IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v36y2011i5p3513-3522.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A numerical model and comparative investigation of a thermoelectric generator with multi-irreversibilities

Author

Listed:
  • Meng, Fankai
  • Chen, Lingen
  • Sun, Fengrui

Abstract

Taking into account inner and external multi-irreversibilities, a complete numerical model of commercial thermoelectric generator with finned heat exchangers is established by combining thermodynamics with heat transfer theory. A significant novelty is that physical properties, geometric dimensions, temperature parameters and flow parameters are all considered in the model. The inner effects include Seebeck effect, Fourier effect, Joule effect and Thomson effect. The irreversibilities include the heat transfer through the air gap (proposed and evaluated first time), the thermal and electrical resistance of the conducting strips, and the multiform external thermal resistances. Based on the numerical model, the performances of a typical commercial thermoelectric generator are simulated. Hot water at 60–100 °C and cold water at 27 °C are employed as heat source and sink of the generator module which consists of 127 thermoelectric elements. The results show that the maximum power output of 0.13 W and the maximum efficiency of 0.87% are available from the generator. The open circuit voltage is 1.80 V and the short circuit current is 0.28 A, respectively. The effects of external irreversibilities on the performance of the thermoelectric generator are analyzed by comparing this irreversible model with the exo-reversible model. The numerical model and calculation method can be applied to the performance prediction and optimization of thermoelectric generators with finned heat exchangers. The simulation results can be used as feasibility and effectiveness reference by employing low-grade energy or waste heat for power generation.

Suggested Citation

  • Meng, Fankai & Chen, Lingen & Sun, Fengrui, 2011. "A numerical model and comparative investigation of a thermoelectric generator with multi-irreversibilities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 3513-3522.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:36:y:2011:i:5:p:3513-3522
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2011.03.057
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544211002258
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2011.03.057?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. Rowe, D. M., 1981. "A high performance solar powered thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 269-273, August.
    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. Chen, Lingen & Sun, Fengrui & Chen, Wenzhen, 1995. "Optimization of the specific rate of refrigeration in combined refrigeration cycles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 20(10), pages 1049-1053.
    4. Rowe, D.M., 1991. "Applications of nuclear-powered thermoelectric generators in space," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 241-271.
    5. Xia, Shaojun & Chen, Lingen & Sun, Fengrui, 2011. "Power-optimization of non-ideal energy converters under generalized convective heat transfer law via Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman theory," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 633-646.
    6. Şişman, Altuǧ & Yavuz, Hasbi̇, 1995. "The effect of joule losses on the total efficiency of a thermoelectric power cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 20(6), pages 573-576.
    7. Wu, Chih & Chen, Lingen & Sun, Fengrui, 1996. "Effect of the heat transfer law on the finite-time, exergoeconomic performance of heat engines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 21(12), pages 1127-1134.
    8. Bonjour, J. & Bejan, A., 2006. "Optimal distribution of cooling during gas compression," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 409-424.
    9. Chen, Lingen & Li, Jun & Sun, Fengrui & Wu, Chih, 2005. "Performance optimization of a two-stage semiconductor thermoelectric-generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(4), pages 300-312, December.
    10. Kolenda, Z. & Donizak, J. & Hubert, J., 2004. "On the minimum entropy production in steady state heat conduction processes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(12), pages 2441-2460.
    11. Astrain, D. & Vián, J.G. & Martínez, A. & Rodríguez, A., 2010. "Study of the influence of heat exchangers' thermal resistances on a thermoelectric generation system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 602-610.
    12. Feeley, Thomas J. & Skone, Timothy J. & Stiegel, Gary J. & McNemar, Andrea & Nemeth, Michael & Schimmoller, Brian & Murphy, James T. & Manfredo, Lynn, 2008. "Water: A critical resource in the thermoelectric power industry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 1-11.
    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. Jang, Jiin-Yuh & Tsai, Ying-Chi & Wu, Chan-Wei, 2013. "A study of 3-D numerical simulation and comparison with experimental results on turbulent flow of venting flue gas using thermoelectric generator modules and plate fin heat sink," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 270-281.
    2. Xia, Shaojun & Chen, Lingen & Sun, Fengrui, 2011. "Power-optimization of non-ideal energy converters under generalized convective heat transfer law via Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman theory," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 633-646.
    3. Sahin, Ahmet Z. & Yilbas, Bekir S., 2013. "Thermodynamic irreversibility and performance characteristics of thermoelectric power generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 899-904.
    4. Martínez, A. & Astrain, D. & Rodríguez, A., 2013. "Dynamic model for simulation of thermoelectric self cooling applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1114-1126.
    5. Wang, Xiao-Dong & Huang, Yu-Xian & Cheng, Chin-Hsiang & Ta-Wei Lin, David & Kang, Chung-Hao, 2012. "A three-dimensional numerical modeling of thermoelectric device with consideration of coupling of temperature field and electric potential field," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 488-497.
    6. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Liao, Chen-Yeh & Hung, Chen-I & Huang, Wei-Lun, 2012. "Experimental study on thermoelectric modules for power generation at various operating conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 874-881.
    7. 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.
    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. Massaguer, A. & Massaguer, E. & Comamala, M. & Pujol, T. & González, J.R. & Cardenas, M.D. & Carbonell, D. & Bueno, A.J., 2018. "A method to assess the fuel economy of automotive thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 42-58.
    10. Sahin, A.Z. & Yilbas, B.S. & Shuja, S.Z. & Momin, O., 2011. "Investigation into topping cycle: Thermal efficiency with and without presence of thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 4048-4054.
    11. Muralidhar, Nischal & Himabindu, M. & Ravikrishna, R.V., 2018. "Modeling of a hybrid electric heavy duty vehicle to assess energy recovery using a thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 1046-1059.
    12. Wang, Yuchao & Dai, Chuanshan & Wang, Shixue, 2013. "Theoretical analysis of a thermoelectric generator using exhaust gas of vehicles as heat source," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1171-1180.
    13. 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.
    14. Huang, Yu-Xian & Wang, Xiao-Dong & Cheng, Chin-Hsiang & Lin, David Ta-Wei, 2013. "Geometry optimization of thermoelectric coolers using simplified conjugate-gradient method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 689-697.
    15. Wang, Feng & Cao, Yiding & Wang, Guoqiang, 2015. "Thermoelectric generation coupling methanol steam reforming characteristic in microreactor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 642-653.
    16. Chen, Lingen & Ding, Zemin & Sun, Fengrui, 2011. "Model of a total momentum filtered energy selective electron heat pump affected by heat leakage and its performance characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 4011-4018.
    17. Ming, T. & Wu, Y. & Peng, C. & Tao, Y., 2015. "Thermal analysis on a segmented thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 388-399.
    18. Liang, Xingyu & Sun, Xiuxiu & Tian, Hua & Shu, Gequn & Wang, Yuesen & Wang, Xu, 2014. "Comparison and parameter optimization of a two-stage thermoelectric generator using high temperature exhaust of internal combustion engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 190-199.
    19. 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.
    20. Lu, Hongliang & Wu, Ting & Bai, Shengqiang & Xu, Kangcong & Huang, Yingjie & Gao, Weimin & Yin, Xianglin & Chen, Lidong, 2013. "Experiment on thermal uniformity and pressure drop of exhaust heat exchanger for automotive thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 372-377.

    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:36:y:2011:i:5:p:3513-3522. 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.