Boosting thermoelectric power generation with black body coatings and oil thermal storage tank

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are a sustainable way to transform waste heat into electricity, with applications including waste heat recovery, renewable energy, and industrial exhaust gas systems. Despite their promise, TEGs' modest power output limits their widespread implementation. This paper describes an engineering solution for improving TEG performance by using solar energy as the major heat source and including an oil tank as a thermal energy storage device. The change entails transforming the hot surface of commercial and standard TEG modules into a blackbody surface to increase heat absorption. Unlike traditional settings, this study investigates the combined impact of black-coated surfaces and an oil tank on the hot side to optimize heat input. This technique provides a cost-effective and ecologically responsible option for increasing TEG efficiency. To proceed, a regular commercial TEG module, a TEG module with black body film, and a TEG module with both black body film combined with an oil tank are studied under the same conditions. The output power density and temperature differential of each arrangement were measured and compared. Replacing the white surface on the hot side of the TEG module with a blackbody surface boosted power density by 1500 mW/m 2 , reaching 2250 mW/m 2 . Adding an oil tank to the black surface increased the output to 3500 mW/m 2 . These enhancements emphasize the potential of TEGs to greatly boost power output, notably in solar-powered systems and industrial waste heat recovery applications aiming at sustainable energy production. • TEG output improved by 157 % using black body film and vegetable oil container. • Black-coated TEG surfaces boost solar heat absorption and storage efficiency. • Hybrid TEG system achieves 3500 mW/m 2 from 1500 mW/m 2 baseline performance. • Oil-enhanced TEGs show strong potential for waste heat recovery applications. • Cost-effective and green method to optimize TEGs for industrial energy reuse.