Abstract
This paper evaluates the fuel displacement potential of a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) device in a conventional gasoline vehicle using vehicle simulation and engine in the loop. A TEG device was modelled in Simulink, to exhibit the thermal and electrical characteristics of such a device. This TEG model was integrated into the vehicle simulation software, Autonomie and evaluated in a real engine – virtual vehicle scenario using Engine in the loop (EIL) technique. The EIL approach was used to evaluate the fuel consumption benefit of TEG under cold and hot conditions. The complete vehicle model was then validated and used to evaluate the impact of the current TEG system on additional drive cycles as well as future TEG systems (i.e. no device temperature limits). EIL evaluation shows a fuel economy gain within the current device of 1% on the US06 cycle. The simulation study will quantify the impact of driving cycles and TEG design on fuel displacement potential.
Highlights
The Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) device used for this study is an early prototype developed by General Motors (GM), which consists of 42 Bismuth Telluride modules (6 parallel strings with 7 modules in series)
The TEG device produces less than 100W on average, even though it is capable of power outputs as high as 400W as shown in the plot below
The benefits of a TEG which consists of 42 Bismuth Telluride modules (6 parallel strings with 7 modules in series) were assessed using two complimentary approaches: engine-in-the-loop and vehicle simulation
Summary
The TEG device used for this study is an early prototype developed by General Motors (GM), which consists of 42 Bismuth Telluride modules (6 parallel strings with 7 modules in series). This TEG is designed to utilize the exhaust line and engine coolant loop as the high temperature heat source and low temperature heat sink respectively. Integration of the model to a conventional gasoline vehicle model in Autonomie [1] enabled its use for Engine in the loop study as well as simulation studies. This paper investigates the benefit of a current TEG device on the US06 drive cycle during both cold and hot conditions using Engine-in-the-Loop. Pure vehicle simulation is used to assess the benefit of the existing TEG technology on a large number of drive cycles. The fuel consumption benefit will be simulated using different TEG electrical outputs to estimate the potential of future technologies
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