On the Potential of Power Generation from Thermoelectric Generators in Gas Turbine Combustors

Panagiotis Stathopoulos and Javier Fernàndez-Villa
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Panagiotis Stathopoulos: Hermann Föttinger Institute, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller Breslau Str. 8, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Javier Fernàndez-Villa: Hermann Föttinger Institute, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller Breslau Str. 8, 10623 Berlin, Germany

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) offer an attractive power generation option. They have no moving parts, are robust and emit no pollutants. The current work explores the integration of high temperature TEGs in gas turbine combustors. The latter have a thermal shield at their inner surface to protect them against high temperatures. This is supplemented by convective and film cooling. This work studies the replacement of the thermal shield with high temperature TEGs and evaluates their techno-economic potential. A gas turbine model is developed and validated to compute the fuel and air flow rate in the combustion chamber. A heat transfer model is subsequently implemented to compute the temperature distribution inside the combustor wall, on which the TEG is constructed. The investment in TEGs is then analyzed for peaker, intermediate load and base load gas turbines. The work concludes with a sensitivity analysis of the investment economic performance. It is concluded that, despite the low power generation, the installation of TEGs makes economic sense, even if their price becomes 50% higher than current estimations. It is also concluded that electricity prices have a much stronger effect on the economic viability of the investment than the price of the generators.

Keywords: thermoelectric oxide generator; gas turbine; combustor cooling; combined cycle; hybrid energy conversion (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: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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