Abstract

This study represents Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses to improve the heat transfer on the two sides of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) by utilizing heat sinks to recover the waste heat of hot air. In this respect, the temperature difference between the hot and cold sides of the TEG, the heat transfer rate on the hot and cold sides and the pressure drop between the inlet and outlet of the hot and cold air are investigated for varying hot air inlet temperature and Re number in terms of improving the heat transfer and accordingly the output power of the TEG. According to the numerical results, the maximum temperature difference between the hot and cold sides of the TEG concerning hot air inlet temperature of 600 °C and Re number of 16800 is specified as 418.9 °C and 478.1 °C, respectively. In terms of heat transfer, maximum heat transfer rate on the hot side for hot air inlet temperature of 600 °C and Re number of 16800 is specified as 180.4 W and 205.1 W, respectively, while the maximum heat transfer rate on the cold side is specified as 168.0 W and 192.6 W. The maximum pressure drop occurs as 304.4 Pa for the Re number of 16800. As a result, increasing hot air inlet temperature and Re number yields an increase in the temperature difference, the heat transfer rate on the hot side, and the heat transfer rate on the cold side. Besides, pressure drop increases with increasing Re number.

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