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Optimization of the Heat Exchangers of a Thermoelectric Generation System

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Abstract

The thermal resistances of the heat exchangers have a strong influence on the electric power produced by a thermoelectric generator. In this work, the heat exchangers of a thermoelectric generator have been optimized in order to maximize the electric power generated. This thermoelectric generator harnesses heat from the exhaust gas of a domestic gas boiler. Statistical design of experiments was used to assess the influence of five factors on both the electric power generated and the pressure drop in the chimney: height of the generator, number of modules per meter of generator height, length of the fins of the hot-side heat exchanger (HSHE), length of the gap between fins of the HSHE, and base thickness of the HSHE. The electric power has been calculated using a computational model, whereas Fluent computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used to obtain the thermal resistances of the heat exchangers and the pressure drop. Finally, the thermoelectric generator has been optimized, taking into account the restrictions on the pressure drop.

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Abbreviations

A :

Height of the generator (mm)

B :

Number of modules per meter of generator height

C :

Length of the gap between fins of the HSHE (mm)

c p :

Specific heat under constant pressure of the exhaust gas (J/kgK)

D :

Length of the fins of the HSHE (mm)

d :

Diameter of the original chimney (m)

E :

Base thickness of the HSHE (mm)

f :

Darcy friction factor

H :

Height of the chimney (m)

m :

Load ratio

\( \mathop m\limits^{ \bullet } \) :

Mass flow rate of the exhaust gas (kg/s)

P dyn,in :

Dynamic pressure of the exhaust gas at the entrance of the generator (Pa)

P dyn,out :

Dynamic pressure of the exhaust gas at the exit of the generator (Pa)

Power:

Maximum electric power generated (W)

\( \dot{Q}_{\rm{p}} \) :

Heat flux absorbed by each Peltier module (W)

R 2 :

Coefficient of determination

Re :

Reynolds number

R H :

Thermal resistance of the HSHE per module (K/W)

R C :

Thermal resistance of the cold-side heat exchanger (CSHE) per module (K/W)

T G,in :

Temperature of the exhaust gas at the entrance of the generator (K)

T G,out :

Temperature of the exhaust gas at the exit of the generator (K)

T G :

Average temperature of the exhaust gas in the generator (K)

T P :

Average temperature in the square regions of the HSHE in contact with the modules (K)

v :

Velocity of the exhaust gas (m/s)

ΔP :

Total pressure drop (Pa)

ΔP 0 :

Natural ventilation pressure (also, pressure drop in the original chimney) (Pa)

ΔP sta :

Static pressure drop in the generator (Pa)

ε :

Average height of the roughness of the chimney (m)

η :

Efficiency of the generator (%)

ρ :

Density of the exhaust gas (kg/m3)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Pública de Navarra, UPNa, Pamplona, Spain

    A. Martínez, J. G. Vián, D. Astrain, A. Rodríguez & I. Berrio

Authors
  1. A. Martínez
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  2. J. G. Vián
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  3. D. Astrain
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  4. A. Rodríguez
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  5. I. Berrio
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Correspondence to A. Martínez.

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Martínez, A., Vián, J.G., Astrain, D. et al. Optimization of the Heat Exchangers of a Thermoelectric Generation System. J. Electron. Mater. 39, 1463–1468 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-010-1291-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-010-1291-4

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