Simulation Study of Cylindrical Automobile Exhaust Thermoelectric Generator System

Abstract

A three-dimensional model of cylindrical automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator system is established. The fluid simulation software Fluent is employed to simulate the heat transfer performance of smooth exhaust channel and exhaust channel with fin. The influence of thickness, height and numbers of fins are studied. According to the simulation result and based on pressure drop of the channel, it is found that when the fins are 5mm in thickness, 15mm in height and 16 in number, the channel with such fins is the optimal one. The computing results provide theoretical support for designing the cylindrical automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator system dealing with automobile exhaust.