Design, Construction, and Experimental Characterization of a Low-Cost Test Bench for Peltier Modules for Thermoelectric Power Generation

This study presents the design, construction, and characterization of a low-cost modular test bench for evaluating the performance of commercial thermoelectric modules in generator mode. The experimental system consists of a heating sub-system with power control (15–60 W), a water-cooling module with flow rate control, and an integrated data acquisition system for measuring temperatures and electrical parameters. The test bench enabled the characterization of the modules under controlled and variable conditions, generating the experimental data required for the validation of theoretical models. The results demonstrated the robustness of the bench in obtaining reliable measurements, from which conversion efficiencies in the range of 0.3–1.6% were calculated, consistent with values reported for low-power applications. This work emphasizes the importance of a well-instrumented experimental platform for obtaining accurate data to serve as a reference in the development of predictive models.