Thermal and stress analyses in thermoelectric generator with tapered and rectangular pin configurations

Optimization of segmented solar thermoelectric generator for power output enhancement has been well researched however, the mechanical reliability study of such devices is usually neglected. In addition, assumed heat flux distribution or uniform flux distribution from solar concentrators is usually used for solar thermoelectric generator however, this is not accurate. Therefore, this study presents a detailed three-dimensional numerical investigation on the effect of non-uniform and uniform heat flux on the electrical and mechanical performance of segmented and non-segmented solar thermoelectric generator. Flux distribution from a compound parabolic concentrator is obtained by ray tracing using Lighttools software and COMSOL 5.4 Multiphysics software is used to perform the numerical study based on finite element method. Thermal stress analysis in a fullscale solar thermoelectric generator is presented and the effects of load resistance, solar radiation and cold side temperature on performance of solar thermoelectric generator is analysed. Results show that the power output of the segmented solar thermoelectric generators in Case 3, Case 4 and Case 5 increased by 44.07%, 59.12% and 37.9% respectively compared to that of Case 1 (bismuth Samson Shittu Writing -review & editing Writing -original draft Validation Software Conceptualization a , Guiqiang Li Project administration Supervision a, *

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“…3 a. In addition, the thermal stress model used in this study is validated with results from a previous study [ 52 ] as shown in Fig. 3…”

Section: Model Validationsupporting

confidence: 59%

“…In this study, five different design cases for the segmented and non-segmented solar thermoelectric generator shown in Table 3 Validation of thermoelectric generator (a) power output with [ 51 ] and (b) thermal stress with [ 52 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrical and mechanical analysis of a segmented solar thermoelectric generator under non-uniform heat flux

Shittu

Xuan

et al. 2020

Energy

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“…The temperature from rectangular pulse heat obtained in the previous study [44] and this present study is shown in Fig. 2c while the thermal stress result obtained in the previous study [48] and this present is shown in Fig. 2d.…”

Section: Numerical Model Validationsupporting

confidence: 58%

“…Fig. 2 Model validation (a) temperature and (b) open circuit voltage variation with time and mesh grid number (c) rectangular pulse validation with previous study [44] and (d) thermal stress validation with previous study [48].…”

Section: Thermal and Electrical Responses To Pulsed Heat Fluxmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Secondly, the numerical model is validated using similar works available in the literature. Since pulsed heat power and thermal stress are the two main Multiphysics to be modelled, the simulations carried out by Asaadi et al [44] and Yilbas et al [48] are recreated. The simulations conditions are reset to the ones used by the authors and similar parameters are used.…”

Section: Numerical Model Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optimized high performance thermoelectric generator with combined segmented and asymmetrical legs under pulsed heat input power

Shittu

Zhao

et al. 2019

Journal of Power Sources

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Preventing a world energy crisis is one of the most important tasks of the 21st century due to the significant rate at which the world's energy demand is growing because of population growth and industrialization [1]. In addition, the excessive use of the depleting fossil fuels has caused global warming and environmental pollution thus, a viable solution is to promote the use of renewable and clean energy [2,3]. Renewable energy sources offer several advantages such as; sustainability, low pollution and economic benefits. Therefore, an increased amount of research on the development and application of renewable energy sources is being carried out as a solution to reduce the over reliance on fossil fuels [4,5]. Thermoelectric (TE) device is a viable clean energy solution that can convert thermal energy into electrical energy when a temperature gradient is present via the Seebeck effect. While a reverse phenomenon called Peltier effect enables the TE device to generate thermal energy from electrical energy [6]. A thermoelectric generator (TEG) can be used to convert waste heat into electricity thereby, reducing the use of fossil fuel. Compared with other waste heat recovery technologies, thermoelectric generators offer several advantages including gas free emissions, solid-state operation, no noise, maintenance free operation, no moving parts, vast scalability, long periods of reliable operation and zero environmental pollution [7,8]. These unique advantages have increased the application of TEG for power generation in space and military applications [9], wearable sensors [10][11][12][13], waste heat recovery [14-18], wireless sensor network [19,20], micro-cogeneration [21] and marine engine application [22].

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Design and Fabrication of Microarchitected Thermoelectric Generators: Prospects and Challenges

Asadikouhanjani,

Zolfagharian,

Bodaghi

2024

Adv Eng Mater

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Solid state devices called thermoelectric generators (TEGs) can convert waste heat from production into electrical power. For emerging devices like thermally integrated energy‐autonomous devices, medicinal equipment, and Internet of things, µ‐TEGs are essential because they can produce power even from minor temperature gradients. An review of the history and state‐of‐the‐art of µ‐TEGs is provided in this article. In addition, it concentrates on highly effective approaches for achieving high‐performance miniature vertical thermoelectric (TE) devices. Design and optimizing methodologies for vertical µ‐TEGs are also investigated since their output power, efficiency and integrity are critical to the architecture. Improving electrical and mechanical performance may be achieved via optimization methods, including multi‐objective and finite‐dimensional optimization in three dimensions (3D). Additionally, the idea and latest advancements of employing the 3D micro‐additive manufacturing (micro‐AM) technique for producing µ‐TEGs are discussed, along with their advantages and disadvantages. The concept of “micro architected TEGs” as opposed to “µ ‐TEGs” is provided by the new paradigm of digital additive manufacturing and architected material concept, which also broadens the scope of material adaptability and innovative structural design. The difficulties experienced are summed up when increasing the output power of µ‐TEG and the prediction of future trends is the final step.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Thermal and stress analyses in thermoelectric generator with tapered and rectangular pin configurations

Cited by 48 publications

References 23 publications

Electrical and mechanical analysis of a segmented solar thermoelectric generator under non-uniform heat flux

Electrical and mechanical analysis of a segmented solar thermoelectric generator under non-uniform heat flux

Optimized high performance thermoelectric generator with combined segmented and asymmetrical legs under pulsed heat input power

Design and Fabrication of Microarchitected Thermoelectric Generators: Prospects and Challenges

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