Design and optimization of thermoelectric generators

Abstract

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are gaining significant traction as they are capable of converting waste heat into electrical energy without requiring any moving mechanical parts. Although TEGs are less efficient than other power-generating equipment, they find wide applications in diverse industries such as biomedical, aerospace, automotive, and power generation. To enhance the efficiency, figure of merit, and power output of thermoelectric generators (TEGs), certain aspects need to be addressed. The present work mainly focuses on the impact of design factors, including cross-sectional area and height of the semiconductor, and semiconductor materials, namely SiGe, PbTe, and Bi2Te3, on the TEG's performance. Parametric studies are conducted using the COMSOL Multiphysics program to optimize the TEG's efficiency and power output. The results show that employing Bi2Te3 at an operating temperature of the hot side at 410 °C and the cold side at 20 °C increases TEG efficiency by nearly 10% compared to the SiGe semiconductor whereas the design factors have a marginal impact on the TEG's efficiency. However, the power output maximum is achieved by increasing the TEG cross-sectional area and decreasing the semiconductor height.