Renewable Energy System Using Thermoelectric Generator (RESTEC)

Continuous variable transmission (CVT) systems are widely used in all-terrain vehicles (ATV). Over long runs, the sheaves of CVT generate sufficient amount of heat energy and get damaged due to friction between the sheaves and belt mainly due to clutch slippage during acceleration and deceleration. This further deteriorates the condition and performance of the vehicle, and breakdown is also discovered as a worst-case scenario. A novel method has been developed and implemented by creating a renewable energy system to maintain the temperature of CVT and improve longevity. The renewable energy system makes use of thermoelectric generators (TEG) working on the principle of Seebeck effect to utilize the heat dissipated from the exhaust chamber of engine which comprises of 80% of the waste energy of the ATV and is used for cooling the CVT.