An optimized design approach concerning thermoelectric generators with frustum-shaped legs based on three-dimensional multiphysics model

Xue-jian, Wang; Qi, Ji; Deng, Wei; Li, Gongping; Gao, Xudong; He, Luanxuan; Zhang, Shixu

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2021.120810

Cited by 35 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…This means that for a mesh element beyond 2000, the device output parameters become independent of the device mesh element size; hence, throughout this work, the mesh element size of 0.5 mm, F I G U R E 4 Three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) results (A) temperature (B) electric voltage. (C) Validation of FEM results with experimental data 50 corresponding to an element number of 11 664 is used to ensure model accuracy.…”

Section: Validation Of the Fem Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Material properties of the high-and low-temperature materials (A) electrical resistivity (B) Seebeck coefficient (C) thermal conductivity (D) dimensionless figure of merit 34,35 F I G U R E 3 Maximum power transfer circuit couple in ANSYS and comparing the results with those that were obtained from a previous study. 50 The geometry specifications of the module are 40 mm Â 40 mm surface area. The depth, width and height of the thermoelectric legs are 1.4, 1.4, and 1.1 mm, respectively.…”

Section: Validation Of the Fem Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The comparison between the numerical and experimental results are made possible by simulating a real‐life couple in ANSYS and comparing the results with those that were obtained from a previous study 50 . The geometry specifications of the module are 40 mm × 40 mm surface area.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three‐dimensional finite element method (FEM) results (A) temperature (B) electric voltage. (C) Validation of FEM results with experimental data 50 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geometry and stage number optimization of a concentrating solar multistage segmented thermoelectric generator by exploiting different optimization schemes

Maduabuchi

Alobaid

2022

Intl J of Energy Research

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Summary To further enhance the performance of the multi‐stage thermoelectric generator (TEG), this work conducts a comprehensive geometry and stage number optimization of a concentrating solar two‐stage TEG made of segmented pins in the second‐stage. The geometry optimization of the proposed device is comprehensive enough to include the individual and combined effects of the segmented pin's heights and cross‐sectional areas which were neglected in previous studies so as to select the best possible optimization parameter. Furthermore, the accuracy of the numerical results is ensured by accounting for temperature dependency in all thermoelectric materials while factoring radiative and convective losses associated with solar concentrating systems. Furthermore, a detailed stage number optimization of the proposed device is carried out by varying the number of stages from 1 to 4 to determine which stage number optimizes the device performance. Major results show that for three possible ways of optimizing the segment heights in the device, simultaneously increasing the n‐ and p‐high temperature material heights is the most effective, yielding a maximum efficiency of 9.28%. Furthermore, for 12 possible ways of optimizing the segment cross‐sectional areas, increasing the n‐ and p‐high temperature material areas is the most effective method, producing an efficiency of 13.82% at 3 mm2. Finally, increasing the number of stages is detrimental to the power output of the system while increasing its efficiency when only high temperature materials are used in the lower stages.

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Section: Validation Of the Fem Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Validation Of the Fem Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three‐dimensional finite element method (FEM) results (A) temperature (B) electric voltage. (C) Validation of FEM results with experimental data 50 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geometry and stage number optimization of a concentrating solar multistage segmented thermoelectric generator by exploiting different optimization schemes

Maduabuchi

Alobaid

2022

Intl J of Energy Research

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“…[ 8 ] Changing the form factor of the TE leg can optimize the efficiency of the TEG under specific conditions compared to the straight leg. Current studies of conical legs, [ 9 ] wedge‐shaped legs, [ 10 ] and special‐shaped legs [ 11 ] show that these legs have a special temperature distribution, allowing more volume to be at high temperature. [ 12 ] Artificial intelligence [ 13 ] and statistical methods [ 14 ] have also been applied in the field of TEG optimization to find universal laws of optimization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Novel Optimization Method for TEG System Performance Based on Temperature and Heat Flux

Zhou,

Hu,

Jin

et al. 2024

Energy Tech

Self Cite

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The thermoelectric generator (TEG) can convert heat to electricity and is widely used. To overcome the limitation for low efficiency of thermoelectric materials, optimizing the performance of TEG in given system is necessary. This study proposes a method to match individual TEG components to the system environment based on two boundary conditions—temperature and heat flux. With this method, TEG geometrical parameters can be determined to optimize the system performance by varying temperature as an independent variable. Using this method, the TEG in an undersea Radioisotope thermoelectric generator (u‐RTG) is optimized. The TEG system exhibits an output power of 14.10 W when powered by a 200 W heat source. The simulate result in the comprehensive system model of u‐RTG is 14.04 W, which has 0.45% deviation from the TEG optimization result. It is proved that the TEG optimized by this method matches the system, the optimization results are accurate.

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Electrical Performance Measurement of Electrical Thermoelectric Generator by Simulating Space Cooling Conditions in Terrestrial Laboratory

Wang,

He,

Sang

et al. 2024

Energy Tech

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Predicting the electrical performance and temperature field of radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) is crucial and essential before they are used in space, a common application scenario. However, building a laboratory to recreate a space environment is expensive and time‐consuming. It is also unrealistic to deploy temperature measurement probes in various components of the RTG. This article aims to establish an approach which combines finite element method (FEM) and experimental measurements in the terrestrial laboratory to solve the problem more effectively: first, using FEM to calculate the temperature distribution of RTG operating in the space; second, realizing the similar temperature distribution of self‐assembly RTG prototype (electrical thermoelectric generator [ETG]) in the terrestrial laboratory by air cooling. The subsequent measurements of electrical performance indicate that the ETG exhibits a maximum power output of 43.41 W and a maximum thermoelectric conversion efficiency of 5.788% in the simulated space environment, aligning well with the values obtained from FEM. This research has the potential to serve as a method for forecasting the performance of RTG in a terrestrial laboratory.

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An optimized design approach concerning thermoelectric generators with frustum-shaped legs based on three-dimensional multiphysics model

Cited by 35 publications

References 25 publications

Geometry and stage number optimization of a concentrating solar multistage segmented thermoelectric generator by exploiting different optimization schemes

Geometry and stage number optimization of a concentrating solar multistage segmented thermoelectric generator by exploiting different optimization schemes

A Novel Optimization Method for TEG System Performance Based on Temperature and Heat Flux

Electrical Performance Measurement of Electrical Thermoelectric Generator by Simulating Space Cooling Conditions in Terrestrial Laboratory

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