Electric analog of thermoelectric generators

Abstract

The basic principles of thermoelectric transport phenomena together with the basic principles of equivalent thermal circuits are used to derive an electric circuit analog of an arm of a thermoelectric couple where the thermal conductances are represented by electric conductances and where the rates of input heat, Peltier heat, Joule heat, Thomson heat and the electrical power output are represented by current sources. The equivalent thermal circuit is shown to satisfy the transport equations of an arm of a thermoelectric couple. The basic equivalent thermal circuit of an arm of a thermoelectric couple is next applied to the derivation of an overall thermal equivalent circuit of a typical isotope-fueled thermoelectric generator. The electric analog of the entire system enables the designer to determine the overall efficiency of the thermoelectric generator as well as its temperature distribution and to set the problem on the analog or digital computer and vary the different parameters of the circuit to optimize the overall design.