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Performance of thermoelectric generators for direct and indirect contact with cooling water

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Abstract

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are devices that produce electricity due to the temperature difference between their cold and hot surfaces. The enhanced heat transfer from the cold surfaces of TEGs can increase their electricity efficiency. In this research, an experiment was arranged to study the direct and indirect contact of cooling water on the cold surfaces of the TEGs series and its results on their electricity efficiency. In this experiment, cooling water was flowing inside an aluminum tube with a rectangular cross-section. By changing the slope of the pipe, mixed convection was created in the cooling water. The results showed that the electrical efficiency of the TEGs was higher in the conditions of indirect contact as well as opposing mixed convection. In one of the results, the maximum electricity generation in indirect contact is 48 mW at pipe slop of \({30}^{\circ }\) to 35 mW at pipe slop of \({90}^{\circ }\), more than direct contact. Since the connection of cold surfaces of TEGs happens indirectly through expensive metal plates such as copper and aluminum, therefore, the results of this research can be useful in the economic evaluation and improvement of such devices.

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Abbreviations

\(\dot{m}\) :

Water mass flow rate inside aluminum pipe, \((kg/s)\)

\(Ri\) :

Richardson dimensionless number, \((Ri=Gr/{\mathrm{Re}}^{2})\)

\(t\) :

Time, (\(s\))

\({Q}_{h,teg}\) :

The total heat transferred to the hot surfaces of 5 TEGs, \((MJ)\)

\({Q}_{c,teg}\) :

The total heat dissipated from the hot surfaces of 5 TEGs, \((MJ)\)

\({T}_{h}\) :

Temperature of the hot surface of TEG, \({(}^{\circ }C)\)

\({T}_{c}\) :

Temperature of the cold surface of TEG, \({(}^{\circ }C)\)

\({W}_{heater}\) :

Electric power of the heater, \((W)\)

\({W}_{tegs}\) :

Experimental maximum electrical power generated by 5 TEGs, \((W)\)

\({W}_{tegs,theoritical}\) :

Theoretical maximum electrical power generated by 5 TEGs, \((W)\)

\(\beta\) :

Tilt angle of aluminum pipe, (\({}^{\circ }\))

\({\eta }_{tegs}\) :

5 TEGs experimental maximum electrical efficiencies, (%)

\({\eta }_{tegs,theoritica}\) :

5 TEGs theoretical maximum electrical efficiencies, (%)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

    Behrooz M. Ziapour, Taha Arzhangi & Mohammad Y. Gendeshmin

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  1. Behrooz M. Ziapour
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  2. Taha Arzhangi
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Contributions

Behrooz M. Ziapour: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Methodology, Investigation, Supervision, Writing - review & editing. Taha argangi: Investigation, Methodology, Experimental works. Mohammad Y. Gendeshmin: Experimental works, Validation.

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Correspondence to Behrooz M. Ziapour.

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Ziapour, B.M., Arzhangi, T. & Gendeshmin, M.Y. Performance of thermoelectric generators for direct and indirect contact with cooling water. Heat Mass Transfer 59, 2073–2085 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-023-03383-7

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