Experimental and Numerical Study on the Effect of Interfacial Heat Transfer on Performance of Thermoelectric Generators

Abstract

The application of thermoelectric generator (TEG) systems in waste heat recovery has attracted more and more attention. In this work, the effect of interfacial heat transfer on the performance of TEG module was experimentally and numerically investigated. Three kinds of thermal greases with thermal conductivities of 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 W/(m∙K) were used as thermal interface materials (TIMs) to improve interfacial heat transfer at different external pressures ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 MPa. The open-circuit voltage, output power, and thermal interfacial resistance were measured at different experimental conditions. It was found that the performance of the TEG module can be greatly improved by using thermal greases as TIMs. The open-circuit voltages increased from 1.73 to either 3.07, 3.4, or 3.57 V with k = 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 W/(m∙K) thermal greases respectively used as TIMs when the temperature difference was 60 °C and external pressure was 0.1 MPa. However, the performance of the TEG was slightly affected by external pressure when thermal greases used as TIMs. The open-circuit voltages were 3.07, 3.13, 3.17, and 3.20 V at external pressures of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 MPa when the temperature difference ΔT = 60 °C and k = 2.0 W/(m∙K) thermal greases were used as TIMs.

A Comprehensive Review of Strategies and Approaches for Enhancing the Performance of Thermoelectric Module

“…Nowadays, more suitable thermal interface materials (TIM) are used to improve the operation performance of TE modules in different locations and working conditions. These include inorganic compounds [162], greases [163], graphite [164], metal nanometer material [165], and carbon materials. The results [153] showed that the boron nitride-based ceramic coating, white coating and polyurethane-based sheet are suitable for reducing contact resistance, respectively.…”

Termal arayüz malzemesinin termoelektrik jeneratör performansına etkisinin nümerik incelenmesi

“…Bu nedenle son yıllarda TIM'lerin bir TEJ sistemine uygulanması çalışmaları artan bir ilgiye sahiptir. Ancak bu konudaki çalışmalar hala sınırlı sayıdadır [26][27][28][29]. Wang vd.…”

Optimal Configuration of a Gas Expansion Process in a Piston-Type Cylinder with Generalized Convective Heat Transfer Law

“…Finite time thermodynamics (FTT) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] has been applied to perform performance analyses and optimizations for various thermodynamic cycles and processes, including multi-stream heat exchange system [14], chemical reactors [15][16][17][18], electrochemical device [19], biological process [20], Novikov engines [21][22][23], Agrawal engine [24], Carnot engines [25,26], solar engine [27], internal combustion engine cycles [28][29][30][31][32], thermoelectric devices [33][34][35][36], cogeneration plants [37][38][39], ocean thermal energy conversion plants [40][41][42], Kalina cycle [43], Rankine cycles [44][45][46], Brayton cycles [47]…”