Experimental and Numerical Study on the Effect of Interfacial Heat Transfer on Performance of Thermoelectric Generators

Gen Li, Zhongcheng Wang, Feng Wang, Xiaozhong Wang, Shibo Li and Mingsuo Xue
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Gen Li: Merchant Marine College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
Zhongcheng Wang: Merchant Marine College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
Feng Wang: Merchant Marine College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
Xiaozhong Wang: Merchant Marine College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
Shibo Li: Merchant Marine College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
Mingsuo Xue: Merchant Marine College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: The application of thermoelectric generator (TEG) systems in waste heat recovery has attracted more and more attention. In this work, the effect of interfacial heat transfer on the performance of TEG module was experimentally and numerically investigated. Three kinds of thermal greases with thermal conductivities of 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 W/(m?K) were used as thermal interface materials (TIMs) to improve interfacial heat transfer at different external pressures ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 MPa. The open-circuit voltage, output power, and thermal interfacial resistance were measured at different experimental conditions. It was found that the performance of the TEG module can be greatly improved by using thermal greases as TIMs. The open-circuit voltages increased from 1.73 to either 3.07, 3.4, or 3.57 V with k = 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 W/(m?K) thermal greases respectively used as TIMs when the temperature difference was 60 °C and external pressure was 0.1 MPa. However, the performance of the TEG was slightly affected by external pressure when thermal greases used as TIMs. The open-circuit voltages were 3.07, 3.13, 3.17, and 3.20 V at external pressures of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 MPa when the temperature difference ΔT = 60 °C and k = 2.0 W/(m?K) thermal greases were used as TIMs.

Keywords: thermoelectric generator; interfacial heat transfer; thermal interface materials; external pressure; open-circuit voltage; output power (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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