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Modeling and Simulation of a Thermoelectric Generator Using Bismuth Telluride for Waste Heat Recovery in Automotive Diesel Engines

  • Topical Collection: International Conference on Thermoelectrics 2018
  • Published:
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Abstract

Waste heat recovery, using thermoelectric power technology, is a promising approach to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions on passenger cars. However, possible application requires optimizing heat exchangers and defining adequate thermoelectric materials to improve efficiency. A dynamic model has been developed to investigate the application of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) for waste heat recovery in an automotive engine exhaust. The converted electrical energy is used to charge a 12 V battery. The model evaluates the amount of recovered energy over a prescribed drive-cycle. It also evaluates the effect of system integration on the TEG performances, such as fuel consumption, temperatures downstream of the TEG and the relative counter pressure. Experiments are done on both a thermoelectric module (TEM) test rig and a diesel engine test rig equipped with a TEG prototype. Simulations of steady operating points show good agreement with experimental data. The results show a maximum power of 42 W generated by the TEG, with a maximum power of 1.5 W per module (corresponding to TEM hot side temperature of 671 K and TEM cold side temperature of 354 K). At the end of the duty cycle, the energy recovered by the vehicle battery is around 27 kJ (7.5 Wh). The engine counter pressure exceeds 30 mbar when the mass flow rate is higher than 36 g s−1. The simulation results of temperatures, pressures, and output power show that the model can be used as a basis to develop a TEG with high performance that ensure safety operation of the engine and the after treatment system.

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Abbreviations

C :

Coulombic efficiency

I :

Generated current (A)

k :

Thermal conductance of n-type and p-type (W m−2 K−1)

\({\dot{m}}\) :

Mass flow rate (kg s−1)

P :

Electrical power (W)

Q :

Battery power (W)

\({\dot{Q}}\) :

Thermal power (W)

rpm:

Engine rotational speed (round min−1)

R :

Electrical resistance (Ω)

T :

Temperature (°C)

V :

Voltage (V)

Z :

Factor of merit (1 K−1)

ZT :

Figure of merit

α :

Seebeck coefficient (V K−1)

ω :

Uncertainty

0:

Initial

c:

Cold side

h:

Hot side

in:

Inlet

I:

Internal

n :

n-type

OC:

Open circuit

out:

Outlet

p :

p-type

resist:

Resistance

ICE:

Internal combustion engine

OP:

Operating points

TEG:

Thermoelectric generator

TEM:

Thermoelectric module

WHR:

Waste heat recovery

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Acknowledgments

The work in this article is done in a joined research program between CEA Tech and Ecole Centrale de Nantes. The authors want to thank the “Region des Pays de la Loire” (in France) for their financial contribution to this study and Mann+Hummel for their technical contributions concerning engine tests and calibration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LHEEA Lab. (ECN/CNRS), Ecole Centrale de Nantes, 1 rue de la Noe, BP 92101, 44321, Nantes cedex 3, France

    A. Nour Eddine, H. Sara & D. Chalet

  2. French Alternative and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA Grenoble), 17 rue des Martyrs, 38054, Grenoble cedex 9, France

    X. Faure & L. Aixala

  3. MANN+HUMMEL France, ZA, Bd de la Communication, 53601, Louverné, France

    M. Cormerais

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  1. A. Nour Eddine
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  2. H. Sara
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  3. D. Chalet
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  4. X. Faure
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  5. L. Aixala
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Correspondence to A. Nour Eddine.

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Nour Eddine, A., Sara, H., Chalet, D. et al. Modeling and Simulation of a Thermoelectric Generator Using Bismuth Telluride for Waste Heat Recovery in Automotive Diesel Engines. J. Electron. Mater. 48, 2036–2045 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-019-06999-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-019-06999-w

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