Performance Evaluation of Waste Heat Recovery Systems Based on Semiconductor Thermoelectric Generators for Hypersonic Vehicles

Abstract

Abstract:The types and the characteristics of the waste heat on hypersonic vehicles and the application feasibility of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for hypersonic aircraft are discussed in this paper. Two thermoelectric generator schemes with an isothermal heat source and a variable temperature heat source were proposed, and the corresponding models were developed to predict the performance of the waste heat recovery systems on a hypersonic vehicle with different heat sources. The thermoelectric efficiency variation with electric current, the temperature distribution of fuel and junctions, and the distribution of the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT value) are described by diagrams. Besides, some improvements for a better performance are analyzed. The results indicate that the maximum values of thermoelectric efficiency are 5% and 2.5% for the isothermal heat source and the variable temperature heat source, respectively, and the thermoelectric efficiency improves with the temperature of the hot junction. The performance of the TEGs with variable temperature heat source is worse than that of the other TEGs under the same highest hot junction temperature conditions, and the former has a better conversion efficiency than the latter when the average temperatures are identical.

Applications and Impacts of Nanoscale Thermal Transport in Electronics Packaging

“…The goals of electronic materials development have primarily been focused in two directions: faster switching speed (i.e., higher frequency) [82][83][84] and higher power [85][86][87][88][89][90]. In communications [82][83][84]91,92] and computational electronics [11,[13][14][15], higher frequency is desirable, while higher power delivery is desired for electric vehicles [26,88,93], industrial and utilities [2,94,95], and military applications [96][97][98]. To move successfully in both directions, the industry must transition away from silicon, and to devices made from wide bandgap materials.…”

Effects of Design Parameters on Fuel Economy and Output Power in an Automotive Thermoelectric Generator

“…However, it is in ICEs where TEGs are expected to play a major role as waste heat recovery devices [20]. Although there are some studies on TEGs in continuous combustion ICEs [27], the principal application is focused on reciprocating ICEs in automobiles. Studies on ATEGs are carried out both numerically and experimentally.…”

Performance of a Thermally Regenerative Battery with 3D-Printed Cu/C Composite Electrodes: Effect of Electrode Pore Size

“…Low-grade waste heat (temperature <130 °C) generated from industrial and geothermal processes is a large energy resource that may be utilized through energy recovery. − Among various recovery methods, one promising technology is the conversion of low-grade waste heat into electricity using solid-state thermoelectric system based on semiconductor materials (STES), , organic Rankine cycle (ORC), , and membrane-based thermo-osmotic systems (MTOS). , However, expensive material and/or operational costs, poor energy storage capacity, and relatively complex system of STES and ORC limit their development. , MTOS technologies have resulted in low power densities and energy efficiencies, although these technologies are scalable and less expensive. , To convert low-grade heat to electricity, it is necessary to develop a new technology that is less expensive, scalable, and is easy to put into production. , …”

“…Low-grade waste heat (temperature <130 °C) generated from industrial and geothermal processes is a large energy resource that may be utilized through energy recovery. 1−3 Among various recovery methods, one promising technology is the conversion of low-grade waste heat into electricity using solidstate thermoelectric system based on semiconductor materials (STES), 4,5 organic Rankine cycle (ORC), 6,7 and membranebased thermo-osmotic systems (MTOS). 8,9 However, expensive material and/or operational costs, poor energy storage capacity, and relatively complex system of STES and ORC limit their development.…”