IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i2p975-d1036624.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Design and Experimental Investigation of a Self-Powered Fan Based on a Thermoelectric System

Author

Listed:
  • Huaibin Gao

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China)

  • Xiaojiang Liu

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China)

  • Chuanwei Zhang

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China)

  • Yu Ma

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China)

  • Hongjun Li

    (Special Equipment Research Institute of Xi’an, Xi’an 710032, China)

  • Guanghong Huang

    (Special Equipment Research Institute of Xi’an, Xi’an 710032, China)

Abstract

Providing electricity for isolated areas or emergencies (snowstorms, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.) is an important challenge. In this study, a prototype of a self-powered fan based on a thermoelectric system was built to enhance the heat dissipation of the thermoelectric generator (TEG) systems using household stoves as heat sources. To improve output performance of the system, a heat collector consisting of a heat-conducting flat plate and a heat sink with fan cooling was designed to integrate several thermoelectric modules (TEM). The effects of the fan operating conditions (airflow velocity), number of thermoelectric modules, electrical connection mode under different heat flux among the performance of the TEG system are studied. The data obtained showed a higher heat flux and lower flow velocity are required to realize self-sustained cooling of the system. The maximum electric power is more sensitive to the heat flux than the fan operation conditions. It is also observed that more modules provide a higher power output but lower efficiency. The maximum power of four modules in series is larger than that in parallel, and the difference between them increases with increasing heat flux of the heat collector. In the case of self-sufficiency: the maximum output power and maximum net power with four thermoelectric modules are 10.92 W and 5.26 W, respectively, at a heat flux of 30,000 W/m 2 . Additionally, the maximum conversion efficiency of 1.8% is achieved for two modules at a heat flux of 14,000 W/m 2 , providing an effective strategy for the installation of TEMs and cooling fans in TEG.

Suggested Citation

  • Huaibin Gao & Xiaojiang Liu & Chuanwei Zhang & Yu Ma & Hongjun Li & Guanghong Huang, 2023. "Design and Experimental Investigation of a Self-Powered Fan Based on a Thermoelectric System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:2:p:975-:d:1036624
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/975/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/975/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hongkun Lv & Guoneng Li & Youqu Zheng & Jiangen Hu & Jian Li, 2018. "Compact Water-Cooled Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) Based on a Portable Gas Stove," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Martínez, A. & Astrain, D. & Rodríguez, A., 2013. "Dynamic model for simulation of thermoelectric self cooling applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1114-1126.
    3. Li, Guo-neng & Zhang, Shuai & Zheng, You-qu & Zhu, Ling-yun & Guo, Wen-wen, 2018. "Experimental study on a stove-powered thermoelectric generator (STEG) with self starting fan cooling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 502-512.
    4. Mohammadnia, Ali & Ziapour, Behrooz M. & Sedaghati, Farzad & Rosendahl, Lasse & Rezania, Alireza, 2021. "Fan operating condition effect on performance of self- cooling thermoelectric generator system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    5. O’Shaughnessy, S.M. & Deasy, M.J. & Kinsella, C.E. & Doyle, J.V. & Robinson, A.J., 2013. "Small scale electricity generation from a portable biomass cookstove: Prototype design and preliminary results," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 374-385.
    6. Li, Guoneng & Zheng, Youqu & Hu, Jiangen & Guo, Wenwen, 2019. "Experiments and a simplified theoretical model for a water-cooled, stove-powered thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 437-448.
    7. Martínez, A. & Astrain, D. & Rodríguez, A., 2011. "Experimental and analytical study on thermoelectric self cooling of devices," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 5250-5260.
    8. Champier, D. & Bédécarrats, J.P. & Kousksou, T. & Rivaletto, M. & Strub, F. & Pignolet, P., 2011. "Study of a TE (thermoelectric) generator incorporated in a multifunction wood stove," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 1518-1526.
    9. 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.
    10. Montecucco, A. & Siviter, J. & Knox, A.R., 2017. "Combined heat and power system for stoves with thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1336-1342.
    11. Zhe Zhang & Yuqi Zhang & Xiaomei Sui & Wenbin Li & Daochun Xu, 2020. "Performance of Thermoelectric Power-Generation System for Sufficient Recovery and Reuse of Heat Accumulated at Cold Side of TEG with Water-Cooling Energy Exchange Circuit," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, October.
    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. Guoneng, Li & Youqu, Zheng & Hongkun, Lv & Jiangen, Hu & Jian, Li & Wenwen, Guo, 2020. "Micro combined heat and power system based on stove-powered thermoelectric generator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 160-171.
    2. Zarifi, Soudmand & Mirhosseini Moghaddam, Maziar, 2020. "Utilizing finned tube economizer for extending the thermal power rate of TEG CHP system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    3. Hongkun Lv & Guoneng Li & Youqu Zheng & Jiangen Hu & Jian Li, 2018. "Compact Water-Cooled Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) Based on a Portable Gas Stove," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Liu, H.R. & Li, B.J. & Hua, L.J. & Wang, R.Z., 2022. "Designing thermoelectric self-cooling system for electronic devices: Experimental investigation and model validation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    5. Usón, Sergio & Royo, Javier & Canalís, Paula, 2023. "Integration of thermoelectric generators in a biomass boiler: Experimental tests and study of ash deposition effect," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 395-406.
    6. Cheng-Xian Lin & Robel Kiflemariam, 2019. "Numerical Simulation and Validation of Thermoeletric Generator Based Self-Cooling System with Airflow," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-21, October.
    7. Li, Guoneng & Zheng, Youqu & Hu, Jiangen & Guo, Wenwen, 2019. "Experiments and a simplified theoretical model for a water-cooled, stove-powered thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 437-448.
    8. Krzysztof Sornek, 2021. "Study of Operation of the Thermoelectric Generators Dedicated to Wood-Fired Stoves," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, October.
    9. Wang, Xiao-Dong & Wang, Qiu-Hong & Xu, Jin-Liang, 2014. "Performance analysis of two-stage TECs (thermoelectric coolers) using a three-dimensional heat-electricity coupled model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 419-429.
    10. Kütt, Lauri & Millar, John & Karttunen, Antti & Lehtonen, Matti & Karppinen, Maarit, 2018. "Thermoelectric applications for energy harvesting in domestic applications and micro-production units. Part I: Thermoelectric concepts, domestic boilers and biomass stoves," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 519-544.
    11. Martinez, Alvaro & Astrain, David & Aranguren, Patricia, 2016. "Thermoelectric self-cooling for power electronics: Increasing the cooling power," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1-7.
    12. Li, Guo-neng & Zhang, Shuai & Zheng, You-qu & Zhu, Ling-yun & Guo, Wen-wen, 2018. "Experimental study on a stove-powered thermoelectric generator (STEG) with self starting fan cooling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 502-512.
    13. 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.
    14. Montecucco, Andrea & Knox, Andrew R., 2014. "Accurate simulation of thermoelectric power generating systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 166-172.
    15. 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.
    16. Chetty, Raju & Nagase, Kazuo & Aihara, Makoto & Jood, Priyanka & Takazawa, Hiroyuki & Ohta, Michihiro & Yamamoto, Atsushi, 2020. "Mechanically durable thermoelectric power generation module made of Ni-based alloy as a reference for reliable testing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    17. Krzysztof Sornek, 2020. "Prototypical Biomass-Fired Micro-Cogeneration Systems—Energy and Ecological Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-16, July.
    18. Mehetre, Sonam A. & Panwar, N.L. & Sharma, Deepak & Kumar, Himanshu, 2017. "Improved biomass cookstoves for sustainable development: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 672-687.
    19. 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.
    20. 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.

    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:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:2:p:975-:d:1036624. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.