A Novel Forked-Finger Electrode-Structured Thermoelectric Module with High Output Power

Yuemei Li, Zhiguo Zhang, Haojie Zhang, Xueliang Gu and Shaolong Chang
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Yuemei Li: State Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Zhiguo Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Haojie Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Xueliang Gu: State Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Shaolong Chang: State Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: Thermoelectric harvesting technology is a clean and friendly energy-conversion technology. In the π -type traditional thermoelectric module (TEM), n- and p-type thermoelectric legs are electrically connected in a series to generate large temperature differences in the heat flow direction and to achieve a better module performance. However, damages to one thermoelectric leg could lead to the failure of the thermoelectric system. This work proposes a novel forked-finger electrode-structured thermoelectric module (FFTEM), which enables a simultaneous parallel electrical connection and thermal transfer in a homogeneous material’s thermoelectric leg set. The four thermoelectric legs share a common pair of electrodes, and this parallel structure makes the FFTEM benefit from low internal resistance, a high operating current, and high output power. The internal resistance and output power of the TEM are 4.25 mΩ and 1.766 mW, respectively, at a temperature difference of 40 °C. The internal resistance of the FFTEM is reduced to 0.81 mΩ, and the output power is increased to 13.81 mW. The FFTEM’s maximum output power achieved under temperature-dependent conditions is nine times that of the TEM’s output power. This FFTEM design provides a configuration to obtain a much higher output power, which could benefit future applications of thermoelectric devices.

Keywords: thermoelectric generator; forked-finger electrode structure; high output power; transient output characteristics; thermal contact resistance (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: 2022
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