Design and Optimization of PC Thermal Energy Recovery Device Based on Thermoelectric Generator

Xiang Wang

doi:10.54254/2755-2721/2025.GL24482

Applied and Computational EngineeringOpen access

Design and Optimization of PC Thermal Energy Recovery Device Based on Thermoelectric Generator

Research Article

Open Access

Design and Optimization of PC Thermal Energy Recovery Device Based on Thermoelectric Generator

Xiang Wang ^1*

¹ College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, 310000

^*Corresponding author: 3220100435@zju.edu.cn

Published on 4 July 2025

ACE Vol.172

ISSN (Print): 2755-273X

ISSN (Online): 2755-2721

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-221-8

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-222-5

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Abstract

Low grade thermal energy generated during the operation of personal computers is often directly emitted in the form of heat dissipation, resulting in significant energy waste. Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) is an ideal solution for PC waste heat recovery due to their simple structure, lack of mechanical parts, and suitability for low-temperature differential environments. Inspired by the waste heat recovery scheme of the data center, this paper designs a set of PC waste heat recovery device based on thermoelectric conversion. This study used the method of combining experimental test and theoretical analysis. By building the PC waste heat recovery experimental platform, the temperature data and TEG power generation performance parameters of the CPUs were collected, and verified and analyzed with statistical data. The PC waste heat recovery system designed in this study can generate 7.98 kWh per year per unit; If applied to 1% of Chinese PCs (about 2.225 million units), the annual emission reduction can be equivalent to the carbon sequestration effect of planting 450000 trees. The experimental results provide a feasible technical scheme for the recovery of low-grade thermal energy.

Keywords:

Low-grade thermal energy, PC, waste heat recovery, Thermoelectric generator

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References

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References

[3]. CEICdata. com. (2024, November 12). China population: No of household: total. https://www. ceicdata. com/en/china/population-sample-survey-no-of-household/population-no-of-household-total

[5]. Ji H. W. & Chen W. Q. (2023). How Powerful is a Tree's Carbon Sink. Green China, (18), 74-75. http://www. greenchina. tv/magazine/detail/id/7995. html.

[6]. Li H. , Li J. , & Gong G. H. (2019). An optimized heat dissipation structure design for laptop computers . Computer Engineering & Science, 41(03), 446-451.

[7]. Su N. (2024-11-11). China clarifies for the first time the algorithm for power emission factors . China Energy News, https://doi. org/010. 10. 28693/n. cnki. nshca. 2024. 001514

Cite this article

Wang,X. (2025). Design and Optimization of PC Thermal Energy Recovery Device Based on Thermoelectric Generator. Applied and Computational Engineering,172,61-67.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of CONF-FMCE 2025 Symposium: Semantic Communication for Media Compression and Transmission

ISBN: 978-1-80590-221-8(Print) / 978-1-80590-222-5(Online)

Editor: Anil Fernando

Conference website: https://2025.conffmce.org/glasgow.html

Conference date: 24 October 2025

Series: Applied and Computational Engineering

Volume number: Vol.172

ISSN: 2755-2721(Print) / 2755-273X(Online)

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