A three-dimensional model of Segmented Thermoelectric Unicouples (STUs) is developed and incorporated into the ANSYS commercial software. The governing equations are solved, subject to the prescribed boundary conditions, using the Finite Element Methodology (FEM) techniques and meshing capabilities in ANSYS. The model accounts for the side heat losses, handles different types of boundary conditions, and accounts for the non-homogeneity and the change in physical and thermoelectric properties of the segments materials in the n- and p-legs with temperature. The model predictions are compared with experimental data of two STUs, uni8 and uni12, comprised of n-type Bi2Te3 and CoSb3-based alloys and p-type Bi2Te3 and CeFe4Sb12-based alloys, and tested recently at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) between hot and cold side temperatures of ∼305 K and 885 K, respectively. The calculations helped determine not only the side heat losses in these tests and the performance parameters of the STUs, but also the spatia...
[1]
Mohamed S. El-Genk,et al.
Performance optimization of Segmented Thermoelectric Unicouples
,
2002
.
[2]
A. Borshchevsky,et al.
Development of a high efficiency thermoelectric unicouple for power generation applications
,
1999,
Eighteenth International Conference on Thermoelectrics. Proceedings, ICT'99 (Cat. No.99TH8407).
[3]
Jean-Pierre Fleurial,et al.
High efficiency segmented thermoelectric unicouples
,
2001
.
[4]
Richard Ewell,et al.
New materials and devices for thermoelectric applications
,
1997,
IECEC-97 Proceedings of the Thirty-Second Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (Cat. No.97CH6203).
[5]
G. E. Smith,et al.
Thermoelectric Properties of Bismuth‐Antimony Alloys
,
1962
.