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Geometry design and performance evaluation of thermoelectric generator

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Abstract

A thermoelectric generator is a solid-state device that directly converts heat into electricity without any moving parts. The problem with these devices is that they are less efficient. The present study considers modeling and numerical simulation of a thermoelectric generator of different shapes to evaluate their efficacy. Effective material properties of TEG are used in CPM model of analysis. Different shapes of the leg have been simulated, keeping the same isothermal boundary conditions. The effect of the cross-section area of the leg and leg length. Hot-side and cold-side junction temperature and thermal stress developed are reported. Results shows that trapezoid generators are better from efficiency point of view where as square and circular cross-section leg produces more power.

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Abbreviations

zt:

Material figure of merit

ZT:

Device figure of merit

\(\alpha \) :

Seebeck coefficient

\(\kappa \) :

Thermal conductivity

\(\rho \) :

Resistivity of material

L :

Length of leg

A :

Cross-section area

\( \dot{Q_{\text {out}}}\) :

Heat flow rate out from cold junction

\(\dot{Q_{\text {in}}}\) :

Heat flow rate into hot junction

R :

Total resistance

\(R_{\text {in}}\) :

Internal resistance

\(R_L\) :

Load resistance

\(T_h\) :

Hot junction temperature

\(T_c\) :

Cold junction temperature

\(P_{\text {out}}\) :

Power output from thermoelectric generator

\(\eta _{\text {th}}\) :

Thermal efficiency

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges Prof. Ramesh Chandra Mallik, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore for fruitful discussion and support. Authors acknowledges Vision Group on Science and Technology (VGST) (Grant No. KSTePS/VGST-K-FIST L2/2078-L9 / GRD No.765).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy Harvesting and IoT Lab, B.L.D.E A’s V.P Dr. P G Halakatti College of Engineering and Technology (Affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University), Vijayapur, Karnataka, 586103, India

    R. S. Kondaguli & P. V. Malaji

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Correspondence to P. V. Malaji.

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Kondaguli, R.S., Malaji, P.V. Geometry design and performance evaluation of thermoelectric generator. Eur. Phys. J. Spec. Top. 231, 1587–1597 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-022-00492-y

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