Abstract
Thermoelectric generators (TEG) convert heat into electricity and offer a green option for renewable energy generation. The Thomson effect has been proven to impact the overall performance of TEGs negatively but is ignored in the widely-used formula for TEG maximum efficiency calculation. In this study, a new dimensionless number called the Ury number (Ur) is introduced to capture the influence of the Thomson effect on TEG power output and maximum efficiency. Ur is defined as the ratio between the Thomson coefficient and the Seebeck coefficient. It is found that as Ur increases both TEG output power and maximum efficiency decrease. Ur combined with the device figure of merit, ZT, can better dictate the overall performance of a TEG.
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