The Thermal Energy team is currently working countless hours to fabricate 3 body-powered flashlights. The design includes cutting PVC pipe, various metals & polymers, using special thermal paste and epoxy, as well as wiring an entire voltage step-up regulator.

A band saw was used to cut the foot-long PVC pipe in half for the base of the flashlight. Aluminum, steel, and polystyrene was then cut and glued (epoxy) onto the PVC pipe. These three different materials have different heat transfer coefficients and will be tested with peltiers for the highest power output. Both ends of the PVC pipe will be sealed with aluminium and epoxy. A nut will be glued to one of the ends to develop a fill hole to test different fluids and reseal.

The voltage regulator is used to step-up the low voltage of the peltiers. It consists of a NPT transistor, ferrite torroid cores, different gauge magnetic wire, and a resistor. Finding most electronic components at vendors were easy, however, finding a torroid core was difficult due to its unpopular use.

Aside from fabrication, the team is also continuing research on the different fluids to test. Fluids that tend to have a high heat transfer coefficient, yet be able to hold ambient temperature longer are currently being researched. Prospective fluids include water, oil, and liquid refrigerant. These different fluids will be tested against ambient air for an improvement in power output. Fluids will also be tested in each prototype, giving over 9-12 tests to complete.