A comprehensive and time-efficient model for determination of thermoelectric generator length and cross-section area

Abstract A comprehensive mathematical model is proposed to calculate the optimal leg length and cross-section area of TEG unit to maximize the peak output power. The model shows that for a TEG unit, there exists an optimal ratio of leg length and leg cross-section area corresponding to the maximum peak output power with a convective thermal boundary condition, and the optimal leg length and cross-section area can be further calculated based on the optimal ratio. The mathematical model is also validated in this paper, and the corresponding error is within a reasonable range. Moreover, the effects of the leg length and leg area on the peak output power, the peak output power density and the efficiency of TEG unit with different thermal boundary conditions are also discussed. This study will provide guidance for the structure design optimization of TEG unit.

[1]  Xing Zhang,et al.  Optimization design method of thermoelectric generator based on exhaust gas parameters for recovery of engine waste heat , 2015 .

[2]  Xiaobing Luo,et al.  Numerical simulations on the temperature gradient and thermal stress of a thermoelectric power generator , 2014 .

[3]  K. Mossi,et al.  Influence of leg sizing and spacing on power generation and thermal stresses of thermoelectric devices , 2015 .

[4]  Bekir Sami Yilbas,et al.  Thermodynamic irreversibility and performance characteristics of thermoelectric power generator , 2013 .

[5]  Lasse Rosendahl,et al.  Parametric optimization of thermoelectric elements footprint for maximum power generation , 2014 .

[6]  Li Shi,et al.  High fidelity finite difference model for exploring multi-parameter thermoelectric generator design space , 2014 .

[7]  Gequn Shu,et al.  Effect of vehicle driving conditions on the performance of thermoelectric generator , 2015 .

[8]  Gequn Shu,et al.  Start-up modes of thermoelectric generator based on vehicle exhaust waste heat recovery , 2015 .

[9]  Xiong Yu,et al.  A holistic 3D finite element simulation model for thermoelectric power generator element , 2014 .

[10]  J. Ji,et al.  Recent development and application of thermoelectric generator and cooler , 2015 .

[11]  Gequn Shu,et al.  Power and efficiency factors for comprehensive evaluation of thermoelectric generator materials , 2016 .

[12]  S. Kær,et al.  Numerical model of a thermoelectric generator with compact plate-fin heat exchanger for high temperature PEM fuel cell exhaust heat recovery , 2012 .

[13]  Wei Zhu,et al.  A real-sized three-dimensional numerical model of thermoelectric generators at a given thermal input and matched load resistance , 2015 .

[14]  Shohel Mahmud,et al.  Numerical simulation of nanostructured thermoelectric generator considering surface to surrounding convection , 2014 .

[15]  Minoru Taya,et al.  Design of segmented thermoelectric generator based on cost-effective and light-weight thermoelectric alloys , 2014 .

[16]  Tarik Kousksou,et al.  Experimental analysis with numerical comparison for different thermoelectric generators configurations , 2016 .

[17]  Wei-Hsin Chen,et al.  Performance analysis and optimum operation of a thermoelectric generator by Taguchi method , 2015 .

[18]  Xing Zhang,et al.  An Optimization Analysis of Thermoelectric Generator Structure for Different Flow Directions of Working Fluids , 2014 .

[19]  Christophe Goupil,et al.  Comparison of different modeling approaches for thermoelectric elements , 2013 .

[20]  Mei-Jiau Huang,et al.  A simulation study of automotive waste heat recovery using a thermoelectric power generator , 2013 .

[21]  Xing Zhang,et al.  Influence of different cooling methods on thermoelectric performance of an engine exhaust gas waste heat recovery system , 2016 .

[22]  Yongjia Wu,et al.  Thermal analysis on a segmented thermoelectric generator , 2015 .

[23]  Gequn Shu,et al.  Effect of cooling design on the characteristics and performance of thermoelectric generator used for internal combustion engine , 2015 .

[24]  Gequn Shu,et al.  A comprehensive design method for segmented thermoelectric generator , 2015 .

[25]  Xinxin Zhang,et al.  Multi-objective and multi-parameter optimization of a thermoelectric generator module , 2014 .

[26]  Gequn Shu,et al.  Elucidating modeling aspects of thermoelectric generator , 2015 .

[27]  L. Bell.  Cooling, Heating, Generating Power, and Recovering Waste Heat with Thermoelectric Systems , 2008, Science.

[28]  Robert J. Stevens,et al.  Theoretical limits of thermoelectric power generation from exhaust gases , 2014 .

[29]  B. Ohara,et al.  Influence of electrical current variance and thermal resistances on optimum working conditions and geometry for thermoelectric energy harvesting , 2013 .

[30]  Gequn Shu,et al.  Investigation and design optimization of exhaust-based thermoelectric generator system for internal combustion engine , 2014 .

[31]  A. Massaguer,et al.  Development and validation of a new TRNSYS type for the simulation of thermoelectric generators , 2014 .

[32]  Bekir Sami Yilbas,et al.  The thermoelement as thermoelectric power generator: Effect of leg geometry on the efficiency and power generation , 2013 .

[33]  Tarik Kousksou,et al.  Numerical optimization of the occupancy rate of thermoelectric generators to produce the highest electrical power , 2014 .

[34]  Gequn Shu,et al.  Comparison of the two-stage and traditional single-stage thermoelectric generator in recovering the waste heat of the high temperature exhaust gas of internal combustion engine , 2014 .

[35]  Xiaodong Jia,et al.  Optimal design of a novel thermoelectric generator with linear-shaped structure under different operating temperature conditions , 2015 .

[36]  Vladimir A. Kulbachinskii,et al.  Composites of Bi2–xSbxTe3 nanocrystals and fullerene molecules for thermoelectricity , 2012 .

[37]  G. Shu,et al.  Comparison and parameter optimization of a segmented thermoelectric generator by using the high temperature exhaust of a diesel engine , 2015 .