IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v308y2024ics0360544224026239.html

Efficient standalone micro thermoelectric generator powered by low noise premixed combustion

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Guoneng
  • Li, Qiangsheng
  • Wang, Shifeng
  • Jiang, Pengtao
  • Zhao, Dan
  • Guo, Wenwen
  • Tang, Yuanjun

Abstract

The distributed backup power source is vitally important under emergency conditions. Micro combustion powered thermoelectric generator (μ-CPTEG) is a promising candidate as a distributed backup power source. This study innovatively designed an all-in-one configuration to develop an efficient, standalone, and silent μ-CPTEG. The newly proposed all-in-one configuration organically integrates air-preheating, fuel premixing, low-noise combustion, efficient heat collection, and smooth heat compensation and spreading. Such an all-in-one configuration creates a standalone μ-CPTEG with an overall efficiency greater than 4.2 %, which is much larger than those in previous standalone μ-CPTEGs. The present μ-CPTEG incorporates 8 TE modules, and generates an electric power of 53.2 W with a running sound pressure level of 48 dB. Such performance indicates that the average electric power per TE module reaches 6.65 W, corresponding to a TE potential release level of 80.7 % systematically. The overall efficiency, as well as the efficiency of heat recovery, combustion, heat collection, TE and combined heat and power, are explored in detail. Comprehensive discussions are conducted to uncover the dense fog of releasing the TE potential at a systematic level in an μ-CPTEG. The present study provides a concrete method to develop a powerful, standalone, and silent μ-CPTEG.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Guoneng & Li, Qiangsheng & Wang, Shifeng & Jiang, Pengtao & Zhao, Dan & Guo, Wenwen & Tang, Yuanjun, 2024. "Efficient standalone micro thermoelectric generator powered by low noise premixed combustion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:308:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224026239
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.132849
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224026239
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.132849?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Merotto, L. & Fanciulli, C. & Dondè, R. & De Iuliis, S., 2016. "Study of a thermoelectric generator based on a catalytic premixed meso-scale combustor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 346-353.
    2. Li, Guoneng & Zheng, Youqu & Guo, Wenwen & Zhu, Dongya & Tang, Yuanjun, 2020. "Mesoscale combustor-powered thermoelectric generator: Experimental optimization and evaluation metrics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    3. Sornek, Krzysztof & Filipowicz, Mariusz & Żołądek, Maciej & Kot, Radosław & Mikrut, Małgorzata, 2019. "Comparative analysis of selected thermoelectric generators operating with wood-fired stove," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 1303-1313.
    4. Aravind, B. & Hiranandani, Karan & Kumar, Sudarshan, 2020. "Development of an ultra-high capacity hydrocarbon fuel based micro thermoelectric power generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    5. Abedi, H. & Migliorini, F. & Dondè, R. & De Iuliis, S. & Passaretti, F. & Fanciulli, C., 2019. "Small size thermoelectric power supply for battery backup," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    6. Li, Guoneng & Zhu, Zhihao & Zheng, Youqu & Guo, Wenwen & Tang, Yuanjun & Ye, Chao, 2023. "Experiments on a powerful, ultra-clean, and low-noise-level swirl-combustion-powered micro thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PB).
    7. Zhao, Yulong & Zhang, Guoyin & Wen, Lei & Wang, Shixue & Wang, Yulin & Li, Yanzhe & Ge, Minghui, 2024. "Experimental study on thermoelectric characteristics of intermediate fluid thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Li, Guoneng & Fan, Yiqi & Li, Qiangsheng & Zheng, Youqu & Zhao, Dan & Wang, Shifeng & Dong, Sijie & Guo, Wenwen & Tang, Yuanjun, 2025. "A review on micro combustion powered thermoelectric generator: History, state-of-the-art and challenges to commercialization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    2. He, Ziqiang & You, Jingxiang & Kang, Dugang & Zou, Qunfeng & Zhang, Wenxiang & Zhang, Zhien, 2024. "Overall numerical simulation of chemical-thermal-electric conversion for an all-in-one thermoelectric generator based on micro scale combustion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    3. Li, Guoneng & Zhu, Zhihao & Zheng, Youqu & Guo, Wenwen & Tang, Yuanjun & Ye, Chao, 2023. "Experiments on a powerful, ultra-clean, and low-noise-level swirl-combustion-powered micro thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PB).
    4. Cui, Xiangna & Wu, Yixuan & Chen, Xi, 2025. "Thermoelectric generation: principles, applications, and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    5. Shen, Rong & Li, Guoneng & Zhu, Yiyuan & Tang, Yuanjun & Guo, Wenwen & Zheng, Youqu & Huang, Kenan, 2024. "Development of a compact high-performance combustion powered thermoelectric generator based on swirl burner," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    6. E, Jiaqiang & Luo, Bo & Han, Dandan & Chen, Jingwei & Liao, Gaoliang & Zhang, Feng & Ding, Jiangjun, 2022. "A comprehensive review on performance improvement of micro energy mechanical system: Heat transfer, micro combustion and energy conversion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    7. Zhao, Yulong & Zhang, Guoyin & Wen, Lei & Wang, Shixue & Wang, Yulin & Li, Yanzhe & Ge, Minghui, 2024. "Experimental study on thermoelectric characteristics of intermediate fluid thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    8. Li, Guoneng & Zheng, Youqu & Guo, Wenwen & Zhu, Dongya & Tang, Yuanjun, 2020. "Mesoscale combustor-powered thermoelectric generator: Experimental optimization and evaluation metrics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    9. Yan, Yunfei & Meng, Xiaoyue & Wang, Dandan & Wu, Yonghong & Zhang, Chenghua & Zhao, Xuelin, 2025. "Optimized cold-end structure in a MTPV-MTEG utilization system: Analysis of combustion characteristics and energy efficiency," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    10. Zhu, Xingzhuang & Zuo, Zhengxing & Wang, Wei & Zhang, Min & Yin, Qian & Liu, Ruiheng & Jia, Boru, 2025. "Transient modeling and analysis of a stepped-configuration thermoelectric generator considering non-uniform temperature distribution," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 383(C).
    11. Aravind, B. & Sadasivam, Sivachidambaram & Davies, Jordan & Mashruk, Syed & Valera-Medina, Agustin, 2025. "Experimental demonstration of in-situ cracked premixed swirl NH3-air flames," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 401(PB).
    12. Vinay Sankar & Sreejith Sudarsanan & Sudipto Mukhopadhyay & Prabhu Selvaraj & Aravind Balakrishnan & Ratna Kishore Velamati, 2023. "Towards the Development of Miniature Scale Liquid Fuel Combustors for Power Generation Application—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-41, May.
    13. Shen, Rong & Gou, Xiaolong & Xu, Haoyu & Qiu, Kuanrong, 2017. "Dynamic performance analysis of a cascaded thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 808-815.
    14. Aravind, B. & Khandelwal, Bhupendra & Ramakrishna, P.A. & Kumar, Sudarshan, 2020. "Towards the development of a high power density, high efficiency, micro power generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    15. Fanciulli, C. & Abedi, H. & Merotto, L. & Dondè, R. & De Iuliis, S. & Passaretti, F., 2018. "Portable thermoelectric power generation based on catalytic combustor for low power electronic equipment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 300-308.
    16. Tayfun Uyanık & Emir Ejder & Yasin Arslanoğlu & Yunus Yalman & Yacine Terriche & Chun-Lien Su & Josep M. Guerrero, 2022. "Thermoelectric Generators as an Alternative Energy Source in Shipboard Microgrids," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-14, June.
    17. Abedi, H. & Migliorini, F. & Dondè, R. & De Iuliis, S. & Passaretti, F. & Fanciulli, C., 2019. "Small size thermoelectric power supply for battery backup," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    18. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Jing, Feng-Feng & Luo, Ding & Hoang, Anh Tuan & Yu, Yuan & Wuttig, Matthias, 2026. "Integrating methane partial oxidation and thermoelectric generation in a Swiss-roll reactor: Hydrogen and electricity dual production and life cycle assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 406(C).
    19. Luo, Ding & Zhang, Haokang & Cao, Jin & Yan, Yuyin & Cao, Bingyang, 2024. "Numerical investigation and optimization of a hexagonal thermoelectric generator with diverging fins for exhaust waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    20. Chetty, Raju & Nagase, Kazuo & Aihara, Makoto & Jood, Priyanka & Takazawa, Hiroyuki & Ohta, Michihiro & Yamamoto, Atsushi, 2020. "Mechanically durable thermoelectric power generation module made of Ni-based alloy as a reference for reliable testing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:308:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224026239. 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.