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Performance of a thermoelectric generator intensified by temperature oscillation

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  • Chen, Wei-Hsin
  • Huang, Shih-Rong
  • Wang, Xiao-Dong
  • Wu, Po-Hua
  • Lin, Yu-Li

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the performance of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) under the influence of sinusoidal temperature distribution at the hot side or cold side surface. The impacts of the period and amplitude of the periodic temperature, the temperature difference between the two surfaces, and the external load resistance on the power output and efficiency of the TEG are studied. The numerical simulations indicate that the period of temperature fluctuation plays no part on the TEG performance, whereas the power output of the TEG is significantly affected by the oscillating temperature. The higher the temperature amplitude, the larger the power output. With the temperature amplitude of 75 K at the hot side surface, the power output can be intensified up to 18%. In contrast, the maximum improvement in the power output is less than 1% when the oscillating temperature is excited at the cold side surface with the temperature amplitude of 15 K. The predictions also suggest that the optimal external load resistance is not affected by the boundary conditions of oscillating temperature, and the TEG performance is identical when the temperature difference between the two surfaces is fixed.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Wei-Hsin & Huang, Shih-Rong & Wang, Xiao-Dong & Wu, Po-Hua & Lin, Yu-Li, 2017. "Performance of a thermoelectric generator intensified by temperature oscillation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 257-269.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:133:y:2017:i:c:p:257-269
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.05.091
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    Cited by:

    1. Tian, Yuanyuan & Liu, Anbang & Wang, Junli & Zhou, Yajie & Bao, Chengpeng & Xie, Huaqing & Wu, Zihua & Wang, Yuanyuan, 2021. "Optimized output electricity of thermoelectric generators by matching phase change material and thermoelectric material for intermittent heat sources," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    2. 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.
    3. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Lin, Yi-Xian & Wang, Xiao-Dong & Lin, Yu-Li, 2019. "A comprehensive analysis of the performance of thermoelectric generators with constant and variable properties," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C), pages 11-24.
    4. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Lin, Shih-Cheng, 2018. "Biogas partial oxidation in a heat recirculation reactor for syngas production and CO2 utilization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 113-125.
    5. Jia, Xiaodong & Guo, Qiuting, 2020. "Design study of Bismuth-Telluride-based thermoelectric generators based on thermoelectric and mechanical performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    6. Sun, Yajing & Chen, Gang & Duan, Bo & Li, Guodong & Zhai, Pengcheng, 2019. "An annular thermoelectric couple analytical model by considering temperature-dependent material properties and Thomson effect," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    7. Nour Eddine, A. & Chalet, D. & Faure, X. & Aixala, L. & Chessé, P., 2018. "Effect of engine exhaust gas pulsations on the performance of a thermoelectric generator for wasted heat recovery: An experimental and analytical investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 715-727.
    8. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Wu, Po-Hua & Lin, Yu-Li, 2018. "Performance optimization of thermoelectric generators designed by multi-objective genetic algorithm," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 211-223.
    9. Zhu, Xingzhuang & Zuo, Zhengxing & Wang, Wei & Jia, Boru & Zhan, Tianzhuo, 2023. "Experimental research and optimization of a thermoelectric generator excited by pulsed combustion mode under limited heat dissipation for combined heat and power supply," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    10. 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.
    11. He, Zhi-Zhu, 2020. "A coupled electrical-thermal impedance matching model for design optimization of thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    12. 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).
    13. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Chiou, Yi-Bin, 2020. "Geometry design for maximizing output power of segmented skutterudite thermoelectric generator by evolutionary computation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    14. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Chiou, Yi-Bin & Chein, Rei-Yu & Uan, Jun-Yen & Wang, Xiao-Dong, 2022. "Power generation of thermoelectric generator with plate fins for recovering low-temperature waste heat," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PA).
    15. Ubando, Aristotle T. & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Ong, Hwai Chyuan, 2019. "Iron oxide reduction by graphite and torrefied biomass analyzed by TG-FTIR for mitigating CO2 emissions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 968-977.

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