Thermoelectric Effect: Powering a House?

[Physiks111]

What type of temperature difference do you think you need to to power a typical house using the thermoelectric effect?

Suppose you could obtain a constant huge temperature difference, is there any other issues with powering a house this way?

 

[berkeman]

What type of temperature difference do you think you need to to power a typical house using the thermoelectric effect?

Suppose you could obtain a constant huge temperature difference, is there any other issues with powering a house this way?

What is the typical power consumption of a home? There are several sources of this information online.

What is the typical efficiency of thermoelectric converters? How does it depend on the temperature difference? How does the energy flux depend on the radiating areas at the two temperature reservoirs?

 

[russ_watters]

Temperature difference determines efficiency, but the power available depends on heat flux.

Other issues: Cost of the tecs. Cost of the inverter. Generating the heat. There is a reason nobody does this.