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A numerical study on the performance of a converging thermoelectric generator system used for waste heat recovery

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  • Luo, Ding
  • Wang, Ruochen
  • Yu, Wei
  • Zhou, Weiqi

Abstract

Structure-based optimization is an effective approach to improve the performance of thermoelectric generators. Aiming to increase the heat transfer and hot side temperature of the heat exchanger, a converging heat exchanger design is developed in this study. Furthermore, a multiphysics fluid-thermoelectric coupled field numerical model is proposed, which is used to perform comprehensive numerical simulations to evaluate the behaviour of the thermoelectric generator system. The results indicate that the converging thermoelectric generator system generates a higher output power, induces a lower backpressure power loss, and has a more uniform temperature distribution than the conventional structure. The output power of the converging thermoelectric generator system is approximately 5.9% higher than that of the conventional system at an air temperature of 550 K and an air mass flow rate of 60 g/s. Moreover, the power increment provided by the converging design increases with increasing air temperature and decreasing air mass flow rate. The maximum deviation in the output power between the numerical and experimental results is 2.4%, which validates the performance of the multiphysics fluid-thermoelectric coupled field numerical model. This work provides new insights for numerical investigations of thermoelectric generator systems and presents a novel concept for optimizing the exhaust gas channel of a heat exchanger.

Suggested Citation

  • Luo, Ding & Wang, Ruochen & Yu, Wei & Zhou, Weiqi, 2020. "A numerical study on the performance of a converging thermoelectric generator system used for waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:270:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920306930
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115181
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jie Liu & Ki-Yeol Shin & Sung Chul Kim, 2022. "Comparison and Parametric Analysis of Thermoelectric Generator System for Industrial Waste Heat Recovery with Three Types of Heat Sinks: Numerical Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Luo, Ding & Wang, Ruochen & Yan, Yuying & Sun, Zeyu & Zhou, Weiqi & Ding, Renkai, 2021. "Comparison of different fluid-thermal-electric multiphysics modeling approaches for thermoelectric generator systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 1266-1277.
    3. Zhaochun Shi & Guohua Wang & Chunli Liu & Qiang Lv & Baoli Gong & Yingchao Zhang & Yuying Yan, 2023. "Optimizing the Transient Performance of Thermoelectric Generator with PCM by Taguchi Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Zhu, Xingzhuang & Zuo, Zhengxing & Wang, Wei & Jia, Boru & Zhan, Tianzhuo, 2023. "Experimental research and optimization of a thermoelectric generator excited by pulsed combustion mode under limited heat dissipation for combined heat and power supply," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    5. Luo, Ding & Sun, Zeyu & Wang, Ruochen, 2022. "Performance investigation of a thermoelectric generator system applied in automobile exhaust waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PB).
    6. Wenlong Yang & Wenchao Zhu & Yang Yang & Liang Huang & Ying Shi & Changjun Xie, 2022. "Thermoelectric Performance Evaluation and Optimization in a Concentric Annular Thermoelectric Generator under Different Cooling Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-21, March.
    7. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Chiou, Yi-Bin & Chein, Rei-Yu & Uan, Jun-Yen & Wang, Xiao-Dong, 2022. "Power generation of thermoelectric generator with plate fins for recovering low-temperature waste heat," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PA).
    8. Zhao, Yulong & Lu, Mingjie & Li, Yanzhe & Ge, Minghui & Xie, Liyao & Liu, Liansheng, 2021. "Characteristics analysis of an exhaust thermoelectric generator system with heat transfer fluid circulation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    9. Li, Yanzhe & Wang, Shixue & Zhao, Yulong & Yue, Like, 2022. "Effect of thermoelectric modules with different characteristics on the performance of thermoelectric generators inserted in the central flow region with porous foam copper," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    10. Luo, Ding & Yan, Yuying & Li, Ying & Yang, Xuelin & Chen, Hao, 2023. "Exhaust channel optimization of the automobile thermoelectric generator to produce the highest net power," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    11. Luo, Ding & Yan, Yuying & Li, Ying & Wang, Ruochen & Cheng, Shan & Yang, Xuelin & Ji, Dongxu, 2023. "A hybrid transient CFD-thermoelectric numerical model for automobile thermoelectric generator systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).
    12. Yang, Wenlong & Zhu, WenChao & Du, Banghua & Wang, Han & Xu, Lamei & Xie, Changjun & Shi, Ying, 2023. "Power generation of annular thermoelectric generator with silicone polymer thermal conductive oil applied in automotive waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    13. Garud, Kunal Sandip & Seo, Jae-Hyeong & Bang, You-Ma & Pyo, Young-Dug & Cho, Chong-Pyo & Lee, Moo-Yeon & Lee, Dong-Yeon, 2022. "Energy, exergy, environmental sustainability and economic analyses for automotive thermoelectric generator system with various configurations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PA).
    14. Lan, Song & Li, Qingshan & Guo, Xin & Wang, Shukun & Chen, Rui, 2023. "Fuel saving potential analysis of bifunctional vehicular waste heat recovery system using thermoelectric generator and organic Rankine cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PB).
    15. Luo, Ding & Wang, Ruochen & Yan, Yuying & Yu, Wei & Zhou, Weiqi, 2021. "Transient numerical modelling of a thermoelectric generator system used for automotive exhaust waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    16. Cheng-You Chen & Kung-Wen Du & Yi-Cheng Chung & Chun-I Wu, 2024. "Advancements in Thermoelectric Generator Design: Exploring Heat Exchanger Efficiency and Material Properties," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-25, January.

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