Thermal design and management for performance optimization of solar thermoelectric generator

Jinsheng Xiao, Tianqi Yang, Peng Li, Pengcheng Zhai and Qingjie Zhang

Applied Energy, 2012, vol. 93, issue C, 33-38

Abstract: We established a three-dimensional finite element model of thermoelectric module based on low-temperature thermoelectric material bismuth telluride and medium-temperature thermoelectric material filled-skutterudite. The material properties of the thermoelectric materials such as the Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity are temperature dependent. Based on the formal model, multi-stage models consist of low- and medium-temperature thermoelectric modules are proposed. The effect of input energy on performance of solar thermoelectric generator is considered according to the real operating condition. Results show that, reasonable thermal design of solar thermoelectric generator can take full advantage of the characteristics of thermoelectric materials and effectively improve the performance of power generation.

Keywords: Solar energy; Thermoelectric module; Thermoelectric generator; Performance optimization; Finite element analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (49)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030626191100376X
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:93:y:2012:i:c:p:33-38

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 405891/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.06.006

Access Statistics for this article

Applied Energy is currently edited by J. Yan

More articles in Applied Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().