Recent developments in converting the thermal energy of exhaust gasses of
automobiles into electric power directly, require an extensive simulation
and design of appropriate thermoelectric generation system. This work aims
to create a physical model of engine exhaust system using Simscape language
to simulate waste heat recovery from the exhaust gasses using (Na, K)
co-doped polycrystalline tin selenide (SnSe) thermoelectric material. This
particular material exhibits a high Seebeck coefficient and extremely low
lattice thermal conductivity in power generation because of phonons
scattering by the rattlers (Na, K atoms) and Nano-structuring. In the
MATLAB/Simulink environment, a transient simulation is done for the recovery
of waste heat from a 1.5 liters engine using these specific material-based
thermoelectric modules. According to the results obtained, at the
temperature gradient of 285 K across its sides, electrical power of 10.4
watts with a conversion efficiency of almost 5 percent is produced from one
module. The total system output power was 477 watts at the exhaust gas inlet
temperature of 900 K to the octagonal heat exchanger on which the modules
are mounted.
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