Effects of Design Parameters on Fuel Economy and Output Power in an Automotive Thermoelectric Generator

Martí Comamala, Ivan Ruiz Cózar, Albert Massaguer, Eduard Massaguer and Toni Pujol
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Martí Comamala: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, Girona 17003, Spain
Ivan Ruiz Cózar: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, Girona 17003, Spain
Albert Massaguer: Nabla Thermoelectrics, c/Llibertat 71, Banyoles 17820, Spain
Eduard Massaguer: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, Girona 17003, Spain
Toni Pujol: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, Girona 17003, Spain

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-28

Abstract: The need for more sustainable mobility promoted research into the use of waste heat to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. As such, thermoelectric generation is a promising technique thanks to its robustness and simplicity. Automotive thermoelectric generators (ATEGs) are installed in the tailpipe and convert heat directly into electricity. Previous works on ATEGs mainly focused on extracting the maximum amount of electrical power. However, the back pressure caused by the ATEG heavily influences fuel consumption. Here, an ATEG numerical model was first validated with experimental data and then applied to investigate the effects that modifying the main ATEG design parameters had on both fuel economy and output power. The cooling flow rate and the geometrical dimensions of the heat exchanger on the hot side and the cold side of the ATEG were varied. The design that produced the maximum output power differed from that which maximized fuel economy. Back pressure was the most limiting factor in attaining fuel savings. Back pressure values lower than 5 mbar led to a < 0.2% increase in fuel consumption. In the ATEG design analyzed here, the generation of electrical output power reduced fuel consumption by a maximum of 0.5%.

Keywords: thermoelectric generator; ATEG; waste heat recovery; fuel economy (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 (10)

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