The Feasibility of a Current-Source Thermoelectric Power Generator and Its Corresponding Structure Design

Abstract

Traditional thermoelectric power generators consist of thermoelectric elements connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel. Current flowing inside the thermoelectric power generator is conventionally considered to be driven by the Seebeck effect-induced electric field and the output voltage-induced reverse electric field. This paper proposes a more comprehensive model that implies that current is also driven by chemical potential and carrier density variation. Therefore, the thermoelectric power generator can be treated as a current-source power supplier when the current driven by carrier density variation dominates. This paper performs holistic finite element implementation of the new holistic model where a thermoelectric power generator unit behaves like a current-source while the working temperature conditions maintain stability. This result validates that the thermoelectric element shows the behaviors of a current-source power supply under certain conditions. This discovery brings a new perspective on the behaviors of thermoelectric elements, which potentially will lead to the development of novel thermoelectric power generator design.