Graded and stacked thermoelectric generators—numerical description and maximisation of output power

Helmers, L.; Müller, Eckhard; Schilz, J.; Kaysser, W. A.

doi:10.1016/s0921-5107(98)00211-6

Cited by 41 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…To a certain extent, these tools may be considered as an alternative to special purpose FEM codes (see e.g. [12,16,17]). However, powerful and desirable customized FEM packages which are covering the thermoelectric coupling of charge and heat transport, are not yet available to the thermoelectric researcher.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

One-dimensional Modelling of Thermoelectric Cooling

Seifert

Ueltzen

Müller

2002

phys. stat. sol. (a)

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Applying a one‐dimensional formulation, the authors give a short overview on thermoelectric effects. Starting from the first principles of thermoelectricity, differential equations governing the coupling of thermal and electric transports have been analytically and numerically solved by the software tool Mathematica. For (Bi0.5Sb0.5)2Te3 as an active material, the temperature profile T(x) in a single Peltier element has been calculated for constant thermoelectric material properties as well as for temperature dependent parameters. It is shown that temperature dependence effects can be sufficiently approximated by constant volume average values as far as the electric current remains near or below the optimum value for maximum temperature difference over the element.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

One-dimensional Modelling of Thermoelectric Cooling

Seifert

Ueltzen

Müller

2002

phys. stat. sol. (a)

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“…Since this operation is equivalent to the adaptation of the thermal and electric impedance of the device, such a strategy also includes classical design parameters like the ratio of the length of an active TE element to its cross-sectional area [158][159][160][161][162][163][164]. Naturally, the concept of Functionally Graded Materials (FGM) [165][166][167][168][169][170] is an efficient way to achieve this impedance adaptation, and to further contribute to a gradual improvement of device performance. A central target of theoretical FGM studies is to elaborate recipes for optimum design of TE elements concerning the material [152,170,171], i.e., to identify optimal profiles of the material coefficients α, σ T , and κ J .…”

Section: Optimum Device Design and Fgmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermodynamics of Thermoelectric Phenomena and Applications

Goupil

Seifert

Zabrocki

et al. 2011

Entropy

269

252

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Abstract:Fifty years ago, the optimization of thermoelectric devices was analyzed by considering the relation between optimal performances and local entropy production. Entropy is produced by the irreversible processes in thermoelectric devices. If these processes could be eliminated, entropy production would be reduced to zero, and the limiting Carnot efficiency or coefficient of performance would be obtained. In the present review, we start with some fundamental thermodynamic considerations relevant for thermoelectrics. Based on a historical overview, we reconsider the interrelation between optimal performances and local entropy production by using the compatibility approach together with the thermodynamic arguments. Using the relative current density and the thermoelectric potential, we show that minimum entropy production can be obtained when the thermoelectric potential is a specific, optimal value.

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“…[6][7][8] We have recently developed a more simple, but nevertheless exact, numerical access to the solution by using a finite-element algorithm. 9 Thus, we are able to calculate the efficiency and the power output of a thermoelectric generator-especially of a device with varying composition along the temperature axis.…”

Section: ͑2͒mentioning

confidence: 99%