Heat energy harvesting by utilizing waste heat with small temperature differences between heat source and sink

In this review work, energy harvesting methods for waste heat with small temperature differences between heat source and sink are discussed. At present, many methods are tried and employed to utilize this type of waste heat. A typical example is found in a conventional power generation system. By utilizing this type of waste heat, additional energy can be produced in regular power generation systems. Up to this point, two energy harvesting methods have been introduced and applied for the use with this type of waste heat. One is a method using an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) while the other is a method using a thermoelectric generation (TEG). An ORC is a Rankine cycle that can be applied to this type of waste heat using organic fluids such as refrigerants as working fluids instead of water used in a typical Ranking cycle. On the other hand, a TEG utilizes Peltier, Seebeck, and Thomson effects caused by the temperature difference between the heat source and sink for energy harvesting. In this work, various aspects associated with the use ORC and TEG for waste heat harvesting with small temperature differences between the heat source and sink.