thermoelectric power

Thermoelectric power refers to the direct conversion of heat into electricity or vice versa, utilizing the Seebeck effect and the Peltier effect. The Seebeck effect generates an electromotive force (and thus an electric current) when two dissimilar conductors have junctions at different temperatures. This phenomenon is the basis for thermocouples, which are used for temperature measurement and in some special applications for generating electric power. The Peltier effect involves the absorption or release of heat at a junction where an electric current flows. This effect is utilized in thermoelectric refrigerators, which are compact devices with no moving parts used for cooling. Thermoelectric power generators convert heat directly into electricity, with the amount of power generated depending on the temperature differential across the converter.123