IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v239y2022ipes036054422102689x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Seeking high energy conversion efficiency in a fully temperature-dependent thermoelectric medium

Author

Listed:
  • Song, Kun
  • Yin, Deshun
  • Song, Haopeng
  • Schiavone, Peter
  • Wu, Xun
  • Yuan, Lili

Abstract

The material parameters associated with a thermoelectric medium show strong temperature dependence when the medium is subjected to a wide range of temperatures. This motivates the need to investigate the thermal-electric conversion efficiency of a temperature-dependent medium. In this paper, we develop the temperature field and electric potential associated with a one-dimensional thermoelectric medium with particular attention paid to the influence of various material parameters on the thermal-electric conversion efficiency. We use both theoretical and numerical methods and illustrate our results using several detailed numerical examples. Our numerical results show that the Thomson heat induced by a variable Seebeck coefficient is responsible for more than 20% of total energy leading to a 13% effect on the thermal-electric conversion efficiency. This remarkable result indicates that the thermal-electric conversion efficiency can be effectively optimized by controlling the heat exchange between the thermoelectric medium and its surroundings. In addition, our results indicate that when dealing with a large temperature range, the maximum thermal-electric conversion efficiency should not be taken as a function solely of an average thermoelectric figure of merit since it can vary considerably with different material parameters.

Suggested Citation

  • Song, Kun & Yin, Deshun & Song, Haopeng & Schiavone, Peter & Wu, Xun & Yuan, Lili, 2022. "Seeking high energy conversion efficiency in a fully temperature-dependent thermoelectric medium," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:239:y:2022:i:pe:s036054422102689x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.122440
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036054422102689X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2021.122440?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. Gou, Xiaolong & Xiao, Heng & Yang, Suwen, 2010. "Modeling, experimental study and optimization on low-temperature waste heat thermoelectric generator system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(10), pages 3131-3136, October.
    2. Hsiao, Y.Y. & Chang, W.C. & Chen, S.L., 2010. "A mathematic model of thermoelectric module with applications on waste heat recovery from automobile engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 1447-1454.
    3. Sun, Dongfang & Shen, Limei & Chen, Huanxin & Jiang, Bin & Jie, Desuan & Liu, Huanyu & Yao, Yu & Tang, Jingchun, 2020. "Modeling and analysis of the influence of Thomson effect on micro-thermoelectric coolers considering interfacial and size effects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    4. Shen, Rong & Gou, Xiaolong & Xu, Haoyu & Qiu, Kuanrong, 2017. "Dynamic performance analysis of a cascaded thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 808-815.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. Lee, HoSung, 2013. "The Thomson effect and the ideal equation on thermoelectric coolers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 61-69.
    8. Fan, Shifa & Gao, Yuanwen, 2018. "Numerical simulation on thermoelectric and mechanical performance of annular thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 38-48.
    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. Huang, Shaolin & Yang, Hao & Li, Yanan & Guo, Zhe & Zhang, Qiang & Cai, Jianfeng & Wu, Jiehua & Tan, Xiaojian & Liu, Guoqiang & Song, Kun & Jiang, Jun, 2023. "Optimizing GeTe-based thermoelectric generator for low-grade heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(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. He, Wei & Wang, Shixue & Zhang, Xing & Li, Yanzhe & Lu, Chi, 2015. "Optimization design method of thermoelectric generator based on exhaust gas parameters for recovery of engine waste heat," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1-9.
    2. Massaguer, E. & Massaguer, A. & Montoro, L. & Gonzalez, J.R., 2014. "Development and validation of a new TRNSYS type for the simulation of thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 65-74.
    3. Yu, Shuhai & Du, Qing & Diao, Hai & Shu, Gequn & Jiao, Kui, 2015. "Start-up modes of thermoelectric generator based on vehicle exhaust waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 276-290.
    4. Ming, T. & Wu, Y. & Peng, C. & Tao, Y., 2015. "Thermal analysis on a segmented thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 388-399.
    5. Massaguer, E. & Massaguer, A. & Pujol, T. & Comamala, M. & Montoro, L. & Gonzalez, J.R., 2019. "Fuel economy analysis under a WLTP cycle on a mid-size vehicle equipped with a thermoelectric energy recovery system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 306-314.
    6. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Wang, Chien-Chang & Hung, Chen-I. & Yang, Chang-Chung & Juang, Rei-Cheng, 2014. "Modeling and simulation for the design of thermal-concentrated solar thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 287-297.
    7. 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.
    8. Gou, Xiaolong & Ping, Huifeng & Ou, Qiang & Xiao, Heng & Qing, Shaowei, 2015. "A novel thermoelectric generation system with thermal switch," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 843-852.
    9. Favarel, Camille & Bédécarrats, Jean-Pierre & Kousksou, Tarik & Champier, Daniel, 2014. "Numerical optimization of the occupancy rate of thermoelectric generators to produce the highest electrical power," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 104-116.
    10. Zou, Wen-Jiang & Shen, Kun-Yang & Jung, Seunghun & Kim, Young-Bae, 2021. "Application of thermoelectric devices in performance optimization of a domestic PEMFC-based CHP system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    11. Kim, Shiho, 2013. "Analysis and modeling of effective temperature differences and electrical parameters of thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 1458-1463.
    12. He, Zhi-Zhu, 2020. "A coupled electrical-thermal impedance matching model for design optimization of thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    13. 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.
    14. Zhang, Tongtong & She, Xiaohui & You, Zhanping & Zhao, Yanqi & Fan, Hongjun & Ding, Yulong, 2022. "Cryogenic thermoelectric generation using cold energy from a decoupled liquid air energy storage system for decentralised energy networks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    15. Lee, Ungki & Park, Sudong & Lee, Ikjin, 2020. "Robust design optimization (RDO) of thermoelectric generator system using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    16. 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).
    17. Sahin, Ahmet Z. & Yilbas, Bekir S., 2013. "Thermodynamic irreversibility and performance characteristics of thermoelectric power generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 899-904.
    18. Martínez, A. & Astrain, D. & Rodríguez, A., 2013. "Dynamic model for simulation of thermoelectric self cooling applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1114-1126.
    19. Lan, Song & Yang, Zhijia & Chen, Rui & Stobart, Richard, 2018. "A dynamic model for thermoelectric generator applied to vehicle waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 327-338.
    20. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Huang, Shih-Rong & Lin, Yu-Li, 2015. "Performance analysis and optimum operation of a thermoelectric generator by Taguchi method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 44-54.

    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:239:y:2022:i:pe:s036054422102689x. 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.