Design of cascade thermoelectric generation systems with improved thermal reliability

Mutabe Aljaghtham and Emrah Celik

Energy, 2022, vol. 243, issue C

Abstract: This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of novel, unileg cascade thermoelectric systems. Unileg systems offer the flexibility of selecting a single (p- or n-) thermoelectric material in a thermoelectric system compared to two (n- and p-) materials. Finite element analysis simulations were performed to design and analyze two and three stages of cascade systems. Simulation results show that unileg cascade systems perform significantly (∼75%) better than their unicouple counterparts in both two and three stage configurations due to the elimination of the poorly performing thermoelectric leg. In addition to the enhanced thermoelectric power generation, thermal stress is lowered in unileg systems since the mismatch of the thermal expansion coefficient originating between different TE legs material can be minimized. Overall, the presented unileg systems show their promise for the future thermoelectric energy generation or cooling applications for electronics.

Keywords: Cascade thermoelectric generator; Thermoelectric performance; Thermal stress; Unileg and unicouple TEG; Radiative and conductive losses; Thomson effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:243:y:2022:i:c:s0360544221032813

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.123032

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