The evaluation of power generation performance of variable cross section thermoelectric generator based on new thermoelectric material parameter measurement method

ABSTRACT

This paper mainly study the feasibility of anew method of measuring thermoelectric material parameters and several TEGs with variable cross-sectional legs. The corresponding experimental system was established, and the thermoelectric material parameters were obtained according to the experimental data and measurement theory. ATEG model containing 127 pairs of thermocouples was established to verify the accuracy of the parameters. Then, the models with different leg shapes were established to study the corresponding internal resistance, Joule heat generation and power generation performance. The results showed that the maximum relative error between the model and the experimental data was not exceed 5%, which verified the feasibility and accuracy of the measurement method. The shape of the legs affected the internal resistance, current and Joule heat distribution of the models. The Joule heat of Model 1 accounts for up to 4.86% of the hot side heat flow. Among several models, Model 4 provides the smallest internal resistance, the largest output current and power generation performance. Compared with the regular-leg of Model 1, the maximum output power and efficiency of the convex-leg of Model 4 were increased by 14.2% and 3%. The results of this paper can provide reference for designing variable leg geometry of thermoelectric modules.

KEYWORDS:

• Thermoelectric module
• material parameters
• leg shape
• Joule heat
• power generation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Qingtian Meng

Qingtian Meng is currently a master student in associate Prof. Jun Wang’s group at Jiangsu University. He received his BS (2019) degree in Energy and Power Engineering at North university of China. His research interests include the heat transfer process of thermoelectric generators and simulation of thermoelectric generators’ output performance.

Qiqiang Ni

Qiqiang Ni is currently a master student in associate Prof. Jun Wang’s group at Jiangsu University. He received his BS (2019) degree in Energy and power engineering at Jiangsu University of Technology. His research interests include the recovery and utilization of low grade waste heat.

Xiangxiang Song

Xiangxiang Song is a master student in associate Prof. Jun Wang’s group at Jiangsu University. She received her BS (2018) degree in Energy and power engineering at Jiangsu University of Technology. Her research interests include the recovery and utilization of low grade waste heat.