Evaluation of system configurations for thermoelectric power generation

Abstract

Recent developments in thermoelectric materials have led to renewed interest in thermoelectric devices for power generation. In a system where a thermoelectric generator uses a finite heat source and sink such as fluid streams, thermodynamic characteristics of the heat source and heat sink are relevant in evaluating the conversion efficiency. Based on the system efficiency equations derived in prior work, an evaluation of a thermoelectric power generation system can be made and its performance can be expressed as a function of both thermoelectric figure of merit and thermal system performance metrics. These dependencies are presented on a performance map. Performance maps reinforce and quantify the suggestion that both thermoelectric material and thermal sciences are crucial to the performance of thermoelectric generators.