IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v233y2021ics036054422101361x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimized output electricity of thermoelectric generators by matching phase change material and thermoelectric material for intermittent heat sources

Author

Listed:
  • Tian, Yuanyuan
  • Liu, Anbang
  • Wang, Junli
  • Zhou, Yajie
  • Bao, Chengpeng
  • Xie, Huaqing
  • Wu, Zihua
  • Wang, Yuanyuan

Abstract

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are usually working in intermittent heat source environments, and thus the phase change material (PCM) has been widely adopted in to maintain relatively stable temperature difference. The property matching between the PCM and the TEGs is one of the crucial problems to influence the performance of the PCM-TEG system. In this work, the influence of the phase change temperature of the PCM on the output power and generated electricity of PCM-TEG system is studied. Classic Enthalpy model and three-dimensional coupled thermo-electric equations are applied to study the heat transfer and energy conversion mechanisms. Our results show that the output electric energy of a PCM-TEG system can be optimized by tuning the phase change temperature of PCM. The total generated electricity can be enhanced as large as 15.6% by matching the PCM with the thermoelectric properties of the thermoelement. Moreover, by comparing three cases with different thermoelectric materials, we give relationship between the optimal phase change temperature of PCM and the temperature for maximum figure of merit (ZT) of the thermoelement, which provides a selection criterion of PCM for TEG module. Our work could be helpful to realize further high efficiency thermoelectric generators for intermittent heat sources.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:233:y:2021:i:c:s036054422101361x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.121113
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036054422101361X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2021.121113?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. Ma, Zhesong & Wang, Yanhui & Wang, Shuxin & Yang, Yanan, 2016. "Ocean thermal energy harvesting with phase change material for underwater glider," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 557-566.
    2. Pereira da Cunha, Jose & Eames, Philip, 2016. "Thermal energy storage for low and medium temperature applications using phase change materials – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 227-238.
    3. Liu, Ming & Saman, Wasim & Bruno, Frank, 2012. "Review on storage materials and thermal performance enhancement techniques for high temperature phase change thermal storage systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 2118-2132.
    4. 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.
    5. Zhu, Wei & Tu, Yubin & Deng, Yuan, 2018. "Multi-parameter optimization design of thermoelectric harvester based on phase change material for space generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 873-880.
    6. Chen, Leisheng & Lee, Jaeyoung, 2015. "Effect of pulsed heat power on the thermal and electrical performances of a thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 138-149.
    7. Gou, Xiaolong & Yang, Suwen & Xiao, Heng & Ou, Qiang, 2013. "A dynamic model for thermoelectric generator applied in waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 201-209.
    8. Jankowski, Nicholas R. & McCluskey, F. Patrick, 2014. "A review of phase change materials for vehicle component thermal buffering," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1525-1561.
    9. Tu, Yubin & Zhu, Wei & Lu, Tianqi & Deng, Yuan, 2017. "A novel thermoelectric harvester based on high-performance phase change material for space application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 1194-1202.
    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. Yang, Huizhu & Li, Mingxuan & Wang, Zehui & Ren, Fengsheng & Yang, Yue & Ma, Bijian & Zhu, Yonggang, 2023. "Performance optimization for a novel two-stage thermoelectric generator with different PCMs embedding modes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    2. Cai, Yang & Hong, Bing-Hua & Wu, Wei-Xiong & Wang, Wei-Wei & Zhao, Fu-Yun, 2022. "Active cooling performance of a PCM-based thermoelectric device: Dynamic characteristics and parametric investigations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    3. Huang, Bin & Shen, Zu-Guo, 2022. "Performance assessment of annular thermoelectric generators for automobile exhaust waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    4. Zuo, Peixian & Liu, Zhong & Zhang, Hua & Dai, Dasong & Fu, Ziyan & Corker, Jorge & Fan, Mizi, 2023. "Formulation and phase change mechanism of Capric acid/Octadecanol binary composite phase change materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    5. Huang, Xiao-Yan & Zhou, Ze-Yu & Shu, Zheng-Yu & Cai, Yang & Lv, You & Wang, Wei-Wei & Zhao, Fu-Yun, 2024. "A phase change material based annular thermoelectric energy harvester from ambient temperature fluctuations: Transient modeling and critical characteristics," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    6. Wang, Z.H. & Ma, Y.J. & Tang, G.H. & Zhang, Hu & Ji, F. & Sheng, Q., 2023. "Integration of thermal insulation and thermoelectric conversion embedded with phase change materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    7. Tian, Yang & Liu, Xianglei & Zheng, Hangbin & Xu, Qiao & Zhu, Zhonghui & Luo, Qinyang & Song, Chao & Gao, Ke & Yao, Haichen & Dang, Chunzhuo & Xuan, Yimin, 2022. "Artificial mitochondrion for fast latent heat storage: Experimental study and lattice Boltzmann simulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).

    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. Liu, Yang & Zheng, Ruowei & Li, Ji, 2022. "High latent heat phase change materials (PCMs) with low melting temperature for thermal management and storage of electronic devices and power batteries: Critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    2. Aljaghtham, Mutabe & Celik, Emrah, 2022. "Design of cascade thermoelectric generation systems with improved thermal reliability," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    3. Wang, Yilin & Cheng, Kunlin & Dang, Chaolei & Wang, Cong & Qin, Jiang & Huang, Hongyan, 2023. "Performance and experimental investigation for a novel heat storage based thermoelectric harvester for hypersonic vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    4. Ur Rehman, Ata & Zhao, Tianyu & Shah, Muhammad Zahir & Khan, Yaqoob & Hayat, Asif & Dang, Changwei & Zheng, Maosheng & Yun, Sining, 2023. "Nanoengineering of MgSO4 nanohybrid on MXene substrate for efficient thermochemical heat storage material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).
    5. Yasmine Lalau & Sacha Rigal & Jean-Pierre Bédécarrats & Didier Haillot, 2024. "Latent Thermal Energy Storage System for Heat Recovery between 120 and 150 °C: Material Stability and Corrosion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Khor, J.O. & Sze, J.Y. & Li, Y. & Romagnoli, A., 2020. "Overcharging of a cascaded packed bed thermal energy storage: Effects and solutions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    7. Costa, Sol Carolina & Kenisarin, Murat, 2022. "A review of metallic materials for latent heat thermal energy storage: Thermophysical properties, applications, and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    8. Yang, Kun & Zhu, Neng & Chang, Chen & Wang, Daquan & Yang, Shan & Ma, Shengming, 2018. "A methodological concept for phase change material selection based on multi-criteria decision making (MCDM): A case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PB), pages 1085-1096.
    9. Han, Lipeng & Xie, Shaolei & Liu, Shang & Sun, Jinhe & Jia, Yongzhong & Jing, Yan, 2017. "Effects of sodium chloride on the thermal behavior of oxalic acid dihydrate for thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 762-767.
    10. Zeneli, M. & Malgarinos, I. & Nikolopoulos, A. & Nikolopoulos, N. & Grammelis, P. & Karellas, S. & Kakaras, E., 2019. "Numerical simulation of a silicon-based latent heat thermal energy storage system operating at ultra-high temperatures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 837-853.
    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. Meng, Jing-Hui & Gao, De-Yang & Liu, Yan & Zhang, Kai & Lu, Gui, 2022. "Heat transfer mechanism and structure design of phase change materials to improve thermoelectric device performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    13. Jiang, Jinyang & Zheng, Qi & Yan, Yiru & Guo, Dong & Wang, Fengjuan & Wu, Shengping & Sun, Wei, 2018. "Design of a novel nanocomposite with C-S-H@LA for thermal energy storage: A theoretical and experimental study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 395-407.
    14. 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.
    15. Browne, M.C. & Norton, B. & McCormack, S.J., 2015. "Phase change materials for photovoltaic thermal management," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 762-782.
    16. Liu, Ming & Saman, Wasim & Bruno, Frank, 2014. "Computer simulation with TRNSYS for a mobile refrigeration system incorporating a phase change thermal storage unit," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 226-235.
    17. Cai, Yeyun & Ding, Ning & Rezania, A. & Deng, Fang & Rosendahl, L. & Chen, Jie, 2023. "A multi-objective optimization in system level for thermoelectric generation system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    18. 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).
    19. Wang, Zhangyuan & Qiu, Feng & Yang, Wansheng & Zhao, Xudong, 2015. "Applications of solar water heating system with phase change material," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 645-652.
    20. Kong, Li & Yu, Jia & Zhu, Hongji & Zhu, Qingshan & Yan, Qing, 2022. "Effect of three parameters of the periodic rectangular pulsed heat flux on the electrical performance improvement to a thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PA).

    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:233:y:2021:i:c:s036054422101361x. 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.