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From: commgrp@silver.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Russian Thermoelectric Generator
Message-ID: <24300001@silver>
Date: Fri, 27-Feb-87 15:44:00 EST
Article-I.D.: silver.24300001
Posted: Fri Feb 27 15:44:00 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 1-Mar-87 13:48:31 EST
Organization: Indiana University BACS, Bloomington
Lines: 24
Nf-ID: #N:silver:24300001:000:846
Nf-From: silver.bacs.indiana.edu!commgrp    Feb 27 15:44:00 1987




During World War II, the Soviet Union manufactured a thermoelectric
generator which was used to charge lead-acid batteries for radios.  It
replaced the chimney of a kerosene lamp, and looked like a radial array
of fins.  There was a sketch of one in an old (circa 1960) POPULAR
ELECTRONICS article about radio jamming.

Does anyone know details of this device?  One might surmise that it was
an array of high-current thermocouples, probably made of inexpensive
materials, e.g., iron and copper, but it must have produced at least 2.2
volts.

A device called the "Compact Silent Generator" now being marketed in the
US generates 5 watts at 12 v., probably contains Peltier semiconductor
refrigeration units operating in reverse.  It's a nice gadget but $119
is too much!

Frank Reid
PO Box 5283
Bloomington IN 47402

reid@gold.bacs.indiana.edu