Performance improvement and thermomechanical analysis of a novel asymmetrical annular thermoelectric generator

Abstract

Enhancing thermoelectric performance hinges on optimizing the geometry of thermoelectric legs. In this study, we present a novel asymmetrical annular thermoelectric generator (ATEG) in which the proportions of P-type and N-type legs are meticulously balanced. We construct a one-dimensional analytical model tailored to this ATEG. Utilizing this model, we derive the relationship governing thermal-electrical impedance matching in an asymmetrical ATEG and formulate a general expression for optimizing the asymmetry coefficient. We explore the influence of various thermal boundary conditions on optimal impedance matching, ideal annular leg parameters, and the optimal asymmetry coefficient. Our findings reveal that thermal boundary conditions significantly affect the optimal load ratio. Furthermore, in comparison to traditional ATEGs, our proposed asymmetrical ATEG with the optimized structure exhibits a remarkable 16.2 % increase in output power while maintaining the same material volume. Additionally, we perform a three-dimensional numerical analysis of the asymmetrical ATEG using Comsol. Our research findings indicate that introducing the asymmetric structure leads to higher maximum thermal stress on the legs. Interestingly, the study of asymmetric thermal boundary conditions highlights that improving heat transfer between the ATEG and the cooler yields higher mechanical reliability compared to enhancing heat transfer between the ATEG and the heat source.