Design and analysis of a thermoelectric energy harvesting system for powering sensing nodes in nuclear power plant

In this work, a thermoelectric energy harvester system aimed at harvesting energy for locally powering sensor nodes in nuclear power plant coolant loops has been designed, fabricated and tested. Different mathematical modeling methods have been validated by comparing with experimental results. The model developed by this work has the best accuracy in low temperature range and can be adapted and used with any heat sink, heat pipe, or thermoelectric system, and have proven to provide results closely matching experimental data. Using the models, an optimization of the thermoelectric energy harvesting system has been performed which is applicable to any energy harvester of this variety.

With experimental validation, the system is capable of generating sufficient energy to power all the sensors and electronical circuits designed for this application. The effect of gamma radiation on this thermoelectric harvester has also been proved to be small enough through radiation experiment.