Geometric optimization of thermoelectric elements for maximum efficiency and power output

Matthew M. Barry, Kenechi A. Agbim, Parthib Rao, Corey E. Clifford, B.V.K. Reddy and Minking K. Chyu

Energy, 2016, vol. 112, issue C, 388-407

Abstract: The geometry of n- and p-type thermoelectric elements (TE) in terms of the cross-sectional area and length were optimized to yield either maximum thermal conversion efficiency ηth,max or maximum power output Po,max. The optimization process incorporated temperature-dependent material properties and independent thermal and electrical contact resistances that are a function of the contact area per TE leg. Additionally, ηth,max and Po,max were quantified by simultaneously optimizing the TE geometry and varying the hot-side fluid temperature, cold- and hot-side heat exchanger effective area and heat transfer coefficients using a complete one-dimensional thermal resistance network model. Optimized compared to non-optimized geometries, excluding contact resistances, achieve a maximum 10.4% increase in Po,max and 3.2% increase in ηth,max for conditions studied. Optimized compared to non-optimized geometries, taking into account independent thermal and electrical contact resistances, exhibit a 29% increase in volumetric power density and 12% increase in volumetric efficiency in comparison to non-optimized cases.

Keywords: Thermoelectric; Optimization; Contact resistances; Analytic model; Efficiency; Power output (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:112:y:2016:i:c:p:388-407

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.05.048

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