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Compact automotive thermoelectric generator with embedded heat pipes for thermal control

Author

Listed:
  • Pacheco, N.
  • Brito, F.P.
  • Vieira, R.
  • Martins, J.
  • Barbosa, H.
  • Goncalves, L.M.

Abstract

Currently, the automotive industry faces challenges to implement solutions that provide reductions in energy consumption, pollutants and greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. Exhaust heat recovery employing Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) enables the direct conversion of heat into electric energy without moving parts and little to no maintenance. On-board electrical production is especially useful given the growing electrification trend of road vehicles. The present work assesses the performance of a novel temperature-controlled thermoelectric generator (TCTG) concept in a light duty vehicle and its impact on fuel economy and GHG emissions under realistic driving conditions. The novel exhaust heat exchanger (HE) concept consists of corrugated pipes embedded in a cast aluminium matrix along with variable conductance heat pipes (VCHPs) acting as spreaders of excess heat along the longitudinal direction. This concept seems to have a quite good potential for highly variable thermal load applications, as it is able to avoid overheating by spreading heat instead of wasting it through by-pass systems. Furthermore, when compared to previous concepts by the group, it does not need gravity assistance and has a form factor similar to conventional generators. It also appears to be capable of delivering a breakthrough electric output for TEG systems in such light vehicles, with as much as 572 W and 1538 W of average and maximum electric powers during a driving cycle, respectively, and showing a quite promising reduction of 5.4% in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Pacheco, N. & Brito, F.P. & Vieira, R. & Martins, J. & Barbosa, H. & Goncalves, L.M., 2020. "Compact automotive thermoelectric generator with embedded heat pipes for thermal control," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:197:y:2020:i:c:s0360544220302619
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.117154
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Jie Liu & Ki-Yeol Shin & Sung Chul Kim, 2022. "Comparison and Parametric Analysis of Thermoelectric Generator System for Industrial Waste Heat Recovery with Three Types of Heat Sinks: Numerical Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-16, August.
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    6. Ana Sofia Moita & Pedro Pontes & Lourenço Martins & Miguel Coelho & Oscar Carvalho & F. P. Brito & António Luís N. Moreira, 2022. "Complex Fluid Flow in Microchannels and Heat Pipes with Enhanced Surfaces for Advanced Heat Conversion and Recovery Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    7. Deng, Jinchang & Zhou, Fubao & Shi, Bobo & Torero, José L. & Qi, Haining & Liu, Peng & Ge, Shaokun & Wang, Zhiyu & Chen, Chen, 2020. "Waste heat recovery, utilization and evaluation of coalfield fire applying heat pipe combined thermoelectric generator in Xinjiang, China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    8. Carvalho, Rui & Martins, Jorge & Pacheco, Nuno & Puga, Hélder & Costa, Joaquim & Vieira, Rui & Goncalves, L.M. & Brito, Francisco P., 2023. "Experimental validation and numerical assessment of a temperature-controlled thermoelectric generator concept aimed at maximizing performance under highly variable thermal load driving cycles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    9. Sui, Xiaomei & Zhang, Zhe & Zhang, Yuqi & Xu, Daochun & Li, Wenbin, 2021. "Simplified calculation model for the effect of nonlinear temperature dependence of thermoelectric properties on the conversion efficiency," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    10. Luo, Ding & Wang, Ruochen & Yan, Yuying & Yu, Wei & Zhou, Weiqi, 2021. "Transient numerical modelling of a thermoelectric generator system used for automotive exhaust waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    11. Yousefi, Esmaeil & Kayhani, Mohammad Hassan & Abbas Nejad, Ali & Nikkhoo, Amirfarhang, 2024. "Experimental investigation of the external load effect on thermoelectric generator discharge time in a low power energy harvesting system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    12. He, Min & Wang, Enhua & Zhang, Yuanyin & Zhang, Wen & Zhang, Fujun & Zhao, Changlu, 2020. "Performance analysis of a multilayer thermoelectric generator for exhaust heat recovery of a heavy-duty diesel engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    13. 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).
    14. Mohammadnia, Ali & Ziapour, Behrooz M. & Sedaghati, Farzad & Rosendahl, Lasse & Rezania, Alireza, 2021. "Fan operating condition effect on performance of self- cooling thermoelectric generator system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    15. Xiaoyu Liu & Chong Zhao & Hao Guo & Zhongcheng Wang, 2022. "Performance Analysis of Ship Exhaust Gas Temperature Differential Power Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, May.
    16. Carolina Clasen Sousa & Jorge Martins & Óscar Carvalho & Miguel Coelho & Ana Sofia Moita & Francisco P. Brito, 2022. "Assessment of an Exhaust Thermoelectric Generator Incorporating Thermal Control Applied to a Heavy Duty Vehicle," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-19, June.

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