IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v78y2014icp364-372.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Theoretical, experimental and numerical diagnose of critical power point of thermoelectric generators

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Min
  • Gao, Xin

Abstract

When a number of TEMs (thermoelectric modules) are connected in a series–parallel matrix and under mismatched temperature gradients, the overall maximum output power of the thermoelectric generator (TEG) may be lowered by certain TEMs with relatively smaller temperature difference. It is possible to avoid such a performance decrease by the disconnection of these low temperature TEMs, provided that the critical power point can be accurately determined. In this paper, firstly a rigorous and universal formulation is fully detailed to mathematically determine the conceptions and conditions of the critical power point in the series and parallel TEM arrays. Secondly, experiments of a series–parallel hybrid interconnected TEG are presented to clearly quantify the theoretical analyses. Finally, the hierarchical simulation, based on the SPICE (simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis) platform, is applied to estimate the critical power point. By numerically modeling the nonlinear physical processes of the TEG, the simulation can be used as an enabling technique in any model-based controller to dynamically minimize the mismatch power loss within the TEM matrix of any configuration. In experimental and numerical results, a number of critical power points are disclosed for a 2 × 4 parallel–serial hybrid TEM matrix, where the hot temperature mostly ranges from 120 °C to 60 °C.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Min & Gao, Xin, 2014. "Theoretical, experimental and numerical diagnose of critical power point of thermoelectric generators," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 364-372.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:78:y:2014:i:c:p:364-372
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.10.021
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544214011700
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2014.10.021?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. 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. Chen, Min & Lund, Henrik & Rosendahl, Lasse A. & Condra, Thomas J., 2010. "Energy efficiency analysis and impact evaluation of the application of thermoelectric power cycle to today's CHP systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1231-1238, April.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    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. Wijesekara, Waruna & Rezania, A. & Rosendahl, Lasse, 2015. "Simple engineering design for complex thermoelectric generators based on reduced current approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 455-466.
    2. Mohammadi, Saber & Esfandiari, Aboozar, 2015. "Magnetostrictive vibration energy harvesting using strain energy method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 519-525.
    3. Zhang, Xiaoshun & Tan, Tian & Yang, Bo & Wang, Jingbo & Li, Shengnan & He, Tingyi & Yang, Lei & Yu, Tao & Sun, Liming, 2020. "Greedy search based data-driven algorithm of centralized thermoelectric generation system under non-uniform temperature distribution," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    4. 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.
    5. Liu, Yi-Hua & Chiu, Yi-Hsun & Huang, Jia-Wei & Wang, Shun-Chung, 2016. "A novel maximum power point tracker for thermoelectric generation system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 306-318.

    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. 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.
    2. Yang, Wenlong & Jin, Chenchen & Zhu, Wenchao & Li, Yang & Zhang, Rui & Huang, Liang & Xie, Changjun & Shi, Ying, 2024. "Taguchi optimization and thermoelectrical analysis of a pin fin annular thermoelectric generator for automotive waste heat recovery," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    3. 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.
    4. Wijesekara, Waruna & Rezania, A. & Rosendahl, Lasse, 2015. "Simple engineering design for complex thermoelectric generators based on reduced current approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 455-466.
    5. Björn Pfeiffelmann & Ali Cemal Benim & Franz Joos, 2021. "Water-Cooled Thermoelectric Generators for Improved Net Output Power: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-29, December.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. Park, K. & Lee, G.W., 2013. "Fabrication and thermoelectric power of π-shaped Ca3Co4O9/CaMnO3 modules for renewable energy conversion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 87-93.
    9. Aranguren, P. & Astrain, D. & Rodríguez, A. & Martínez, A., 2015. "Experimental investigation of the applicability of a thermoelectric generator to recover waste heat from a combustion chamber," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 121-130.
    10. Montecucco, Andrea & Siviter, Jonathan & Knox, Andrew R., 2015. "Constant heat characterisation and geometrical optimisation of thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 248-258.
    11. Raman, Perumal & Ram, Narasimhan K. & Gupta, Ruchi, 2014. "Development, design and performance analysis of a forced draft clean combustion cookstove powered by a thermo electric generator with multi-utility options," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 813-825.
    12. Cui, Tengfei & Xuan, Yimin & Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Li, Dianhong, 2017. "Experimental investigation on potential of a concentrated photovoltaic-thermoelectric system with phase change materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 94-102.
    13. Kisha, Wigdan & Riley, Paul & McKechnie, Jon & Hann, David, 2021. "Asymmetrically heated multi-stage travelling-wave thermoacoustic electricity generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    14. Mustafa, K.F. & Abdullah, S. & Abdullah, M.Z. & Sopian, K. & Ismail, A.K., 2015. "Experimental investigation of the performance of a liquid fuel-fired porous burner operating on kerosene-vegetable cooking oil (VCO) blends for micro-cogeneration of thermoelectric power," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 505-516.
    15. Liu, Liuchen & Zhu, Tong & Pan, Yu & Wang, Hai, 2017. "Multiple energy complementation based on distributed energy systems – Case study of Chongming county, China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 329-336.
    16. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Wu, Xiaofeng & Yao, Qinghe, 2018. "Multi-objective genetic optimization of the thermoelectric system for thermal management of proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 314-327.
    17. Miao, Zhuang & Meng, Xiangning & Zhou, Sen & Zhu, Miaoyong, 2020. "Thermo-mechanical analysis on thermoelectric legs arrangement of thermoelectric modules," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 2272-2278.
    18. Mu, Chenlu & Ding, Tao & Qu, Ming & Zhou, Quan & Li, Fangxing & Shahidehpour, Mohammad, 2020. "Decentralized optimization operation for the multiple integrated energy systems with energy cascade utilization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    19. Yao Li & Liulin Yang & Tianlu Luo, 2023. "Energy System Low-Carbon Transition under Dual-Carbon Goals: The Case of Guangxi, China Using the EnergyPLAN Tool," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-16, April.
    20. Muhammad Faizan Tahir & Haoyong Chen & Muhammad Sufyan Javed & Irfan Jameel & Asad Khan & Saifullah Adnan, 2019. "Integration of Different Individual Heating Scenarios and Energy Storages into Hybrid Energy System Model of China for 2030," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-20, May.

    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:78:y:2014:i:c:p:364-372. 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.