Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Thermoelectric-Generator-Based DC–DC Conversion Networks for Automotive Applications

  • Published:
Journal of Electronic Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Maximizing electrical energy generation through waste heat recovery is one of the modern research questions within automotive applications of thermoelectric (TE) technologies. This paper proposes a novel concept of distributed multisection multilevel DC–DC conversion networks based on thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for automotive applications. The concept incorporates a bottom-up design approach to collect, convert, and manage vehicle waste heat efficiently. Several state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials are analyzed for the purpose of power generation at each waste heat harvesting location on a vehicle. Optimal materials and TE couple configurations are suggested. Moreover, a comparison of prevailing DC–DC conversion techniques was made with respect to applications at each conversion level within the network. Furthermore, higher-level design considerations are discussed according to system specifications. Finally, a case study is performed to compare the performance of the proposed network and a traditional single-stage system. The results show that the proposed network enhances the system conversion efficiency by up to 400%.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

M :

Number of parallel TEG modules at each conversion section

N :

Number of serially connected TE couples within each TEG module

V oc :

TE couple open-circuit voltage

V in :

Voltage level at the input of a low-level DC–DC converter

R in :

Input resistance of a low-level DC–DC converter

r in :

Internal resistance of a TEG module

η d :

Delivery efficiency between a TEG module and a low-level DC–DC converter

η couple :

Conversion efficiency of a single TE couple

η DC–DC(low) :

Conversion efficiency of a low-level DC–DC converter

η DC–DC(mid) :

Conversion efficiency of a mid-level DC–DC converter

η DC–DC(high) :

Conversion efficiency of a high-level DC–DC converter

References

  1. J. Yang and F.R. Stabler, J. Electron. Mater. 38, 7 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  2. J. Yang, 24th International Conference on Thermoelectrics (Clemson University, USA: IEEE, 2005).

  3. K.T. Chau and C.C. Chan, Proc. IEEE 95, 4 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. K.M. Saqr, M.K. Mansour, and M.N. Musa, Int. J. Autom. Technol. 9, 155 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. D.Y. Chung, T. Hogan, J. Schindler, L. Iordanidis, P. Brazis, C. R. Kannewurf, B. Chen, C. Uher, and M.G. Kanatzidis, 16th International Conference on Thermoelectrics (Dresden, Germany, 1997).

  6. T. Caillat, A. Borshchevsky, and J.P. Fleurial, Proceedings of the 7th International Conference TEs, ed. by K. Rao (University of Texas, Arlington, 1993), p. 98.

  7. T.C. Harman, P.J. Taylor, M.P. Walsh, and B.E. LaForge, Science 297, 2229 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. A.I. Hochbaum, R. Chen, R.D. Delgado, W. Liang, E.C. Garnett, M. Najarian, A. Majumdar, and P. Yang, Nature 451, 163 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. A.I. Boukai, Y. Bunimovich, J.T. Kheli, J.K. Yu, W.A. Goddard, and J.R. Heath, Nature 451, 168 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. G.J. Snyder and T.S. Ursell, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 148301 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. G.J. Snyder, Thermoelectrics Handbook Macro To Nano, ed. by D.M. Rowe (Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2006), p. 9-1.

    Google Scholar 

  12. D.T. Crane and L.E. Bell, 25th International Conference on Thermoelectrics (Vienna, Austria: IEEE, 2006).

    Google Scholar 

  13. D.T. Crane, D. Kossakovski, and L.E. Bell, J. Electron. Mater. 38, 7 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  14. B.Y. Moizhes, Y.P. Shishkin, A.V. Petrov, and L.A. Kolomoets, Sov. Phys. Tech. Phys. 7, 336 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  15. T.S. Ursell and G.J. Snyder, 21th International Conference on Thermoelectrics (Long Beach, USA: IEEE, 2002).

    Google Scholar 

  16. G.J. Snyder, 22nd International Conference on Thermoelectrics (La Grande Motte, France: IEEE, 2003).

    Google Scholar 

  17. K. Matsubara, 21st International Conference on Thermoelectrics (Long Beach, USA: IEEE, 2002).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronic Systems, School of Information and Communication Technology, The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Isafjordsgatan 39, Kista-Stockholm, 16440, Sweden

    Molan Li, Shaohui Xu, Qiang Chen & Li-Rong Zheng

Authors
  1. Molan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shaohui Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qiang Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Li-Rong Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Molan Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, M., Xu, S., Chen, Q. et al. Thermoelectric-Generator-Based DC–DC Conversion Networks for Automotive Applications. J. Electron. Mater. 40, 1136–1143 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-011-1557-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-011-1557-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation