A study on generating electricity by using exhaust waste heat in a diesel engine

Internal combustion engines are widely used in our day. Internal combustion engines first transform fuel energy into heat energy. Afterwards, approximately 30% of this heat energy is transformed into mechanical energy. Approximately 5% of the heat energy is expelled through friction and radiation, 30% through cooling and 35% through the exhaust system. In the present study, electricity was generated by using thermoelectric equipment and the waste heat expelled from the exhaust system. It was observed that as the exhaust temperature increased, the amount of electricity generated also increased. © (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.