Effect of the Sequence of the Thermoelectric Generator and the Three-Way Catalytic Converter on Exhaust Gas Conversion Efficiency

The potential for thermoelectric exhaust heat recovery in vehicles has increased with recent improvements in the efficiency of thermoelectric generators (TEGs). The problem with using thermoelectric generators for vehicle applications is whether the device is compatible with the original vehicle exhaust system, which determines the quality of the exhaust gas treatment and the realization of energy conservation and emission reduction. Based on ANSYS CFX simulation analysis of the impact of two positional relationships between the TEG and three-way catalytic converter in the exhaust system on the working efficiency of both elements, it is concluded that the layout with the front three-way catalytic converter has an advantage over the other layout mode under current conditions. New ideas for an improvement program are proposed to provide the basis for further research.     

A Novel Optimization Method for the Electric Topology of Thermoelectric Modules Used in an Automobile Exhaust Thermoelectric Generator

Based on Bi₂Te₃ thermoelectric modules, a kind of automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator (AETEG) with a single-column cold-source structure was designed. To enhance its net power and efficiency, the output performance of all the thermoelectric modules was tested with a temperature monitoring unit and voltage monitoring unit, and modeled using a back-propagation (BP) neural network based on various hot-source temperatures, cold-source temperatures, load currents, and contact pressures according to the temperature distribution of the designed heat exchanger and cooling system. Then, their electric topology (series or parallel hybrid) was optimized using a genetic algorithm to achieve the maximum peak power of the AETEG. From the experimental results, compared with when all the thermoelectric modules were connected only in series or parallel at random, it is concluded that the AETEG performance is evidently affected by the electric topology of all the single thermoelectric modules. The optimized AETEG output power is greatly superior to the other two investigated designs, validating the proposed optimized electric topology as both feasible and practical.     

Thermoelectric Power Generation System for Future Hybrid Vehicles Using Hot Exhaust Gas

The present experimental and computational study investigates a new exhaust gas waste heat recovery system for hybrid vehicles, using a thermoelectric module (TEM) and heat pipes to produce electric power. It proposes a new thermoelectric generation (TEG) system, working with heat pipes to produce electricity from a limited hot surface area. The current TEG system is directly connected to the exhaust pipe, and the amount of electricity generated by the TEMs is directly proportional to their heated area. Current exhaust pipes fail to offer a sufficiently large hot surface area for the high-efficiency waste heat recovery required. To overcome this, a new TEG system has been designed to have an enlarged hot surface area by the addition of ten heat pipes, which act as highly efficient heat transfer devices and can transmit the heat to many TEMs. As designed, this new waste heat recovery system produces a maximum 350 W when the hot exhaust gas heats the evaporator surface of the heat pipe to 170°C; this promises great possibilities for application of this technology in future energy-efficient hybrid vehicles.     

Experiments and Simulations on a Heat Exchanger of an Automotive Exhaust Thermoelectric Generation System Under Coupling Conditions

The present experimental and computational study investigates an exhaust gas waste heat recovery system for vehicles, using thermoelectric modules and a heat exchanger to produce electric power. It proposes a new plane heat exchanger of a thermoelectric generation (TEG) system, producing electricity from a limited hot surface area. To investigate the new plane heat exchanger, we make a coupling condition of heat-flow and flow-solid coupling analysis on it to obtain the temperature, heat, and pressure field of the heat exchanger, and compared it with the old heat exchanger. These fields couple together to solve the multi-field coupling of the flow, solid, and heat, and then the simulation result is compared with the test bench experiment of TEG, providing a theoretical and experimental basis for the present exhaust gas waste heat recovery system.     

Design of a Concentration Solar Thermoelectric Generator

Thermoelectric technology can be another direct way to convert solar radiation into electricity, using the Seebeck effect. Herein, a prototype concentration solar thermoelectric generator (CTG) and a discrete numerical model for the evaluation of the whole system are presented. The model takes into account the temperature dependence of the thermoelectric material properties by dividing the thermoelectric leg into finite elements and is proved to be more accurate for calculation of the conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric modules when large temperature gradients occur in the CTG system. Based on the best available properties of various bulk thermoelectric materials reported in the literature, the best possible performance of the CTG system is predicted, and the CTG system design, including the selection of the concentration ratio and the cooling method for different thermoelectric materials, are discussed in detail.     

Research on the Compatibility of the Cooling Unit in an Automotive Exhaust-based Thermoelectric Generator and Engine Cooling System

The temperature difference between the hot and cold sides of thermoelectric modules is a key factor affecting the conversion efficiency of an automotive exhaust-based thermoelectric generator (TEG). In the work discussed in this paper the compatibility of TEG cooling unit and engine cooling system was studied on the basis of the heat transfer characteristics of the TEG. A new engine-cooling system in which a TEG cooling unit was inserted was simulated at high power and high vehicle speed, and at high power and low vehicle speed, to obtain temperatures and flow rates of critical inlets and outlets. The results show that coolant temperature exceeds its boiling point at high power and low vehicle speed, so the new system cannot meet cooling requirements under these conditions. Measures for improvement to optimize the cooling system are proposed, and provide a basis for future research.     

Modal Analysis and Study of the Vibration Characteristics of the Thermoelectric Modules of Vehicle Exhaust Power-Generation Systems

Thermoelectric (TE) materials and modules are important components of vehicle exhaust power-generation systems. The road and the engine, the main sources of vibration of TE modules, have substantial effects on the vibration characteristics of TE modules. In this work, modal analysis and the vibration characteristics of TE modules were investigated in detail. On the basis of the TE modules and their service environment, simulations for modal analysis were performed by use of the finite-element method, and the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the TE modules were obtained. The numerical results were used to compare the natural frequencies of TE modules under different contact stiffness with the range of excitation frequencies of road and engine, in an attempt to prevent severe resonance. The effects on the vibration characteristics of geometric dimensions, service temperature, and thermal stress of the TE modules are also discussed in detail. The results reveal the vibration characteristics of the TE modules and provide theoretical guidance for structure optimization in the design of vehicle exhaust power-generation systems.     

Detailed Modeling and Irreversible Transfer Process Analysis of a Multi-Element Thermoelectric Generator System

Thermoelectric (TE) power generation technology, due to its several advantages, is becoming a noteworthy research direction. Many researchers conduct their performance analysis and optimization of TE devices and related applications based on the generalized thermoelectric energy balance equations. These generalized TE equations involve the internal irreversibility of Joule heating inside the thermoelectric device and heat leakage through the thermoelectric couple leg. However, it is assumed that the thermoelectric generator (TEG) is thermally isolated from the surroundings except for the heat flows at the cold and hot junctions. Since the thermoelectric generator is a multi-element device in practice, being composed of many fundamental TE couple legs, the effect of heat transfer between the TE couple leg and the ambient environment is not negligible. In this paper, based on basic theories of thermoelectric power generation and thermal science, detailed modeling of a thermoelectric generator taking account of the phenomenon of energy loss from the TE couple leg is reported. The revised generalized thermoelectric energy balance equations considering the effect of heat transfer between the TE couple leg and the ambient environment have been derived. Furthermore, characteristics of a multi-element thermoelectric generator with irreversibility have been investigated on the basis of the new derived TE equations. In the present investigation, second-law-based thermodynamic analysis (exergy analysis) has been applied to the irreversible heat transfer process in particular. It is found that the existence of the irreversible heat convection process causes a large loss of heat exergy in the TEG system, and using thermoelectric generators for low-grade waste heat recovery has promising potential. The results of irreversibility analysis, especially irreversible effects on generator system performance, based on the system model established in detail have guiding significance for the development and application of thermoelectric generators, particularly for the design and optimization of TE modules.     

A 42-V Electrical and Hybrid Driving System Based on a Vehicular Waste-Heat Thermoelectric Generator

A 42-V powernet has been recognized as the next generation of vehicle electrical systems, and the waste-heat thermoelectric generator is becoming the future of vehicular energy conservation and emission reduction technologies. In this paper, effective utilization of vehicular waste-heat energy is proposed by introducing an electrical and hybrid driving system, which is an assemblage of a waste-heat thermoelectric generator, a 42-V powernet, and an integrated starter and generator (ISG). A vehicle model and the submodels for the new system have been built on the ADVISOR platform based on MATLAB/Simulink, and the dynamic performance of the vehicle model tested using the Economic Commission for Europe?CEurope Urban Dynamometer Cycle driving cycle. The simulation results indicate that application of a 42-V waste-heat thermoelectric vehicle could be an integrated approach for fuel economy improvement and emission reduction, compared with a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle and an ISG-type 42-V vehicle.     

Thermal Optimization of the Heat Exchanger in an Automotive Exhaust-Based Thermoelectric Generator

Recent advances in thermoelectric technologies have made exhaust-based thermoelectric generators (TEGs) promising to recover waste heat. The thermal performance of the heat exchanger in exhaust-based TEGs is studied in this work. In terms of interface temperature and thermal uniformity, the thermal characteristics of heat exchangers with different internal structures, lengths, and materials are discussed. Following computational fluid dynamics simulations, infrared experiments are carried out on a high-performance production engine with a dynamometer. Simulation and experimental results show that a plate-shaped heat exchanger made of brass with fishbone-shaped internal structure and length of 600 mm achieves a relatively ideal thermal performance, which is practically helpful to enhance the thermal performance of the TEG.     

Design of a Thin-Film Thermoelectric Generator for Low-Power Applications

Russian Microelectronics - The results of designing a thermoelectric generator (TEG) for low-power applications, such as human monitoring systems, are presented. The generator principle is based on...     

Power-Generation Performance and Durability of a Skutterudite Thermoelectric Generator

By using a p-type (La, Ba, Ga, Ti)₁(Fe, Co)₄Sb₁₂ skutterudite with a dimensionless figure of merit, ZT, = 0.75 at 500°C and an n-type (Yb, Ca, Al, Ga, In)_0.7(Co, Fe)₄Sb₁₂ skutterudite with ZT = 1.0 at 500°C, we fabricated a thermoelectric power-generation module capable of working at high temperatures (up to 600°C). When its hot and cold sides were at 600°C and 30°C, respectively, the power output of a 50 mm × 50 mm × 7.6 mm skutterudite module was 34 W and its thermoelectric conversion efficiency was 8%. In a durability test with the module’s hot and cold sides continuously maintained at 600°C and 80°C, respectively, for 8000 h, power generation first decreased by approximately 6% in the initial 300 h then remained constant.