The general physical laws for reaching the maximum efficiency of a generator using vehicular exhaust heat have been studied. Based on the physical models of a generator with lumped and distributed parameters, the optimal gas temperature at the outlet of the thermoelectric generator (TEG) and the optimal distribution of gas temperature in the heat exchanger have been found. The basic generator parameters, namely the voltage, power, and efficiency, have been calculated in the steady-state and dynamic modes. The possibility of efficiency improvement by a factor of 1.5 through use of an exponential as compared with an isothermal distribution of heat exchanger temperature has been revealed. Calculations are confirmed by results from testing a prototype vehicular thermoelectric generator.
Classical thermoelectricity is based on the use of the Seebeck and Thomson effects that occur in the near-contact areas between n-and p-type materials. A conceptually different approach to thermoelectric power converter design that is based on the law of thermoelectric induction of currents is also known. The efficiency of this approach has already been demonstrated by its first applications. More than 10 basically new types of thermoelements were discovered with properties that cannot be achieved by thermocouple power converters. Therefore, further development of this concept is of practical interest. This paper provides a classification and theory for solving the inverse problems of thermoelectricity that form the basis for devising new thermoelement types. Computer methods for their solution for anisotropic and inhomogeneous media are elaborated. Regularities related to thermoelectric current excitation in anisotropic and inhomogeneous media are established. The possibility of obtaining eddy currents of a particular configuration through control of the temperature field and material parameters for the creation of new thermoelement types is demonstrated for three-dimensional (3D) models of anisotropic and inhomogeneous media.
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