Comprehensive analysis of thermoelectric generation systems for automotive applications

Stobart, Richard; Wijewardane, M.A.; Yang, Zhijia

doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.09.121

Cited by 53 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Exhaust TEGs [253][254][255] are able to convert waste heat into electricity from the exhaust gas which contains ≈40% of the energy from fuel combustion (Figure 14a). [374][375][376][378][379][380][381][382] The function of a heat exchanger is to rectify the thermal flux of the exhaust gas [254,383] or the radiator, [382] heating the hot side of the TE modules; also cooling down the cold side, [379,384] enabling the optimal implantation of the TE modules as well as a high density power output. In an exhaust TEG, the TE modules are highly integrated with the heat exchangers (Figure 14b).…”

Section: Automotive Tegmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

High Performance Thermoelectric Materials: Progress and Their Applications

Yang

Chen

Dargusch

et al. 2017

Advanced Energy Materials

656

434

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Thermoelectric (TE) materials have the capability of converting heat into electricity, which can improve fuel efficiency, as well as providing robust alternative energy supply in multiple applications by collecting wasted heat, and therefore, assisting in finding new energy solutions. In order to construct high performance TE devices, superior TE materials have to be targeted via various strategies. The development of high performance TE devices can broaden the market of TE application and eventually boost the enthusiasm of TE material research. This review focuses on major novel strategies to achieve high‐performance TE materials and their applications. Manipulating the carrier concentration and band structures of materials are effective in optimizing the electrical transport properties, while nanostructure engineering and defect engineering can greatly reduce the thermal conductivity approaching the amorphous limit. Currently, TE devices are utilized to generate power in remote missions, solar–thermal systems, implantable or/wearable devices, the automotive industry, and many other fields; they are also serving as temperature sensors and controllers or even gas sensors. The future tendency is to synergistically optimize and integrate all the effective factors to further improve the TE performance, so that highly efficient TE materials and devices can be more beneficial to daily lives.

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Section: Automotive Tegmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the future, by using high ZT TE components, applying novel technologies, [393] and rational design, [374,379,386] the efficiency of the exhaust TEGs are expected to be further improved. If the efficiency of TEGs can reach ≈20%, the global fuel consumption will be significantly decreased.…”

Section: Wwwadvancedsciencenewscommentioning

confidence: 99%

High Performance Thermoelectric Materials: Progress and Their Applications

Yang

Chen

Dargusch

et al. 2017

Advanced Energy Materials

656

434

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the search for a methodology to correctly include the properties of the hot heat exchanger, Stobart et al [8] validated a numerical model of an ATEG with experimental data and tested it under different conditions to develop a simplified model. The results showed different power production from the TEMs depending on the non-uniform heat flux received, as already noted by Li et al [29].…”

Section: Thermoelectric Generatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These uneven values of absorbed heat flux occur in the direction of the exhaust flow because of the decrease in available exhaust gas energy and on a perpendicular plane to the direction of the exhaust flow due to the non-symmetrical design of the ATEG. Thus, although the plate-fin heat exchanger configuration for the heat absorber on the hot side appears as the preferred one in many studies [8,9], the temperature distribution at the flat surface in contact with the TEMs is far from being uniform [28]. Therefore, ATEG designs with cross-sectional areas of regular polygons were proposed (squared [8], hexagonal [10], and octagonal [17]).…”

Section: Thermoelectric Generatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Comamala

Cózar

Massaguer³

et al. 2018

Energies

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The need for more sustainable mobility promoted research into the use of waste heat to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. As such, thermoelectric generation is a promising technique thanks to its robustness and simplicity. Automotive thermoelectric generators (ATEGs) are installed in the tailpipe and convert heat directly into electricity. Previous works on ATEGs mainly focused on extracting the maximum amount of electrical power. However, the back pressure caused by the ATEG heavily influences fuel consumption. Here, an ATEG numerical model was first validated with experimental data and then applied to investigate the effects that modifying the main ATEG design parameters had on both fuel economy and output power. The cooling flow rate and the geometrical dimensions of the heat exchanger on the hot side and the cold side of the ATEG were varied. The design that produced the maximum output power differed from that which maximized fuel economy. Back pressure was the most limiting factor in attaining fuel savings. Back pressure values lower than 5 mbar led to a < 0.2% increase in fuel consumption. In the ATEG design analyzed here, the generation of electrical output power reduced fuel consumption by a maximum of 0.5%.

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“…For forced convection, there are mostly two working fluids, which are normally considered for practical applications, i.e. air [13] and water [10,[14][15][16][17]. Though an amount of electric energy needs to be invested to cool by the forced convection, it is generally observed [14] that a higher overall TEG system efficiency can still be realized in comparison to the natural convection systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variable temperature effects on TEG performance

et al. 2019

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The present paper presents an experimental investigation of the variable temperature effects on the performance of a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG). In the conducted experiments, a sample TEG is analyzed by imposing variable temperature patterns on the cold side, while keeping the temperature uniformon the hot side. The achieved local temperature variations on the cold side has approximately been about 8% of the temperature difference between the hot and cold sides. The results reveal that the TEG performance shows some variation with the applied variable temperature patterns, which remains, however,rather small for the applied temperature variations. For achieving a more clear answer to the present question, further experiments need to be designed where more substantial temperature variations canbeobtained.

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Comprehensive analysis of thermoelectric generation systems for automotive applications

Cited by 53 publications

References 13 publications

High Performance Thermoelectric Materials: Progress and Their Applications

High Performance Thermoelectric Materials: Progress and Their Applications

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

Variable temperature effects on TEG performance

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