Generating Electricity From Heat
A Thermal Electric Generator, these devices produce electricity when heat is applied (the Seebeck principle). They usually are very inefficient, but can be practical in some applications. There’s the thermocouple, which is twisted wires of dissimilar metals, or the solid state type unit known as a Peltier module. This effect is reversible, generating heat and cold when electricity is applied. See the following resources:
http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/POWER/thermoelectric/thermoelectric.htm
http://www.green-trust.org/thermoelectric.htm
Professionally, I'm an IT Engineer (Executive Level) and Electronics Tech. Philosophically, I'm a Green Conservative, leaning towards Libertarian, and may have been a hippie in the 60's if I had been old enough. I live off grid, with Solar (PV), Wind, veggie oil fueled diesel generator power, veggie Chevy Suburban and have been teaching and living sustainable technology for over 10 years.
