Design and optimal coolant flow rate analysis of an annular water-cooled automotive exhaust-based thermoelectric generator

Abstract

This paper introduces a design of an annular water-cooled automotive exhaust-based thermoelectric generator (TEG). A comprehensive numerical model of TEG system is established to investigate the relationship between automotive exhaust temperature and coolant flow rate. Through numerical simulations, it is demonstrated that the implementation of this device can effectively enhance the temperature uniformity at the hot side of the heat exchanger, consequently increasing the TEG's power output. After introducing the annular water-cooled radiator, the temperature uniformity of the thermoelectric module increased by 18.8%. By utilizing the numerical simulation outcomes alongside empirical formulas, calculations for the pump power consumption, maximum output power, and maximum net output power of the thermoelectric module (TEM) are conducted. The maximum net output power can be increased by 3.30%–53.24% by controlling the coolant flow rate. As a result, a relationship curve depicting the average temperature difference between the hot and cold ends of the TEM, in relation to the optimum coolant flow rate, is obtained. This relationship curve serves as a valuable tool for adjusting the radiator's coolant flow rate and augmenting the TEG's net output power, ultimately achieving the objective of heightening the power generation efficiency of the TEG.