NASA has used radioisotope thermal generators (RTG) since the 1960s.
Peltier Effect, Seebeck Effect and Thompson Effect Generators have been built and some combine the effects.
So far as I can tell efficiencies are in the range 5% to 10%, whereas solar panels are in the range of 15% to 30%. Thus solar cells continue to dominate this market.
Lots of information, most of it readable in Wikipedia under thermoelectric power, thermoelectricity and many related jump terms.
HAVE FUN
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "mkriley48" <mkriley48@...> wrote:
>
> wow that is way over my head. do you have any links to people actually doing it?
>
> --- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "mkriley48" <mkriley48@> wrote:
> >
> > can you give some specifics or links?
> > mike
> >
> >
> > >>>Solar is a good choice
> > because a meter squared of collector area in clear skys is good
> > for 1000w of heat. When at rest solar can top the batteries. When
> > in motion any heat source will do including a stove top burner.
> > The system could be referred to as a solid state heat engine.
> >
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