Electrical Modelling and Mismatch Effects of Thermoelectric Modules on Performance of a Thermoelectric Generator for Energy Recovery in Diesel Exhaust Systems

Samir Ezzitouni, Pablo Fernández-Yáñez, Luis Sánchez Rodríguez, Octavio Armas, Javier de las Morenas, Eduard Massaguer and Albert Massaguer
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Samir Ezzitouni: Escuela de Ingeniería Industrial y Aeroespacial de Toledo, Campus de Excelencia Internacional en Energía y Medioambiente, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Pablo Fernández-Yáñez: Escuela de Ingeniería Industrial y Aeroespacial de Toledo, Campus de Excelencia Internacional en Energía y Medioambiente, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Luis Sánchez Rodríguez: Escuela de Ingeniería Industrial y Aeroespacial de Toledo, Campus de Excelencia Internacional en Energía y Medioambiente, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Octavio Armas: Escuela de Ingeniería Industrial y Aeroespacial de Toledo, Campus de Excelencia Internacional en Energía y Medioambiente, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Javier de las Morenas: Escuela de Ingeniería Minera e Industrial de Almadén (AutoLog), Campus de Excelencia Internacional en Energía y Medioambiente, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 13400 Almadén, Spain
Eduard Massaguer: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
Albert Massaguer: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Thermoelectric generators harvesting energy from exhaust gases usually present a temperature mismatch between modules, due to the gradual cooling of the gases along the flow direction. The way modules that produce unequal voltages are connected has a deep impact on the overall power output. A further step in the prediction of thermoelectric production is to consider the complete layout of the thermoelectric modules and not consider them as isolated systems. In this work, a model to predict the electric behavior of thermoelectric generators for automotive applications at different points of operation is presented. The model allows testing of serial-parallel connection configurations. The results present good agreement with experimental data. This model could be used on similar light duty vehicles with similar engines as the engine used in this work and using similar configuration of thermoelectric generators. Simulated scenarios considering realistic operating conditions in a light duty vehicle allow stating that thermoelectric modules interconnection under heterogenous thermal surface conditions has a significant negative effect (more than 17%) on electric energy production. Moreover, the proposed model shows the need to protect the electric circuit of the thermoelectric generator to avoid the negative effect of possible malfunction of some thermoelectric modules.

Keywords: thermoelectric generator; thermal mismatch; thermal waste energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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