Estimates of efficiency of a small-size thermoelectric channel in terms of conversion of heat produced by gas combustion to electric power

Abstract

Stationary regimes of combustion in an energy-conversion system are studied, and its efficiency is estimated. This system is a channel with thermoelectric converters embedded into the channel walls and with combustion of premixed gases inside the channel. For the maximum efficiency of energy conversion in a small-size device to be reached, the properties of thermoelectric materials, the device geometry, and other parameters have to be correlated with the internal structure of the flame. In particular, the efficiency of energy conversion in a small-size device can be higher than that in a similar large-size device, and the maximum efficiency is reached near the flammability limits.