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Thermoelectric energy-harvesting concrete modules for multifunctional building elements
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DOI：10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2026.106648.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Concrete is widely used but typically passive in energy functionality. This study presents a modular thermoelectric concrete system that embeds thermoelectric generators with a copper-based heat-routing structure to guide surface heat. Laboratory tests showed that the heat-routing structure increased the open-circuit voltage by 61.2% under controlled heating compared with the thermoelectric generator without routing assistance. Under a temperature difference of 16.2 °C, a three-unit series configuration reached a stable open-circuit voltage of 246.8 mV. Outdoor tests demonstrated sustained seasonal temperature gradients, yielding peak voltages of 159 mV in summer and 42 mV in winter, while reducing the local temperature near the thermoelectric hot-side region by up to 10.7 °C, with an average daily reduction of approximately 4 °C. Embedding reduced the concrete compressive strength to 20.97 MPa, but the thermoelectric output remained about 22 mV even under 75% mechanical damage. A 0.09 m2 module harvested up to 7.5 mWh in summer and 0.375 mWh in winter. These values are upper-bound estimates based on open-circuit voltage under ideal load matching. Although modest, the harvested energy may support low-power sensing when combined with voltage boosting, energy storage, and intermittent-duty operation. The results demonstrate the feasibility of structure-integrated micro-energy harvesting in concrete at the module level, while further evaluation is still needed to assess structural compatibility and practical implementation in real infrastructure.
Keywords:
Thermoelectric concrete
Energy harvesting
Heat-routing structure
Modular system
Building elements
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