How can we make computers more efficient? Computers using thermo-electric generators could mark a huge leap in energy efficiency. By using wasted heat energy produced by the CPU and GPU to get usable energy, we could save money and reduce the use on normal power sources. This phenomenon is known as the Seeback effect. When heat is applied to one of two conductors heated electrons flow toward the cooler conductor producing a small amount of energy. We can increase the amount of energy by putting multiple of these circuits in series. Thermo-electric generators rely on the Seebeck effect. The Seebeck effect is when heat is applied to one of two conductors and heated electrons flow toward the cooler conductor producing a small amount of energy. We can increase the amount of energy by putting multiple of these circuits in series. The Seebeck effect tells us that because of the temperature difference along the rod, electric voltage is created along the wire. This happens because certain materials like lead telluride, and silicon germanium have certain special properties.

To do this experiment, we needed a few things. We needed thermo-electric generators, alligator clips, volt meter, thermal paste , and a computer/hot surface. The computer that we used was the Microsoft surface Go 2. We will place a layer of tape on the back of the computer (where the CPU is). After, we will apply thermal paste on the thermo-electric generators, then stick them on top of the layer of tape. (The layer of tape is to prevent a mess when we take it off.) Finally, to secure it, we will place another layer of tape on top. We will do this with one thermo-electric generators at a time to record different data.

For our project, there was plenty of data we needed to recored. 

In conclusion, thermo-electric generators are not a good solution for saving energy. It took us three thermo-electric generators to produce 120 centivolts (1.2 volts) of electricity. This means that you would need 75 thermal-electric generators in order to save a quarter of the electricity that you are using on an average computer. In the future, if they find a material better suitable for thermal electric generators, this might be a better solution.

https://chat.openai.com/ - used to learn how to connect thermo-electric generators in series

https://www.watelectrical.com/what-is-a-thermoelectric-generator-working-principle-its-applications/ - How thermo-electric generators work

Credit to Stephanie Setiawan (NIcholas's mom), Annette Kneesch (Keaston's mom) for helping with explaining some of the topics.