Sensor enabled data analytics for an air conditioner waste heat recovery system.

Waste heat from Air Conditioner (AC) is neglected as a heat source for power generation due to its low temperature. In today's world, the demand for energy has increased, but the amount of energy that is available is less. Also, there is no viable option for effective utilization and energy conservation. This paper feature design and analyze the waste heat recovery system. The waste heat taken from the outlet of an AC condenser is concentrated and converted into electricity using Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) modules connected in a series-parallel combination. A duct made of an aluminium sheet is used to concentrate waste heat because it has a high absorption point. The data in terms of temperature, voltage, and current is sensed, measured, and analyzed under different scenarios with and without the concentration of heat radiation. After analyzing all the different combinations, the most efficient one is chosen. With the presence of an aluminium duct concentrator, the temperature increased by 28%. When tested with TEGs, with water at ambient temperature and an ice pack on its cold side, the temperature gradient increased by 40%, resulting in an increase in voltage of around 80%. Three sensors, a DS18B20 temperature sensor, a voltage sensor, and an ACS712 current sensor, were connected to collect real-time data from the waste heat recovery system, and an ARDUINO UNO interface was used to record and analyze the bulk data. Graphical illustrations are provided for analysis, and to improve the voltage and current output as per load demand, a power electronic converter unit is suggested to boost the voltage level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]