IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v129y2014icp373-383.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

High fidelity finite difference model for exploring multi-parameter thermoelectric generator design space

Author

Listed:
  • Fateh, Haiyan
  • Baker, Chad A.
  • Hall, Matthew J.
  • Shi, Li

Abstract

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are being studied and developed for applications in which waste heat, for example, from the exhaust of motor vehicles is converted into usable electricity. TEGs consisting of TE elements integrated with an exhaust heat exchanger require optimization to produce the maximum possible power output. Important optimization parameters include TE element leg length, fill fraction, leg area ratio between n- and p-type legs, and load resistance. A finite difference model was developed to study the interdependencies among these optimization parameters for thermoelectric elements integrated with an exhaust gas heat exchanger. The present study was carried out for TE devices made from n-type Mg2Si and p-type MnSi1.8 based silicides, which are promising TE materials for use at high temperatures associated with some exhaust heat recovery systems. The model uses specified convection boundary conditions instead of specified temperature boundary conditions to duplicate realistic operating conditions for a waste heat recovery system installed in the exhaust of a vehicle. The 1st generation, and an improved 2nd generation TEG module using Mg2Si and p-type MnSi1.8 based silicides were fabricated and tested to compare TE power generation with the numerical model. Important results include parameter values for maximum power output per unit area and the interdependencies among those parameters. Heat transfer through the void areas was neglected in the numerical model. When thermal contact resistance between the TE element and the heat exchangers is considered negligible, the numerical model predicts that any volume of TE material can produce the same power per unit area, given the parameters are accurately optimized. Incorporating the thermal contact resistance, the numerical model predicts that the peak power output is greater for longer TE elements with larger leg areas. The optimization results present strategies to improve the performance of TEG modules used for waste heat recovery systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Fateh, Haiyan & Baker, Chad A. & Hall, Matthew J. & Shi, Li, 2014. "High fidelity finite difference model for exploring multi-parameter thermoelectric generator design space," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 373-383.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:129:y:2014:i:c:p:373-383
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.04.088
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261914004516
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.04.088?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chen, Lingen & Li, Jun & Sun, Fengrui & Wu, Chih, 2005. "Performance optimization of a two-stage semiconductor thermoelectric-generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(4), pages 300-312, December.
    2. Wang, Yuchao & Dai, Chuanshan & Wang, Shixue, 2013. "Theoretical analysis of a thermoelectric generator using exhaust gas of vehicles as heat source," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1171-1180.
    3. Gou, Xiaolong & Xiao, Heng & Yang, Suwen, 2010. "Modeling, experimental study and optimization on low-temperature waste heat thermoelectric generator system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(10), pages 3131-3136, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Karana, Dhruv Raj & Sahoo, Rashmi Rekha, 2019. "Influence of geometric parameter on the performance of a new asymmetrical and segmented thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 90-99.
    2. Liu, Xiaoli & Jani, Ruchita & Orisakwe, Esther & Johnston, Conrad & Chudzinski, Piotr & Qu, Ming & Norton, Brian & Holmes, Niall & Kohanoff, Jorge & Stella, Lorenzo & Yin, Hongxi & Yazawa, Kazuaki, 2021. "State of the art in composition, fabrication, characterization, and modeling methods of cement-based thermoelectric materials for low-temperature applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    3. Dusan Maga & Jaromir Hrad & Jiri Hajek & Akeel Othman, 2021. "Application of Minimum Energy Effect to Numerical Reconstruction of Insolation Curves," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-18, August.
    4. Abdelkader Rjafallah & Daniel Tudor Cotfas & Petru Adrian Cotfas, 2022. "Legs Geometry Influence on the Performance of the Thermoelectric Module," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-22, November.
    5. Kim, Hoon & Kim, Woochul, 2015. "A way of achieving a low $/W and a decent power output from a thermoelectric device," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 205-211.
    6. Lee, Heonjoong & Sharp, Jeff & Stokes, David & Pearson, Matthew & Priya, Shashank, 2018. "Modeling and analysis of the effect of thermal losses on thermoelectric generator performance using effective properties," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 987-996.
    7. Wei Niu & Xiaoshan Cao, 2023. "Thermoelectric Field Analysis of Trapezoidal Thermoelectric Generator Based on the Explicit Analytical Solution of Annular Thermoelectric Generator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-12, April.
    8. Wang, Yancheng & Shi, Yaoguang & Mei, Deqing & Chen, Zichen, 2017. "Wearable thermoelectric generator for harvesting heat on the curved human wrist," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 710-719.
    9. Weng, Zebin & Liu, Furong & Zhu, Wenchao & Li, Yang & Xie, Changjun & Deng, Jian & Huang, Liang, 2022. "Performance improvement of variable-angle annular thermoelectric generators considering different boundary conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PA).
    10. Twaha, Ssennoga & Zhu, Jie & Yan, Yuying & Li, Bo, 2016. "A comprehensive review of thermoelectric technology: Materials, applications, modelling and performance improvement," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 698-726.
    11. Huang, Shouyuan & Xu, Xianfan, 2017. "A regenerative concept for thermoelectric power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 119-125.
    12. Shen, Zu-Guo & Wu, Shuang-Ying & Xiao, Lan & Yin, Gang, 2016. "Theoretical modeling of thermoelectric generator with particular emphasis on the effect of side surface heat transfer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 367-379.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Wu, Xiaofeng, 2017. "The Lock-On Mechanism MPPT algorithm as applied to the hybrid photovoltaic cell and thermoelectric generator system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 873-886.
    2. Kim, Hoon & Kim, Woochul, 2015. "A way of achieving a low $/W and a decent power output from a thermoelectric device," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 205-211.
    3. Tian, Hua & Sun, Xiuxiu & Jia, Qi & Liang, Xingyu & Shu, Gequn & Wang, Xu, 2015. "Comparison and parameter optimization of a segmented thermoelectric generator by using the high temperature exhaust of a diesel engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 121-130.
    4. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Wu, Xiaofeng, 2016. "Power and mass optimization of the hybrid solar panel and thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 297-307.
    5. Liang, Xingyu & Sun, Xiuxiu & Tian, Hua & Shu, Gequn & Wang, Yuesen & Wang, Xu, 2014. "Comparison and parameter optimization of a two-stage thermoelectric generator using high temperature exhaust of internal combustion engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 190-199.
    6. Sun, Xiuxiu & Liang, Xingyu & Shu, Gequn & Tian, Hua & Wei, Haiqiao & Wang, Xiangxiang, 2014. "Comparison of the two-stage and traditional single-stage thermoelectric generator in recovering the waste heat of the high temperature exhaust gas of internal combustion engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 489-498.
    7. Li, Yanzhe & Wang, Shixue & Zhao, Yulong & Lu, Chi, 2017. "Experimental study on the influence of porous foam metal filled in the core flow region on the performance of thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 634-642.
    8. He, Wei & Wang, Shixue & Lu, Chi & Zhang, Xing & Li, Yanzhe, 2016. "Influence of different cooling methods on thermoelectric performance of an engine exhaust gas waste heat recovery system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1251-1258.
    9. Zaher, M.H. & Abdelsalam, M.Y. & Cotton, J.S., 2020. "Study of the effects of axial conduction on the performance of thermoelectric generators integrated in a heat exchanger for waste heat recovery applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    10. Liu, Zhichun & Zhu, Shiping & Ge, Ya & Shan, Feng & Zeng, Lingping & Liu, Wei, 2017. "Geometry optimization of two-stage thermoelectric generators using simplified conjugate-gradient method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 540-552.
    11. Kunlin Cheng & Yu Feng & Chuanwen Lv & Silong Zhang & Jiang Qin & Wen Bao, 2017. "Performance Evaluation of Waste Heat Recovery Systems Based on Semiconductor Thermoelectric Generators for Hypersonic Vehicles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, April.
    12. Yazawa, Kazuaki & Koh, Yee Rui & Shakouri, Ali, 2013. "Optimization of thermoelectric topping combined steam turbine cycles for energy economy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 1-9.
    13. Lee, HoSung, 2013. "Optimal design of thermoelectric devices with dimensional analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 79-88.
    14. Massaguer, E. & Massaguer, A. & Montoro, L. & Gonzalez, J.R., 2014. "Development and validation of a new TRNSYS type for the simulation of thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 65-74.
    15. Yu, Shuhai & Du, Qing & Diao, Hai & Shu, Gequn & Jiao, Kui, 2015. "Start-up modes of thermoelectric generator based on vehicle exhaust waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 276-290.
    16. Zhang, T., 2016. "New thinking on modeling of thermoelectric devices," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 65-74.
    17. Zou, Wen-Jiang & Shen, Kun-Yang & Jung, Seunghun & Kim, Young-Bae, 2021. "Application of thermoelectric devices in performance optimization of a domestic PEMFC-based CHP system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    18. He, Wei & Zhang, Gan & Zhang, Xingxing & Ji, Jie & Li, Guiqiang & Zhao, Xudong, 2015. "Recent development and application of thermoelectric generator and cooler," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1-25.
    19. He, Wei & Su, Yuehong & Wang, Y.Q. & Riffat, S.B. & Ji, Jie, 2012. "A study on incorporation of thermoelectric modules with evacuated-tube heat-pipe solar collectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 142-149.
    20. Martínez, A. & Astrain, D. & Rodríguez, A., 2013. "Dynamic model for simulation of thermoelectric self cooling applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1114-1126.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:129:y:2014:i:c:p:373-383. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.