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Research on Integration of an Automotive Exhaust-Based Thermoelectric Generator and a Three-Way Catalytic Converter

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Abstract

A key research topic related to thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for automotive applications is to improve their compatibility with the original vehicle exhaust system, which determines the quality of the exhaust gas treatment and the realization of energy conservation and emission reduction. A new TEG integrated with a three-way catalytic converter (CTEG) by reshaping the converter as the heat exchanger is proposed. A heat-flux coupling simulation model of the integrated TEG is established at the light-off stage of the original three-way catalytic converter (TWC). Temperature distribution maps of the integrated heat exchanger, thermoelectric modules, and cooling-water tank are obtained to present the process of energy flow among the parts of the CTEG. Based on the simulation results, the output power of the CTEG is calculated by a mathematical model. A minimum output power of 31.93 W can be obtained by conversion when the TWC starts working at steady conditions. Theoretically, this case study demonstrates the great potential for use of CTEGs in vehicles.

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Abbreviations

A :

Cross-sectional area (m2)

l :

Thermocouple length (m)

P :

Output power (W)

r :

Electrical resistance (Ω)

T :

Temperature (°C)

U :

Voltage (V)

X :

Number of thermocouples

α :

Seebeck coefficient (V/K)

ρ :

Electrical resistivity (Ω m)

c:

Cold side

h:

Hot side

L:

Load

m:

Mean/average

max:

Maximum

MD:

Thermoelectric module

n :

n-Type thermocouple

p :

p-Type thermocouple

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Automobile Engineering Institute, Wuhan University of Technology, 205 Luoshi Road, Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Y. D. Deng, Y. L. Chen, S. Chen, W. D. Xianyu & C. Q. Su

Authors
  1. Y. D. Deng
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  2. Y. L. Chen
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  3. S. Chen
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  4. W. D. Xianyu
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  5. C. Q. Su
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Q. Su.

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Deng, Y.D., Chen, Y.L., Chen, S. et al. Research on Integration of an Automotive Exhaust-Based Thermoelectric Generator and a Three-Way Catalytic Converter. J. Electron. Mater. 44, 1524–1530 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-014-3442-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-014-3442-5

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