VW Golf with exhaust thermoelectric power: +5% MPG

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by ConnClark

Okay here is the smell test on the 5% mileage improvement.

600W = 0.805HP

If it takes less than 17HP to operate a car the claims might be valid.

Note: This system only supplements the alternator and doesn't remove it.

For a car that size at an average speed of ~50mph, assuming city and highway travel, it would only need about half that in terms of power, probably less with more city driving and more with more highway driving. The bonus is that the output of this device scales with engine output.

[Blue Bomber Man]

I wouldn't compare watts to HP directly considering HP on an ICE is peak and doesnt translate directly to fuel consumption. Its a very rough comparison at best.

[allc0re]

Here's a product that uses TEC. It' is the reverse of what we are trying to demonstrate here, but it does run on 12V, which is handy for vehicles. Can this be reversed to generate electricity rather than consume it?

Freezone Elite CPU Chiller

[modmonster]

actually 3-5% is quite efficient considering that the ICE itself is only 20%. i calculated the possible energy efficiency for a steam engine generator from waste heat and it was in the same ball park.

[jjackstone]

TEC CPU cooler

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Here's a product that uses TEC. It' is the reverse of what we are trying to demonstrate here, but it does run on 12V, which is handy for vehicles. Can this be reversed to generate electricity rather than consume it?

The answer is yes.
JJ

[armygreywolf]

TECs are terribly inefficient, but in quantity I don't see why they wouldn't work, any area where your temperature delta exceeds roughly 90 degrees will supply enough voltage under load to make a TEC worth it's salt in a car. But from testing your talking the best efficiencies of MAYBE 3-5 percent...most of it is lost to internal resistance...they however work better at colder temperatures, this is something that might be beneficial in the liquid cooling system...just food for thought.