Power-Generation Performance and Durability of a Skutterudite Thermoelectric Generator

Abstract

By using a p-type (La, Ba, Ga, Ti)1(Fe, Co)4Sb12 skutterudite with a dimensionless figure of merit, ZT, = 0.75 at 500°C and an n-type (Yb, Ca, Al, Ga, In)0.7(Co, Fe)4Sb12 skutterudite with ZT = 1.0 at 500°C, we fabricated a thermoelectric power-generation module capable of working at high temperatures (up to 600°C). When its hot and cold sides were at 600°C and 30°C, respectively, the power output of a 50 mm × 50 mm × 7.6 mm skutterudite module was 34 W and its thermoelectric conversion efficiency was 8%. In a durability test with the module’s hot and cold sides continuously maintained at 600°C and 80°C, respectively, for 8000 h, power generation first decreased by approximately 6% in the initial 300 h then remained constant.