Thermoelectric generators TEG

To ensure effective cathodic protection (CP) of gas pipelines in the remote arctic regions of Russia shown in Fig.l, where it would be uneconomic to run power lines and where conventional techniques such as small gas or diesel generators, wind and solar power plants fail, it is possible to use thermoelectric converters of heat into electricity and based on them standalone thermoelectric generators (TEG). 

The primary circuit (circuit I) with natural circulation of the coolant (water with a pressure of 19.6 MPa specially treated to meet specified water chemistry conditions) transports heat from the core to the thermoelectric generator (TEG) modules cooled by the circuit II coolant (water with a pressure of 0.36 MPa). The TEG consists of eight thermoelectric units, each housing 36 annular tube modules. The latter are electric current generators based on semi-conductors and operating due to a difference in the temperatures of the circuit I and II coolants. 

Circuit I (reactor coolant circuit) removes heat from the fuel elements and transfers it through natural circulation to the hot joints of the thermoelectric generator (TEG) thermal elements the coolant is water specially treated according to specified water chemistry conditions ... 

A thermoelectric generator (TEG) is used as a heat exchanger between circuits I and II it is based on semiconductor thermo-elements enabling the generation of 68 kW of power in the reactor nominal operating mode simultaneously with heat transfer to circuit II. This power is used for the plant auxiliary needs it could also be supplied to a small town without district power supply, partially replacing a diesel power plant. 

TEG Thermoelectric generator. A general term for describing an electrical generator that... 

I - Circuit I depressurization II - Circuit II depressurization III - Circuit III depressurization (a) before TEGs (b) area of TEGs TEG - Thermoelectric generator NC - natural convection FC - forced circulation... 

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