Abstract
A thermoelectric generator (TEG) is a device that transforms thermal energy directly into electrical power by exploiting the Seebeck effect. In the current study, the dynamic performance characteristics of a TEG is experimentally studied under different operating conditions. The Influence of input heat rate and the influence of utilizing extended surfaces (fins) on both transient and steady-state performance of a TEG are experimentally investigated. The variation in the temperatures of the TEG hot-and cold-side in addition to the output voltage is taken as a denotation of the performance characteristics. Input heating rate of 15.0 W, 17.5 W, 20.0 W, 22.0W and 25.0 W are applied to the TEG hot-side. Free air convection (FC) is utilized for heat dissipation from the TEG module through the cold-side. From the experimentation, it can be concluded that increasing the input heating rate provides a higher temperature difference between the module sides leading to higher power output. Additionally, using fins to aid heat dissipations improved the TEG performance by lowering the temperature of the cold-side and increasing the temperature difference across the module. The experimental data collected are compared with the data obtainable by the TEG module manufacturer and an excellent concordat is acquired.
Highlights
The accelerating imbalance between demand and provision supply of energy and continuous energy abjection motivates the researchers to investigate environmental affable, clean energy resources
Since the conversion efficiency is defined as the ratio between the power output from the thermoelectric generator (TEG) to the rate of heat input, it can be expected that the enhancing effect caused by the utilization of fins on power output for the same input heating rate will improve the conversion efficiency causing an average increase of 14.3% up to 18.4%
Based on the acquired results of the current study, it can be noticed that increasing the input heating rate causes an increase in both the hot- and the cold-side temperatures as well as increasing the temperature difference
Summary
The accelerating imbalance between demand and provision supply of energy and continuous energy abjection motivates the researchers to investigate environmental affable, clean energy resources. The assembly consists of two copper plates; one is positioned between the hot-side of the module and the heater, while the other plate is positioned between the cold-side and the heat sink (fins). These copper plates are chosen for construction due to its high thermal conductivity, so heat is well distributed and temperature measurements of both sides more convenient. The particular TIM used in the relevant setup is a thin graphite sheet having a thermal conductivity of 1600 W/m·K and thickness of 0.025 mm Both hot- and coldside temperatures are measured using ten Chromel (Nickel-Chromium Alloy) / Alumel (Nickel-Aluminum Alloy) thermocouples (type K) with 0.2 mm wire diameter, where five thermocouples are used for each side.
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