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     Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Research Article   |   OPEN ACCESS

Framework to Harvest Waste Heat from Microprocessor using MEMS Thermoelectric Generator

1Tai Zhi Ling and 2Ong Hang See
1Asia R and D Software and Firmware Development, Western Digital Malaysia, Jalan SS 8/6, Sungai Way, 47300, Petaling Jaya, SelangorM
2Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Km7, Jalan Kajang Puchong, Kajang, Selangor
Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology  2014  2:396-402
http://dx.doi.org/10.19026/rjaset.7.267  |  © The Author(s) 2014
Received: April 22, 2013  |  Accepted: May 03, 2013  |  Published: January 10, 2014
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Abstract

The world primary energy consumption has been growing steadily. Therefore, there is a need to improve the overall energy application. There is a lack of investigation on harvesting waste heat from microprocessor as an alternative energy source. This study focuses on the framework required to harvest the energy from the microprocessor. Thermal profiling of the microprocessor integrated with an MEMS Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) using shunt configuration is developed. Additionally, a non-uniform energy model is derived to estimate the amount of energy that can be harvested from the microprocessor in the shunt configuration. MATLAB simulation based on the thermal and energy model is presented with two types of heat spreader material, copper and pyrolytic graphite with ideal and non-ideal contacts. The advantages and their shortfalls with respect to the microprocessor heat dissipation and the effectiveness to generate a temperature gradient at the MEMS TEG are discussed.

Keywords:

Energy harvesting, microprocessor, MEMS thermoelectric, thermal modeling,

References