IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v220y2021ics0360544220328528.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Simplified calculation model for the effect of nonlinear temperature dependence of thermoelectric properties on the conversion efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Sui, Xiaomei
  • Zhang, Zhe
  • Zhang, Yuqi
  • Xu, Daochun
  • Li, Wenbin

Abstract

Thermoelectric (TE) materials play an important role in energy production and utilization, but the temperature dependence of material properties makes theoretical analysis challenging. In this work, the TE differential equation is solved by introducing the volume average of TE material parameters, and a simplified TE element model is established for a TE element with a linear temperature profile. The temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity are incorporated into the thermal conductivity equation, and the TE conversion efficiency is solved. This proposed model is applied to a high-performance N-type half-Heusler alloy, and the obtained maximum conversion efficiency agrees well with the numerical results (with relative error 1.36%) for an average temperature Tm = 510 K and temperature difference ΔT = 440 K. The results confirm that the proposed model, which incorporates the Thomson effect, is simple and accurate, providing valuable guidance for optimal performance design of TE devices.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:220:y:2021:i:c:s0360544220328528
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.119745
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544220328528
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2020.119745?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. 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).
    2. 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.
    3. Yamashita, Osamu, 2009. "Effect of linear and non-linear components in the temperature dependences of thermoelectric properties on the cooling performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(9), pages 1746-1756, September.
    4. Ju, Chengjian & Dui, Guansuo & Zheng, Helen Hao & Xin, Libiao, 2017. "Revisiting the temperature dependence in material properties and performance of thermoelectric materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 249-257.
    5. Meng, Fankai & Chen, Lingen & Sun, Fengrui & Yang, Bo, 2014. "Thermoelectric power generation driven by blast furnace slag flushing water," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 965-972.
    6. Shen, Zu-Guo & Wu, Shuang-Ying & Xiao, Lan & Yin, Gang, 2016. "Theoretical modeling of thermoelectric generator with particular emphasis on the effect of side surface heat transfer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 367-379.
    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)

    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. Ju, Chengjian & Dui, Guansuo & Zheng, Helen Hao & Xin, Libiao, 2017. "Revisiting the temperature dependence in material properties and performance of thermoelectric materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 249-257.
    2. 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.
    3. 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).
    4. Huang, Bin & Shen, Zu-Guo, 2022. "Performance assessment of annular thermoelectric generators for automobile exhaust waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. Lan, Yuncheng & Lu, Junhui & Li, Junming & Wang, Suilin, 2022. "Effects of temperature-dependent thermal properties and the side leg heat dissipation on the performance of the thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    8. 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).
    9. Ponnusamy, P. & de Boor, J. & Müller, E., 2020. "Using the constant properties model for accurate performance estimation of thermoelectric generator elements," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    10. Shen, Zu-Guo & Liu, Xun & Chen, Shuai & Wu, Shuang-Ying & Xiao, Lan & Chen, Zu-Xiang, 2018. "Theoretical analysis on a segmented annular thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 297-313.
    11. Harb, Abd El-Moneim A. & Elsayed, Khairy & Sedrak, Momtaz & Ahmed, Mahmoud & Abdo, Ahmed, 2024. "Enhancing the performance of thermoelectric generators using novel segmental arrangement of multi-functional gradient materials," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    12. Xiong, Bing & Chen, Lingen & Meng, Fankai & Sun, Fengrui, 2014. "Modeling and performance analysis of a two-stage thermoelectric energy harvesting system from blast furnace slag water waste heat," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 562-569.
    13. Sripadmanabhan Indira, Sridhar & Aravind Vaithilingam, Chockalingam & Narasingamurthi, Kulasekharan & Sivasubramanian, Ramsundar & Chong, Kok-Keong & Saidur, R., 2022. "Mathematical modelling, performance evaluation and exergy analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal-solar thermoelectric system integrated with compound parabolic concentrator and parabolic trough con," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    14. Sun, Yongqi & Shen, Hongwei & Wang, Hao & Wang, Xidong & Zhang, Zuotai, 2014. "Experimental investigation and modeling of cooling processes of high temperature slags," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 761-767.
    15. Chen, Jie & Wang, Ruochen & Ding, Renkai & Luo, Ding, 2024. "Matching design and numerical optimization of automotive thermoelectric generator system applied to range-extended electric vehicle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 370(C).
    16. 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.
    17. 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.
    18. 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.
    19. 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.
    20. Utlu, Zafer, 2015. "Investigation of the potential for heat recovery at low, medium, and high stages in the Turkish industrial sector (TIS): An application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 394-405.

    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:220:y:2021:i:c:s0360544220328528. 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.