Thermoelectric Performance Evaluation and Optimization in a Concentric Annular Thermoelectric Generator under Different Cooling Methods

Wenlong Yang, Wenchao Zhu, Yang Yang, Liang Huang, Ying Shi and Changjun Xie
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Wenlong Yang: School of Automation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Wenchao Zhu: School of Automation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Yang Yang: School of Automation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Liang Huang: School of Automation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Ying Shi: School of Automation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Changjun Xie: School of Automation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-21

Abstract: To ensure effective heat recovery of thermoelectric generators, a cooling system is necessary to maintain the working temperature difference of the thermoelectric couples, which decreases continuously due to thermal diffusion. In order to evaluate and improve the thermoelectric performance of a concentric annular thermoelectric generator under various cooling methods, a comprehensive numerical model of the thermo-fluid-electric multi-physics field for an annular thermoelectric generator with a concentric annular heat exchanger was developed using the finite-element method. The effects of four cooling methods and different exhaust parameters on the thermoelectric performance were investigated. The results show that, in comparison to the cocurrent cooling pattern, the countercurrent cooling pattern effectively reduces temperature distribution non-uniformity and hence increases the maximum output power; however, it requires more thermoelectric semiconductor materials. Furthermore, when using the cocurrent air-cooling method, high exhaust temperatures may result in lower output power; high exhaust mass flow rates result in high exhaust resistance and reduce system net power. The maximum net power output P net = 432.42 W was obtained using the countercurrent water-cooling, corresponding to an optimal thermoelectric semiconductor volume of 9.06 × 10 −4 m 3 ; when compared to cocurrent water-cooling, the maximum net power increased by 8.9%, but the optimal thermoelectric semiconductor volume increased by 21.4%.

Keywords: thermal management; thermoelectric generator; cooling method; annular thermoelectric semiconductor (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
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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