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Effects of thermocouples’ physical size on the performance of the TEG–TEH system

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  • Fankai Meng
  • Lingen Chen
  • Fengrui Sun

Abstract

The effects of thermocouples physical size on the performance of a thermoelectric heat pump (TEH) driven by a thermoelectric generator (TEG) device are investigated in this article. The physical size refers to the length and the cross-sectional area of the thermocouples. The performance analysis is multiobjective, including stable electrical current, heating load, coefficient of performance, maximum heating load and maximum heating temperature difference. A characteristic parameter, i.e. area–length ratio, is defined to describe the thermocouples physical size. The influences of the parameter are analyzed by detailed numerical examples. A practical example is proposed to show how to select appropriate thermoelectric modules (TEMs) to construct a high-performance TEG–TEH system satisfying different requirements. The results show that an improvement in its performance is possible by optimizing internal physical size of thermocouples. The conclusion obtained could be used for the selection of TEMs and the design of the TEG–TEH system.

Suggested Citation

  • Fankai Meng & Lingen Chen & Fengrui Sun, 2016. "Effects of thermocouples’ physical size on the performance of the TEG–TEH system," International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, Oxford University Press, vol. 11(3), pages 375-382.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:ijlctc:v:11:y:2016:i:3:p:375-382.
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    2. Chen, Jincan & Yan, Zijun & Wu, Liqing, 1997. "Nonequilibrium thermodynamic analysis of a thermoelectric device," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 22(10), pages 979-985.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Wu, Xiaofeng & Yao, Qinghe, 2018. "Bidirectional operation of the thermoelectric device for active temperature control of fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 410-422.
    3. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Carrera Uribe, Manuel & Kwon, Eilhann E. & Lin, Kun-Yi Andrew & Park, Young-Kwon & Ding, Lu & Saw, Lip Huat, 2022. "A comprehensive review of thermoelectric generation optimization by statistical approach: Taguchi method, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and response surface methodology (RSM)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    4. Chen, Lingen & Lorenzini, Giulio, 2023. "Heating load, COP and exergetic efficiency optimizations for TEG-TEH combined thermoelectric device with Thomson effect and external heat transfer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).

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