Performance Analysis of Variable Cross-Section TEGs under Constant Heat Flux Conditions

Junpeng Liu, Yajing Sun, Gang Chen () and Pengcheng Zhai
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Junpeng Liu: Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application of Advanced Materials Mechanics, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Yajing Sun: Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application of Advanced Materials Mechanics, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Gang Chen: Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application of Advanced Materials Mechanics, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Pengcheng Zhai: Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application of Advanced Materials Mechanics, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: In this paper, five shapes of thermoelectric generator (TEG) models (cylindrical, barrel shaped, hourglass shaped, cup shaped, and inverse cup shaped) are built under the boundary conditions of heat flux at the hot end and convection at the cold end of the TEGs. Based on the numerical simulation results, the configuration of the variable cross-section can effectively boost the performance of TEGs. Remarkably, the hourglass-shaped TEG generated the maximum output power and efficiency, which were 69.62% and 70.96% higher than that of the conventional cylindrical TEG, respectively. The results indicate that the hourglass shape is beneficial to enlarge the temperature difference between the two ends of the TEG, which results in performance improvement. In addition, the effects of heat flux and convection on the performance of TEGs are explored and discussed. After choosing the appropriate boundary conditions, the relationships between the maximum output power and efficiency and the shape factor of the hourglass-shaped TEG are obtained according to the fitting results. Finally, some conclusions are drawn to provide guidance for TEG applications.

Keywords: thermoelectric generator; variable cross-section; heat flux; convection coefficient; shape factor (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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