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The Caframo Ecofan™ is a heat powered fan
designed to circulate the warm air created by a wood
stove. This fan does not use any batteries or wall cords.
These fans have a thermoelectric module which acts as a
small generator to power the fan's motor. When this
generator module experiences a heat differential between
it's top and bottom surfaces, it pumps out electricity.
The bottom surface of the module is heated by the base of
the fan, while the top of the module is kept cooler by the
fan's top cooling fins.
The Seebeck Effect
The generator module is a unique
semiconductor device that relies upon the Seebeck effect
to generate electricity. When two dissimilar
semiconductors (p-type and n-type) at the same temperature
are connected together they establish a static electric
potential difference. With the introduction of a
temperature difference heat flows across the joined
semiconductors which in turn permits electrons to flow.
With the electron flow or current comes the ability to
power electrical devices such as the fan's motor.
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