IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v114y2016icp52-63.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Thermal and stress analyses in thermoelectric generator with tapered and rectangular pin configurations

Author

Listed:
  • Yilbas, Bekir Sami
  • Akhtar, S.S.
  • Sahin, A.Z.

Abstract

Thermal stress developed in thermoelectric generators is critical for long service applications. High temperature gradients, due to a large temperature difference across the junctions, causes excessive stress levels developed in the device pins and electrodes at the interfaces. In the present study, a thermoelectric generator with horizontal pin configuration is considered and thermal stress analysis in the device is presented. Ceramic wafer is considered to resemble the high temperature plate and copper electrodes are introduced at the pin junctions to reduce the electrical resistance between the pins and the high and low temperature junction plates during the operation. Finite element code is used to simulate temperature and stress fields in the thermoelectric generator. In the simulations, convection and radiation losses from the thermoelectric pins are considered and bismuth telluride pin material with and without tapering is incorporated. It is found that von Mises stress attains high values at the interface between the hot and cold junctions and the copper electrodes. Thermal stress developed in tapered pin configuration attains lower values than that of rectangular pin cross-section.

Suggested Citation

  • Yilbas, Bekir Sami & Akhtar, S.S. & Sahin, A.Z., 2016. "Thermal and stress analyses in thermoelectric generator with tapered and rectangular pin configurations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 52-63.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:114:y:2016:i:c:p:52-63
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.07.168
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036054421631101X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2016.07.168?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. Ding, L.C. & Akbarzadeh, A. & Date, A., 2016. "Transient model to predict the performance of thermoelectric generators coupled with solar pond," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 271-289.
    2. Barry, Matthew & Ying, Justin & Durka, Michael J. & Clifford, Corey E. & Reddy, B.V.K. & Chyu, Minking K., 2016. "Numerical solution of radiation view factors within a thermoelectric device," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 427-435.
    3. Manikandan, S. & Kaushik, S.C., 2016. "The influence of Thomson effect in the performance optimization of a two stage thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 227-237.
    4. Weng, Chien-Chou & Lin, Ming-Chyuan & Huang, Mei-Jiau, 2016. "A waste cold recovery from the exhausted cryogenic nitrogen by using thermoelectric power generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 385-396.
    5. Ibrahim, Amin & Rahnamayan, Shahryar & Vargas Martin, Miguel & Yilbas, Bekir, 2014. "Multi-objective thermal analysis of a thermoelectric device: Influence of geometric features on device characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 305-317.
    6. Erturun, Ugur & Erermis, Kaan & Mossi, Karla, 2015. "Influence of leg sizing and spacing on power generation and thermal stresses of thermoelectric devices," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 19-27.
    7. Sahin, Ahmet Z. & Yilbas, Bekir S., 2013. "Thermodynamic irreversibility and performance characteristics of thermoelectric power generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 899-904.
    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. Lan, Yuncheng & Lu, Junhui & Wang, Suilin, 2023. "Study of the geometry and structure of a thermoelectric leg with variable material properties and side heat dissipation based on thermodynamic, economic, and environmental analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    2. 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).
    3. Jia, Xiaodong & Guo, Qiuting, 2020. "Design study of Bismuth-Telluride-based thermoelectric generators based on thermoelectric and mechanical performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    4. Wang, Xue & Wang, Hongchao & Su, Wenbing & Chen, Tingting & Tan, Chang & Madre, María A. & Sotelo, Andres & Wang, Chunlei, 2022. "U-type unileg thermoelectric module: A novel structure for high-temperature application with long lifespan," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PB).
    5. Fan, Shifa & Gao, Yuanwen, 2019. "Numerical analysis on the segmented annular thermoelectric generator for waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 35-47.
    6. Shittu, Samson & Li, Guiqiang & Xuan, Qindong & Zhao, Xudong & Ma, Xiaoli & Cui, Yu, 2020. "Electrical and mechanical analysis of a segmented solar thermoelectric generator under non-uniform heat flux," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    7. Weng, Zebin & Liu, Furong & Zhu, Wenchao & Li, Yang & Xie, Changjun & Deng, Jian & Huang, Liang, 2022. "Performance improvement of variable-angle annular thermoelectric generators considering different boundary conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PA).
    8. 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).
    9. Kanimba, Eurydice & Pearson, Matthew & Sharp, Jeff & Stokes, David & Priya, Shashank & Tian, Zhiting, 2018. "A comprehensive model of a lead telluride thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 813-821.
    10. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Wang, Chi-Ming & Lee, Da-Sheng & Kwon, Eilhann E. & Ashokkumar, Veeramuthu & Culaba, Alvin B., 2022. "Optimization design by evolutionary computation for minimizing thermal stress of a thermoelectric generator with varied numbers of square pin fins," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    11. Tianbo Lu & Yuqiang Li & Jianxin Zhang & Pingfan Ning & Pingjuan Niu, 2020. "Cooling and Mechanical Performance Analysis of a Trapezoidal Thermoelectric Cooler with Variable Cross-Section," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-19, November.
    12. 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.

    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. Meng, Fankai & Chen, Lingen & Feng, Yuanli & Xiong, Bing, 2017. "Thermoelectric generator for industrial gas phase waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 83-90.
    2. 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.
    3. Ali, Haider & Yilbas, Bekir Sami & Al-Sharafi, Abdullah, 2017. "Innovative design of a thermoelectric generator with extended and segmented pin configurations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 367-379.
    4. Fan, Shifa & Gao, Yuanwen, 2018. "Numerical simulation on thermoelectric and mechanical performance of annular thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 38-48.
    5. 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).
    6. Lee, Heonjoong & Sharp, Jeff & Stokes, David & Pearson, Matthew & Priya, Shashank, 2018. "Modeling and analysis of the effect of thermal losses on thermoelectric generator performance using effective properties," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 987-996.
    7. Shu, Gequn & Ma, Xiaonan & Tian, Hua & Yang, Haoqi & Chen, Tianyu & Li, Xiaoya, 2018. "Configuration optimization of the segmented modules in an exhaust-based thermoelectric generator for engine waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 612-624.
    8. Ding, L.C. & Akbarzadeh, A. & Tan, L., 2018. "A review of power generation with thermoelectric system and its alternative with solar ponds," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 799-812.
    9. Ibrahim, Amin & Rahnamayan, Shahryar & Vargas Martin, Miguel & Yilbas, Bekir, 2014. "Multi-objective thermal analysis of a thermoelectric device: Influence of geometric features on device characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 305-317.
    10. Zhu, Yu & Li, Jiamei & Ge, Minghui & Gu, Hai & Wang, Shixue, 2023. "Numerical and experimental study of a non-frosting thermoelectric generation device for low temperature waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 352(C).
    11. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Wang, Chi-Ming & Lee, Da-Sheng & Kwon, Eilhann E. & Ashokkumar, Veeramuthu & Culaba, Alvin B., 2022. "Optimization design by evolutionary computation for minimizing thermal stress of a thermoelectric generator with varied numbers of square pin fins," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    12. Ge, Ya & Lin, Yousheng & He, Qing & Wang, Wenhao & Chen, Jiechao & Huang, Si-Min, 2021. "Geometric optimization of segmented thermoelectric generators for waste heat recovery systems using genetic algorithm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    13. Zhao, Dongliang & Yin, Xiaobo & Xu, Jingtao & Tan, Gang & Yang, Ronggui, 2020. "Radiative sky cooling-assisted thermoelectric cooling system for building applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    14. Jia, Xiao-Dong & Wang, Yuan-Jing & Gao, Yuan-Wen, 2017. "Numerical simulation of thermoelectric performance of linear-shaped thermoelectric generators under transient heat supply," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 276-285.
    15. Wang, Xue & Wang, Hongchao & Su, Wenbing & Chen, Tingting & Tan, Chang & Madre, María A. & Sotelo, Andres & Wang, Chunlei, 2022. "U-type unileg thermoelectric module: A novel structure for high-temperature application with long lifespan," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PB).
    16. Chen, Lingen & Lorenzini, Giulio, 2023. "Heating load, COP and exergetic efficiency optimizations for TEG-TEH combined thermoelectric device with Thomson effect and external heat transfer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    17. Su, Shanhe & Liu, Tie & Wang, Junyi & Chen, Jincan, 2014. "Evaluation of temperature-dependent thermoelectric performances based on PbTe1−yIy and PbTe: Na/Ag2Te materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 79-85.
    18. N. Kanagaraj & Hegazy Rezk & Mohamed R. Gomaa, 2020. "A Variable Fractional Order Fuzzy Logic Control Based MPPT Technique for Improving Energy Conversion Efficiency of Thermoelectric Power Generator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, September.
    19. Ge, Ya & Liu, Zhichun & Sun, Henan & Liu, Wei, 2018. "Optimal design of a segmented thermoelectric generator based on three-dimensional numerical simulation and multi-objective genetic algorithm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 1060-1069.
    20. Sun, Henan & Ge, Ya & Liu, Wei & Liu, Zhichun, 2019. "Geometric optimization of two-stage thermoelectric generator using genetic algorithms and thermodynamic analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 37-48.

    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:114:y:2016:i:c:p:52-63. 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.