Generation of electricity from deep-sea hydrothermal vents with a thermoelectric converter. (15th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xie, Yu; Wu, Shi-jun; Yang, Can-jun
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 164(2016)
• Page Start: 620
• Page End: 627
• Publication Date: 2016-02-15
• Subjects: Hydrothermal fluid -- Energy conversion -- Thermoelectric generator -- Seafloor observation; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.12.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: We developed a thermoelectric converter (TEC) to harvest hydrothermal energy. The TEC was deployed at the Dragon Flag Field along the Southwest Indian Ridge. The TEC obtained a sustained power of 2.6–3.9 W during the field test. The TEC can make the thermal energy of hydrothermal fluids a viable power source. Abstract: The high temperatures of sea-floor hydrothermal vents make them good targets for the exploitation of thermal energy. Taking advantage of this prospect, this study developed a thermoelectric converter that harvests thermal energy from hydrothermal fluids through a heat pipe and converts heat to electrical energy with thermoelectric generators. A power management system that enables the thermoelectric converter to continuously power a data logger and a light-emitting diode lamp was also proposed. The thermoelectric converter was field tested at a deep-sea hydrothermal vent with a depth of 2765 m at the Dragon Flag Field along the Southwest Indian Ridge. With the use of the thermal gradient between hydrothermal fluids and seawater, the thermoelectric converter obtained a sustained power of 2.6–3.9 W during the field test. Our results demonstrate that the thermal energy of hydrothermal fluids can be an alternative renewable power source for seabed observation equipment that requires watt-level power.