Diesel Thermoelectric generator.

[Frogmogman]

The latest Yachting World carries a small piece on the Mobiltech Zeus 200, a diesel powered thermo-electric generator.

ZEUS 200 THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR

In theory, this sounds like a much more attractive proposition than a methanol fuel cell. Most boats already have a diesel installation, no worries about procuring supplies of the expensive own brand methanol, and this type of generator wouldn't seem to suffer from the same issues of short working life as the Efoy type kit. It sounds well thought out to be used in conjunction with solar or wind generation.

 

[wiggy]

I wonder what is costs and how big it is?

 

[ridgy]

The smaller one is 3.5k euro apparently

Zeus150

 

[newtothis]

I wonder what is costs and how big it is?

Assuming the picture is to scale, the display is 4.3" on the vertical, so doesn't look more than say 12"x12"x18".

 

[mjcoon]

My first question is how much power it yields; didn't think 200W would be worthwhile! And don't understand "200A/Day"; that's a weird measure.

What's that filler cap for, since an advantage is "uses safe diesel directly from fuel tank". I had expected that it would need cooling for a cold junction for the thermocouple; maybe there is a header tank for a radiator, but that would surely better being outside or in the seawater? (I see there is a reference to seawater.) Or is it combined with a boat heater?

The comparison table with a 3kW generator seems to be a bit skewed!

The blurb seems to be written by someone whose first language is not English...

 

[pvb]

My first question is how much power it yields; didn't think 200W would be worthwhile! And don't understand "200A/Day"; that's a weird measure.

What's that filler cap for, since an advantage is "uses safe diesel directly from fuel tank". I had expected that it would need cooling for a cold junction for the thermocouple; maybe there is a header tank for a radiator, but that would surely better being outside or in the seawater? (I see there is a reference to seawater.) Or is it combined with a boat heater?

The comparison table with a 3kW generator seems to be a bit skewed!

The blurb seems to be written by someone whose first language is not English...

It's an Italian company! The Zeus 200 is designed for boat use, and needs seawater cooling, hence the bit at the back which is an electric pump and plumbing connections for the seawater. I imagine the "radiator cap" may be to prime the pump?

200W output isn't a lot - about 15A into 12v batteries - and it uses 0.6 litres of diesel an hour, so it could soon get through a lot of diesel.

 

[cpedw]

I like the idea (silent and automatic) and there is a range - 80, 150 and 200W output. Not very efficient though - about 2-4% according to my fag packet but that's not surprising for the technology. In spite of the figures they quote on the website for a diesel generator (3kW generator gives 8A @12V?) they are typically around 30-40% efficient but noisy and smelly.

 

[mjcoon]

... (3kW generator gives 8A @12V?) ...

I wondered about that. I imagine that's the sort of generator that delivers most of its output at 230V and the 12V is just an extra for topping-up?