IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v222y2018icp410-422.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Bidirectional operation of the thermoelectric device for active temperature control of fuel cells

Author

Listed:
  • Kwan, Trevor Hocksun
  • Wu, Xiaofeng
  • Yao, Qinghe

Abstract

The thermoelectric (TE) device enables a conversion interface between the heat transfer and the electricity domain. Specifically, it can operate bi-directionally – Heat can be converted to electricity via the thermoelectric generator (TEG) effect and vice versa via the thermoelectric cooling (TEC) effect. In most state of the art research, the TE device is operated either in the TEG mode or TEC mode but very seldom in both modes for a single control objective. This paper proposes a thermal management system for a fuel cell who exploits the bi-directional characteristics of the TE device to achieve both temperature control and the possibility for energy harvesting when active control is not required. The studied scenarios involve a time-based simulation involving heat generation levels that are typical of a 500 W rated operating proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The overall dynamic system is simulated using Simscape library components in Simulink and the controller itself is implemented using MATLAB s-functions. An experiment involving electric heaters to emulate the fuel cell’s body heat is also conducted to verify the proposed combined TEG-TEC control approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Wu, Xiaofeng & Yao, Qinghe, 2018. "Bidirectional operation of the thermoelectric device for active temperature control of fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 410-422.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:222:y:2018:i:c:p:410-422
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.04.016
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261918305609
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.04.016?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. Ram, J. Prasanth & Babu, T. Sudhakar & Rajasekar, N., 2017. "A comprehensive review on solar PV maximum power point tracking techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 826-847.
    2. Högblom, Olle & Andersson, Ronnie, 2016. "A simulation framework for prediction of thermoelectric generator system performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 472-482.
    3. Wang, Tongcai & Luan, Weiling & Wang, Wei & Tu, Shan-Tung, 2014. "Waste heat recovery through plate heat exchanger based thermoelectric generator system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 860-865.
    4. Wang, Yancheng & Shi, Yaoguang & Mei, Deqing & Chen, Zichen, 2018. "Wearable thermoelectric generator to harvest body heat for powering a miniaturized accelerometer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 690-698.
    5. Montecucco, Andrea & Siviter, Jonathan & Knox, Andrew R., 2014. "The effect of temperature mismatch on thermoelectric generators electrically connected in series and parallel," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 47-54.
    6. Jiang, Wei & Yuan, Dongdong & Xu, Shudong & Hu, Huitao & Xiao, Jingjing & Sha, Aimin & Huang, Yue, 2017. "Energy harvesting from asphalt pavement using thermoelectric technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 941-950.
    7. Zhao, Dongliang & Lu, Xing & Fan, Tianzhu & Wu, Yuen Shing & Lou, Lun & Wang, Qiuwang & Fan, Jintu & Yang, Ronggui, 2018. "Personal thermal management using portable thermoelectrics for potential building energy saving," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 282-291.
    8. Xi, Hongxia & Luo, Lingai & Fraisse, Gilles, 2007. "Development and applications of solar-based thermoelectric technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 11(5), pages 923-936, June.
    9. Wang, Tian-Hu & Wang, Qiu-Hong & Leng, Chuan & Wang, Xiao-Dong, 2015. "Parameter analysis and optimal design for two-stage thermoelectric cooler," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1-12.
    10. Lv, Hao & Wang, Xiao-Dong & Meng, Jing-Hui & Wang, Tian-Hu & Yan, Wei-Mon, 2016. "Enhancement of maximum temperature drop across thermoelectric cooler through two-stage design and transient supercooling effect," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 285-292.
    11. Al-Nimr, Moh'd A. & Tashtoush, Bourhan M. & Jaradat, Ahmad A., 2015. "Modeling and simulation of thermoelectric device working as a heat pump and an electric generator under Mediterranean climate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P2), pages 1239-1250.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. Fankai Meng & Lingen Chen & Fengrui Sun, 2016. "Effects of thermocouples’ physical size on the performance of the TEG–TEH system," International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, Oxford University Press, vol. 11(3), pages 375-382.
    16. Meng, Jing-Hui & Zhang, Xin-Xin & Wang, Xiao-Dong, 2014. "Multi-objective and multi-parameter optimization of a thermoelectric generator module," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 367-376.
    17. Zhang, Houcheng & Xu, Haoran & Chen, Bin & Dong, Feifei & Ni, Meng, 2017. "Two-stage thermoelectric generators for waste heat recovery from solid oxide fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 280-288.
    18. Li, Dianhong & Xuan, Yimin & Li, Qiang & Hong, Hui, 2017. "Exergy and energy analysis of photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 343-351.
    19. Eom, Yoomin & Wijethunge, Dimuthu & Park, Hwanjoo & Park, Sang Hyun & Kim, Woochul, 2017. "Flexible thermoelectric power generation system based on rigid inorganic bulk materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 649-656.
    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. Dagang Lu & Fengyan Yi & Jianwei Li, 2022. "Optimization of the Adaptability of the Fuel Cell Vehicle Waste Heat Utilization Subsystem to Extreme Cold Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.
    2. 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).
    3. Hossein Pourrahmani & Hamed Shakeri & Jan Van herle, 2022. "Thermoelectric Generator as the Waste Heat Recovery Unit of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: A Numerical Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-21, April.
    4. Saufi Sulaiman, M. & Singh, B. & Mohamed, W.A.N.W., 2019. "Experimental and theoretical study of thermoelectric generator waste heat recovery model for an ultra-low temperature PEM fuel cell powered vehicle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 628-646.
    5. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Shen, Yongting & Yao, Qinghe, 2019. "An energy management strategy for supplying combined heat and power by the fuel cell thermoelectric hybrid system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    6. Li, Linjun & Wang, Shixue & Yue, Like & Wang, Guozhuo, 2019. "Cold-start method for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells based on locally heating the cathode," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    7. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Wu, Xiaofeng & Yao, Qinghe, 2018. "Integrated TEG-TEC and variable coolant flow rate controller for temperature control and energy harvesting," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 448-456.
    8. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Katsushi, Fujii & Shen, Yongting & Yin, Shunan & Zhang, Yongchao & Kase, Kiwamu & Yao, Qinghe, 2020. "Comprehensive review of integrating fuel cells to other energy systems for enhanced performance and enabling polygeneration," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    9. Hsu, Ping-Chia & Saragih, Ahmad Abror & Huang, Mei-Jiau & Juang, Jia-Yang, 2022. "New machine functions using waste heat recovery: A case study of atmospheric pressure plasma jet," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PD).

    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 & Yao, Qinghe, 2018. "Integrated TEG-TEC and variable coolant flow rate controller for temperature control and energy harvesting," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 448-456.
    2. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Wu, Xiaofeng & Yao, Qinghe, 2018. "Multi-objective genetic optimization of the thermoelectric system for thermal management of proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 314-327.
    3. 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).
    4. Jing-Hui Meng & Hao-Chi Wu & Tian-Hu Wang, 2019. "Optimization of Two-Stage Combined Thermoelectric Devices by a Three-Dimensional Multi-Physics Model and Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-24, July.
    5. 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.
    6. Shittu, Samson & Li, Guiqiang & Akhlaghi, Yousef Golizadeh & Ma, Xiaoli & Zhao, Xudong & Ayodele, Emmanuel, 2019. "Advancements in thermoelectric generators for enhanced hybrid photovoltaic system performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 24-54.
    7. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2018. "Optimal design method for concentrating photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 320-329.
    8. Liu, Di & Zhao, Fu-Yun & Yang, Hongxing & Tang, Guang-Fa, 2015. "Theoretical and experimental investigations of thermoelectric heating system with multiple ventilation channels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 458-468.
    9. 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).
    10. Liu, Hai-Bo & Wang, Shuo-Lin & Yang, Yan-Ru & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Wang, Xiao-Dong, 2020. "Theoretical analysis of performance of variable cross-section thermoelectric generators: Effects of shape factor and thermal boundary conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    11. Torrecilla, Marcos Compadre & Montecucco, Andrea & Siviter, Jonathan & Strain, Andrew & Knox, Andrew R., 2018. "Transient response of a thermoelectric generator to load steps under constant heat flux," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 293-303.
    12. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Carrera Uribe, Manuel & Kwon, Eilhann E. & Lin, Kun-Yi Andrew & Park, Young-Kwon & Ding, Lu & Saw, Lip Huat, 2022. "A comprehensive review of thermoelectric generation optimization by statistical approach: Taguchi method, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and response surface methodology (RSM)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    13. Fan, Zeng & Zhang, Yaoyun & Pan, Lujun & Ouyang, Jianyong & Zhang, Qian, 2021. "Recent developments in flexible thermoelectrics: From materials to devices," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    14. Jia Yu & Qingshan Zhu & Li Kong & Haoqing Wang & Hongji Zhu, 2020. "Modeling of an Integrated Thermoelectric Generation–Cooling System for Thermoelectric Cooler Waste Heat Recovery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-10, September.
    15. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Shen, Yongting & Yao, Qinghe, 2019. "An energy management strategy for supplying combined heat and power by the fuel cell thermoelectric hybrid system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    16. Nozariasbmarz, Amin & Collins, Henry & Dsouza, Kelvin & Polash, Mobarak Hossain & Hosseini, Mahshid & Hyland, Melissa & Liu, Jie & Malhotra, Abhishek & Ortiz, Francisco Matos & Mohaddes, Farzad & Rame, 2020. "Review of wearable thermoelectric energy harvesting: From body temperature to electronic systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    17. 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.
    18. 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).
    19. Kashif Irshad, 2021. "Performance Improvement of Thermoelectric Air Cooler System by Using Variable-Pulse Current for Building Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-13, August.
    20. Ding, L.C. & Akbarzadeh, A. & Date, Abhijit, 2016. "Electric power generation via plate type power generation unit from solar pond using thermoelectric cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 61-76.

    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:222:y:2018:i:c:p:410-422. 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.