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Novel thermoelectric generator enhanced supercritical carbon dioxide closed-Brayton-cycle power generation systems: Performance comparison and configuration optimization

Author

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  • Cheng, Kunlin
  • Li, Jiahui
  • Yu, Jianchi
  • Fu, Chuanjie
  • Qin, Jiang
  • Jing, Wuxing

Abstract

Supercritical carbon dioxide (S–CO2) closed-Brayton-cycle (CBC) has been considered as one of the most promising thermodynamic cycles for power generation, but its simple recuperated layout has serious pinch point problem in the recuperation process and its recompressing layout has great difficulty in the compressor aerodynamic design and system control. Considering thermoelectric generator (TEG) is a potential approach for CBC performance improvement, this research proposes five TEG enhanced CBC configurations based on simple recuperated layout, and the corresponding models consisting of zero-dimensional CBC modules and quasi-one-dimensional TEG modules are established for performance assessment and comparison. Results indicate that the configuration with split flow, in which TEG is cooled by S–CO2 at compressor outlet, has significant enhancing effect on power generation efficiency through increasing the highest cycle temperature and the full utilization of S–CO2 heat-absorption capacity, and there is an optimal number of thermoelectric modules. Based on this configuration, an improved TEG enhanced CBC scheme, in which an additional TEG is applied as precooler, is proposed. Even if the compressor and turbine isentropic efficiencies are relatively high (ηC = 0.89 and ηT = 0.93), the improved TEG enhanced CBC still has higher power generation efficiency than the recompressing CBC (41.57 % vs. 40.94 %).

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng, Kunlin & Li, Jiahui & Yu, Jianchi & Fu, Chuanjie & Qin, Jiang & Jing, Wuxing, 2023. "Novel thermoelectric generator enhanced supercritical carbon dioxide closed-Brayton-cycle power generation systems: Performance comparison and configuration optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:284:y:2023:i:c:s0360544223027627
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.129368
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    3. Luo, Qianqian & Luo, Lei & Du, Wei & Jia, QianKun & Yan, Han, 2025. "Performance evaluation of SCO2 Brayton cycles for thermal protection and power generation in hypersonic vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    4. Luo, Qianqian & Luo, Lei & Xing, Haifeng & Du, Wei & Yan, Han, 2025. "Performance analysis of a scramjet engine thermoelectric conversion system using the SCO2 closed Brayton cycle," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
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    6. Jiang, Jiahui & Zhang, Bin & Chen, Wei & Zhang, Xuelin & Li, Dechun & Li, Jian & Li, Hengdong & Xue, Xiaodai, 2025. "Investigation and optimization of the thermal performance of compressed supercritical CO2 energy storage system based on dynamic modeling and transient simulation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).

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