IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v238y2022ipbs0360544221020648.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Performance investigation of a thermoelectric generator system applied in automobile exhaust waste heat recovery

Author

Listed:
  • Luo, Ding
  • Sun, Zeyu
  • Wang, Ruochen

Abstract

In this paper, a novel fluid-thermal-electric multiphysics numerical model is presented to predict the performance of a thermoelectric generator system applied in automobile waste heat recovery. The model considers the complete geometry, temperature-dependent material properties, topological connection among thermoelectric modules, and impedance matching, which can simulate the actual working conditions. Numerical simulations are carried out on the COMSOL platform combined with the exhaust temperature and exhaust mass flow rate under different vehicle speeds. In addition, the detailed physical field distribution characteristics of the automobile thermoelectric generator system, as well as the variations of output power, conversion efficiency, power losses, and net power with vehicle speed, are obtained. The position of thermoelectric modules on the hot side heat exchanger plays an important role in output uniformity, and the higher the vehicle speed is, the more uniform the output will be. At the vehicle speed of 120 km h−1, the output power and conversion efficiency of the automobile thermoelectric generator system are 38.07 W and 1.53% respectively. Considering the weight power loss and coolant pumping power loss, the net power is 23.66 W. This work fills the gap in evaluating the performance of automobile thermoelectric generator systems at different vehicle speeds comprehensively.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:238:y:2022:i:pb:s0360544221020648
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.121816
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544221020648
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2021.121816?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. Massaguer, A. & Massaguer, E. & Comamala, M. & Pujol, T. & González, J.R. & Cardenas, M.D. & Carbonell, D. & Bueno, A.J., 2018. "A method to assess the fuel economy of automotive thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 42-58.
    2. Hsu, Cheng-Ting & Huang, Gia-Yeh & Chu, Hsu-Shen & Yu, Ben & Yao, Da-Jeng, 2011. "An effective Seebeck coefficient obtained by experimental results of a thermoelectric generator module," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(12), pages 5173-5179.
    3. Luo, Ding & Wang, Ruochen & Yu, Wei & Zhou, Weiqi, 2020. "Parametric study of a thermoelectric module used for both power generation and cooling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 542-552.
    4. Hsu, Cheng-Ting & Huang, Gia-Yeh & Chu, Hsu-Shen & Yu, Ben & Yao, Da-Jeng, 2011. "Experiments and simulations on low-temperature waste heat harvesting system by thermoelectric power generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 1291-1297, April.
    5. Luo, Ding & Wang, Ruochen & Yu, Wei & Zhou, Weiqi, 2020. "Performance optimization of a converging thermoelectric generator system via multiphysics simulations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    6. Wang, Yiping & Li, Shuai & Xie, Xu & Deng, Yadong & Liu, Xun & Su, Chuqi, 2018. "Performance evaluation of an automotive thermoelectric generator with inserted fins or dimpled-surface hot heat exchanger," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 391-401.
    7. Ge, Minghui & Li, Zhenhua & Wang, Yeting & Zhao, Yulong & Zhu, Yu & Wang, Shixue & Liu, Liansheng, 2021. "Experimental study on thermoelectric power generation based on cryogenic liquid cold energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    8. 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).
    9. Lu, Hongliang & Wu, Ting & Bai, Shengqiang & Xu, Kangcong & Huang, Yingjie & Gao, Weimin & Yin, Xianglin & Chen, Lidong, 2013. "Experiment on thermal uniformity and pressure drop of exhaust heat exchanger for automotive thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 372-377.
    10. 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).
    11. Li, Bo & Huang, Kuo & Yan, Yuying & Li, Yong & Twaha, Ssennoga & Zhu, Jie, 2017. "Heat transfer enhancement of a modularised thermoelectric power generator for passenger vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 868-879.
    12. Luo, Ding & Yan, Yuying & Wang, Ruochen & Zhou, Weiqi, 2021. "Numerical investigation on the dynamic response characteristics of a thermoelectric generator module under transient temperature excitations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 811-823.
    13. Ando Junior, O.H. & Maran, A.L.O. & Henao, N.C., 2018. "A review of the development and applications of thermoelectric microgenerators for energy harvesting," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 376-393.
    14. Zhao, Yulong & Wang, Shixue & Ge, Minghui & Liang, Zhaojun & Liang, Yifan & Li, Yanzhe, 2019. "Performance investigation of an intermediate fluid thermoelectric generator for automobile exhaust waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 425-433.
    15. Fernández-Yañez, Pablo & Armas, Octavio & Capetillo, Azael & Martínez-Martínez, Simón, 2018. "Thermal analysis of a thermoelectric generator for light-duty diesel engines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 690-702.
    16. Wang, Ruochen & Yu, Wei & Meng, Xiangpeng, 2018. "Performance investigation and energy optimization of a thermoelectric generator for a mild hybrid vehicle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1016-1028.
    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. Liu, H.R. & Li, B.J. & Hua, L.J. & Wang, R.Z., 2022. "Designing thermoelectric self-cooling system for electronic devices: Experimental investigation and model validation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    2. Sun, Zeyu & Luo, Ding & Wang, Ruochen & Li, Ying & Yan, Yuying & Cheng, Ziming & Chen, Jie, 2022. "Evaluation of energy recovery potential of solar thermoelectric generators using a three-dimensional transient numerical model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    3. Ge, Minghui & Zhao, Yuntong & Li, Yanzhe & He, Wei & Xie, Liyao & Zhao, Yulong, 2022. "Structural optimization of thermoelectric modules in a concentration photovoltaic–thermoelectric hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PB).
    4. Carvalho, Rui & Martins, Jorge & Pacheco, Nuno & Puga, Hélder & Costa, Joaquim & Vieira, Rui & Goncalves, L.M. & Brito, Francisco P., 2023. "Experimental validation and numerical assessment of a temperature-controlled thermoelectric generator concept aimed at maximizing performance under highly variable thermal load driving cycles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    5. 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.
    6. Yousefi, Esmaeil & Nejad, Ali Abbas & Rezania, Alireza, 2022. "Higher power output in thermoelectric generator integrated with phase change material and metal foams under transient boundary condition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    7. 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).
    8. Zhang, Feng & Wang, Xinhe & Hou, Xinting & Han, Cheng & Wu, Mingying & Liu, Zhongbing, 2022. "Variance-based global sensitivity analysis of a hybrid thermoelectric generator fuzzy system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    9. Wielgosz, Sarah E. & Clifford, Corey E. & Yu, Kevin & Barry, Matthew M., 2023. "Fully–coupled thermal–electric modeling of thermoelectric generators," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    10. 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).
    11. Zhu, WenChao & Yang, Wenlong & Yang, Yang & Li, Yang & Li, Hao & Shi, Ying & Yan, Yonggao & Xie, Changjun, 2022. "Economic configuration optimization of onboard annual thermoelectric generators under multiple operating conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 486-499.
    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. Hong, Bing-Hua & Huang, Xiao-Yan & He, Jian-Wei & Cai, Yang & Wang, Wei-Wei & Zhao, Fu-Yun, 2023. "Round-the-clock performance of solar thermoelectric wall with phase change material in subtropical climate: Critical analysis and parametric investigations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    14. Ge, Minghui & Li, Zhenhua & Zhao, Yuntong & Xuan, Zhiwei & Li, Yanzhe & Zhao, Yulong, 2022. "Experimental study of thermoelectric generator with different numbers of modules for waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    15. Dawahdeh, Ahmad I. & Al-Nimr, Moh'd.A., 2023. "A novel energy harvesting and battery thermal management in hybrid vehicles using a thermally regenerative electrochemical device," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    16. Lin, Yuancheng & Chong, Chin Hao & Ma, Linwei & Li, Zheng & Ni, Weidou, 2022. "Quantification of waste heat potential in China: A top-down Societal Waste Heat Accounting Model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    17. Zhao, Yulong & Lu, Mingjie & Li, Yanzhe & Wang, Yulin & Ge, Minghui, 2023. "Numerical investigation of an exhaust thermoelectric generator with a perforated plate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PB).

    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. 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.
    2. 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).
    3. Zhao, Yulong & Lu, Mingjie & Li, Yanzhe & Wang, Yulin & Ge, Minghui, 2023. "Numerical investigation of an exhaust thermoelectric generator with a perforated plate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PB).
    4. Luo, Ding & Wang, Ruochen & Yu, Wei & Zhou, Weiqi, 2020. "Performance optimization of a converging thermoelectric generator system via multiphysics simulations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    5. 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).
    6. 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).
    7. 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).
    8. 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).
    9. 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).
    10. Aljaghtham, Mutabe & Celik, Emrah, 2020. "Design optimization of oil pan thermoelectric generator to recover waste heat from internal combustion engines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    11. Sun, Zeyu & Luo, Ding & Wang, Ruochen & Li, Ying & Yan, Yuying & Cheng, Ziming & Chen, Jie, 2022. "Evaluation of energy recovery potential of solar thermoelectric generators using a three-dimensional transient numerical model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    12. 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.
    13. Ge, Minghui & Li, Zhenhua & Zhao, Yuntong & Xuan, Zhiwei & Li, Yanzhe & Zhao, Yulong, 2022. "Experimental study of thermoelectric generator with different numbers of modules for waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    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. Zhao, Yulong & Wang, Shixue & Ge, Minghui & Liang, Zhaojun & Liang, Yifan & Li, Yanzhe, 2019. "Performance investigation of an intermediate fluid thermoelectric generator for automobile exhaust waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 425-433.
    16. Shittu, Samson & Li, Guiqiang & Zhao, Xudong & Ma, Xiaoli, 2020. "Review of thermoelectric geometry and structure optimization for performance enhancement," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    17. Ma, Xiaonan & Shu, Gequn & Tian, Hua & Xu, Wen & Chen, Tianyu, 2019. "Performance assessment of engine exhaust-based segmented thermoelectric generators by length ratio optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C), pages 614-625.
    18. He, Min & Wang, Enhua & Zhang, Yuanyin & Zhang, Wen & Zhang, Fujun & Zhao, Changlu, 2020. "Performance analysis of a multilayer thermoelectric generator for exhaust heat recovery of a heavy-duty diesel engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    19. 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).
    20. Martí Comamala & Ivan Ruiz Cózar & Albert Massaguer & Eduard Massaguer & Toni Pujol, 2018. "Effects of Design Parameters on Fuel Economy and Output Power in an Automotive Thermoelectric Generator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-28, November.

    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:energy:v:238:y:2022:i:pb:s0360544221020648. 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.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    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.