. This research and development, which began in 2007 in New York City and 2009 in Iceland, compares plant growth between heated and control gardens. Previous studies’ test beds used municipal district heated wastewater, waste fluid from a geothermal heated swimming pool, and waste hot water from a traditional heated greenhouse. This paper analyzes the results of enhanced outdoor crop production using a new small-sca...
A small-scale thermoelectric generator (TEG) system produces a power of 1.43 W at a temperature d... more A small-scale thermoelectric generator (TEG) system produces a power of 1.43 W at a temperature differential between the thermoelectric module (TEM) surfaces of 70.00°C. This can cold-start a GSM locator and broadcast coordinates using an SMS message. Ultra-low power off-the-shelf electronics are combined to produce a reliable cellular signal and generate the coordinates, eliminating the need for dedicated GPS modules and reducing the total power consumption. A supercapacitor-based charging system was designed to store charge from the TEMs and discharge a constant 5.2 V to power the electronics. The system requires approximately 60 seconds from a cold start to send geographic coordinates. Designs for several cold blocks, used to generate the temperature differential for the TEMs, were investigated, including designs utilizing phase-change material (PCM) and water.
The authors have been developing and testing an enhanced system of heated ground agriculture that... more The authors have been developing and testing an enhanced system of heated ground agriculture that uses buried plastic pipes to cool waste hot water and steam from municipal, CHP, and geothermal sources. The average heat dissipation rate is 3.3 kW of heat per square meter in test beds under 50 square meters. Plant data indicates increased yields of up to 20% and the successful small harvest of cultivars in outdoor settings that are only native to warmer climates. A heated green roof in New York City produced a small cotton harvest and January pansies. In 2018 a small harvest of non-indigenous oregano and turnips was commercially test marketed in Iceland. Test results indicate that a larger scale study to determine economic viability is warranted.
A robust thermoelectric-based point of use power generation system with no moving parts that is d... more A robust thermoelectric-based point of use power generation system with no moving parts that is designed to be clamped onto the outer wall of a steam pipe with a temperature of 160 C plus was built and tested in ambient temperatures from 30 to 85 C. The system consists of a pair of assemblies mounted on opposite sides of a pipe. Each assembly consists of a hot block, an array of three thermoelectric modules wired in series and a cold block heat pipe system. The steel hot block creates a thermal channel to the hot plates of the modules. The cold block consists of a 35 centimeters long heat pipe onto which 41 square fins are attached with a spacing of 0.6 centimeters. The first iteration produced a steady state direct current voltage of 17.2 (open circuit) and an amperage of 0.64 (short circuit) after more than a year of continuous operation. Later versions produced 31.5 volts (open circuit) and 0.89 amps (short circuit), and 21.36 volts open circuit volts and 1.14 short circuit amps ...
A new energy intensive outdoor shallow system of geothermal heated ground agriculture was constru... more A new energy intensive outdoor shallow system of geothermal heated ground agriculture was constructed and has been tested at the Agricultural University of Iceland in Hveragerdi since 2007. The 5 by 10 square meter experimental heated garden and a 5 by 5 square meter control garden both have three different soil mixtures and depths of 10 and 20 centimeters (cm) depth over a piping system that is analogous to a heated sidewalk. A geothermal borehole supplies steam and steam condensate at temperatures from 100 °C to 125 °C. A traditional shell and tube heat exchanger circulates a mixture of water and automotive anti-freeze continuously throughout the year in a closed loop at temperatures between 45-65 °C. Soil temperatures at 10 cm range from 25-40 °C. A similar system in New York City is incorporated into green roofs. Both heated bed systems have extended growing seasons and an average seasonal increase in plant growth of 20%. In Iceland out of range cultivars grow in the heated beds...
The author’s patented thermoelectric generator system uses a steam pipe as a heat source and ambi... more The author’s patented thermoelectric generator system uses a steam pipe as a heat source and ambient cooling in an exterior location at the Agricultural University of Iceland. This produces up to 7.2 watts (W) steady state using 6 thermoelectric modules. The system has been powering a 3G webcam system since 2017 while it’s surplus power trickle charges 12 volt (V) batteries. New low power monitoring options originally developed for photovoltaic systems can be easily retrofitted for improved efficiency, additional and control options. The test results confirm the viability of a thermoelectric generator as power sources for security systems.
Geothermal bore holes and steam pipes are often in remote locations where normal powering methods... more Geothermal bore holes and steam pipes are often in remote locations where normal powering methods for monitoring systems are difficult due to distance from the electrical grid. Solar power options are limited during the winter months, and colder temperatures are detrimental to stand-alone batteries. The authors have successfully field tested their patented thermoelectric generator in Hveragerdi at the Agricultural University of Iceland. It was retrofitted directly to the surface of a geothermal steam pipe in less than 30 minutes. The generator can produce more than 5 watts (W) in steady state in an environment which has a delta T of 130 °C between the ambient air temperature and the surface of the steam pipe. Cellular video surveillance systems, rudimentary control systems, and small robotic systems have been powered while trickle charging 12 volt (V) 9 ampere-hour (Ah) lead acid batteries. Recent applications use a standard commercially available 3G mobile broadband connection with a low power modem for a web cam. The charged batteries can be used for peak power applications. Reliability studies are in progress and additional options will be investigated.
Thermoelectrics for Power Generation [Working Title]
This chapter presents an analysis of a point-of-use thermoelectric generator that is patented by ... more This chapter presents an analysis of a point-of-use thermoelectric generator that is patented by one of the authors. The design, implementation and performance of the generator for powering electronic monitoring devices and charging batteries is discussed. This passive generator has no moving parts and relies on ambient air cooling. In one iteration it produces 6.9 W of steady state power using six Laird thermoelectric modules (Laird PB23 Series, HT8, 12) when placed on a 160°C steam pipe with a 30°C ambient environment (ΔT of 130°C). The generator produced 31.2 volts (V) open circuit and 0.89 amperes (A) short circuit. It successfully powered two microcontroller-based security cameras, one with a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) and another with cellular connectivity. In another scenario, the generator produced approximately 6 W with a steam pipe temperature of 140°C and an ambient of 25°C (ΔT of 115°C). This second system powered LED lights, a cellularinterfaced video surveillance system, and monitoring robots, while simultaneously trickle charging batteries. A third installation totally powered a stand-alone 3G web security camera system.
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