An Electrothermal Model of a Heatsink-Less Thermoelectric Generator in a Thermalization State

Piotr Dziurdzia (), Piotr Bratek, Ireneusz Brzozowski and Michał Markiewicz
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Piotr Dziurdzia: Institute of Electronics, AGH University of Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Piotr Bratek: Institute of Electronics, AGH University of Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Ireneusz Brzozowski: Institute of Electronics, AGH University of Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Michał Markiewicz: Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Jagiellonian University, ul. Łojasiewicza 6, 30-348 Krakow, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: The paper presents the development and experimental verification of an electrothermal model of a heatsink-less thermoelectric generator (TEG) implemented in the LTspice simulator. The model incorporates key physical phenomena, including the Seebeck effect, the Peltier effect, and Joule heating. It also takes into account a variable convective thermal resistance to the environment that depends on the temperature of the thermoelectric module’s cold side. The model was calibrated using experimental measurements of the open-circuit Seebeck voltage and the output voltage under resistive load connected to the TEC1-12706-SR thermoelectric module (TEM), under controlled temperature gradients. The model’s accuracy was validated by comparing simulation results with measured output voltages and power generated by the TEG for various load resistances and ambient temperatures. The simulations showed good agreement with the experimental data. The analysis and tests also confirmed the existence of an optimal load resistance that maximizes power transfer from the module, which is consistent with the principle of matching the load to the TEG’s internal resistance. We present the comparison between the theoretical model of a TEG and its physical properties. We used the results of the measurements to tailor the model, so finally we were able to achieve consistency of measurements with experiment within 10–17%. The developed model is a useful tool for rapid design and optimization of energy-harvesting systems using TEGs, enabling the integration of these generators into autonomous IoT systems and wearable electronics, without the need for a traditional heatsink.

Keywords: thermal energy harvesting; thermoelectric module; TEG; thermalization; electrothermal simulations (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: 2025
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