Abstract
Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are outstanding devices for automotive waste heat recovery. Their packaging, lack of moving parts, and direct heat to electrical conversion are the main benefits. Usually, TEGs are modeled with a constant hot-source temperature. However, energy in exhaust gases is limited, thus leading to a temperature decrease as heat is recovered. Therefore thermoelectric properties change along the TEG, affecting performance. A thermoelectric generator composed of Mg2Si/Zn4Sb3 for high temperatures followed by Bi2Te3 for low temperatures has been modeled using engineering equation solver (EES) software. The model uses the finite-difference method with a strip-fins convective heat transfer coefficient. It has been validated on a commercial module with well-known properties. The thermoelectric connection and the number of thermoelements have been addressed as well as the optimum proportion of high-temperature material for a given thermoelectric heat exchanger. TEG output power has been estimated for a typical commercial vehicle at 90°C coolant temperature.
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Abbreviations
- B :
-
Thermoelectric generator width, m
- b 1 :
-
Height of gas channel plate, m
- b 2 :
-
Height of water channel plate, m
- c p :
-
Specific heat, J/kg/K
- C th :
-
Thermal conductance, W/K
- dx :
-
Elementary length defined in Fig. 3b, m
- dy :
-
Elementary width defined in Fig. 3b, m
- h :
-
Gas heat transfer coefficient, W/m2/K
- I :
-
Current, A
- i :
-
Point index
- L :
-
Thermoelectric generator length, m
- l :
-
Thermoelement height, m
- \( \dot{m} \) :
-
Mass flow rate, kg/s
- n plate :
-
Number of plates within the heat exchanger
- n x :
-
Number of thermoelement couples in the generator
- n y :
-
Number of ranges in the generator
- P elec :
-
Power recovered as described in Eq. 7, W
- P elec,series :
-
Calculated recovered power with all thermoelements connected in series and an adapted load connected, W
- Q :
-
Heat transferred, W
- R elec,TE :
-
Electrical resistance of a thermoelement couple, Ω
- R th,cont :
-
Thermal contact resistance, m2 K/W
- S h :
-
Hot-side heat transfer surface, m2
- T :
-
Temperature, K
- U :
-
Overall heat transfer coefficient, W/m2K
- ZT :
-
Nondimensional thermoelectric figure of merit
- α pn :
-
Thermoelement couple Seebeck coefficient, V/K
- λ :
-
Thermoelement thermal conductivity, W/m/K
- η 0,h :
-
Overall fin efficiency
- ρ :
-
Electrical resistivity, Ω m
- cf:
-
Relating to cold fluid
- cont:
-
Relating to thermal contact
- hf,sup:
-
Relating to hot fluid gas
- max:
-
Maximum
- n :
-
Relating to n-type leg
- p :
-
Relating to p-type leg
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Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank B. Lombard for reviewing and his support.
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Espinosa, N., Lazard, M., Aixala, L. et al. Modeling a Thermoelectric Generator Applied to Diesel Automotive Heat Recovery. J. Electron. Mater. 39, 1446–1455 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-010-1305-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-010-1305-2