Unification criteria of optimization and energetic analysis of a thermoelectric-generator

S. Gonzalez-Hernandez, M.A. Ramirez-Moreno and G. Ares de Parga

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2023, vol. 626, issue C

Abstract: Thermoelectric generators have been of great interest in recent years; however, these studies have focused on maximum power output and maximum efficiency modes of operation. In this work, an analysis is presented under different modes of operation studied within finite-time thermodynamics (FTT), so it is possible to describe in a broader way the energetic of this type of thermoelectric converters. This analysis will be approached from the point of view of a recent work by Gonzalez-Hernandez (2020), based on a set of dimensionless variables. Obtaining a unification criterion for the study of thermoelectric refrigerator and heaters through the figure of merit y and the optimization of a single dimensionless parameter x from the point of view of the FTT. In this case, the figure of merit limits the maximum value of the modes of operation to an optimal range. Among other results, it should be noted that some materials will not reach the maximum efficiency of 2/3, regardless of the value of the figure of merit.

Keywords: Thermoelectric effects; Thermoelectric generator; Thermoelectric heater; Electric conductivity; Figure of merit; Thermodynamic optimization; Finite-time thermodynamics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378437123006465
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only. Journal offers the option of making the article available online on Science direct for a fee of $3,000

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:phsmap:v:626:y:2023:i:c:s0378437123006465

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2023.129091

Access Statistics for this article

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications is currently edited by K. A. Dawson, J. O. Indekeu, H.E. Stanley and C. Tsallis

More articles in Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().