Stacked Micro Heat Exchange System for Optimized Thermal Coupling of MicroTEGs

Abstract

This study presents modeling and experimental results of micro thermoelectric generators (μTEGs) integrated into a multilayer micro heat exchange system. The multilayer configuration benefits from low heat transfer resistances at small fluid flow rates and at the same time from low required pumping powers. The compact stacked power device allows for high net output power per volume, and therefore a reduction in size, weight, and cost compared with conventional large-scale heat exchangers. The influence of the boundary conditions and the system design parameters on the net output power of the micro heat exchange system was investigated by simulation. The theoretical results showed a major impact of the microchannel dimensions and the μTEG thickness on the overall output performance of the system. By adapting the applied fluid flow rate, the system’s net power output can be maximized for varying operating temperatures. Experimental measurements of the cross-flow micro heat exchange system were in good agreement with the performed simulations. A net μTEG output power of 62.9 mW/cm2 was measured for a double-layer system at an applied water inlet temperature difference of 60 K with a Bi2Te3 μTEG (ZT of 0.12), resulting in a net volumetric efficiency factor of 37.2 W/m3/K2.