Abstract
The IC engine converts the chemical energy of the fuels into the mechanic energy with the efficiency is around 35-40% depends on the type and operation condition of the engines. It means around 60-65% of the energy is wasted mostly in the form of heat (dissipated through the cooling process and exhaust gas) and friction. A thermoelectric exhaust heat recovery system can be used to harvest the waste heat which potentially could increase the efficiency of the IC engine indirectly. In this experimental study, the heat recovery system consists of a rectangular duct in which sixteen thermoelectric modules are attached to its sides (each side consist of four thermoelectric modules). The aluminium fins are mounted at the cold sides of thermoelectric modules (at the outer sides of the rectangular duct) and cooled by air supplied by computer fan coolers. To harvest the exhaust heat of the IC engine, the heat recovery system is connected to the exhaust pipe. The effect of aluminium fin arrangements, mounted on the inner surfaces of the rectangular duct of the heat recovery device, is investigated. The arrangements include mounting of the fins at the lateral sides, top and down sides, and the whole sides of the heat recovery device. Besides, the effect of the absence of the fins at the exhaust gas passage of the heat recovery device is examined. The performance of the heat recovery system is studied when the engine operates under the no-load condition at rotational speeds of 1300, 1600, 1900 and 2200 RPM. The experimental result reveals that the voltage and current generated by the thermoelectric exhaust gas recovery system increase in line with the increase of engine speed. In addition, it is found that the highest voltage and current are generated by the whole side fin arrangement, namely 12,52V and 122 mA respectively, at an engine speed of 2200 RPM. It is observed that the finless arrangement generates the lowest voltage and current among others, namely 5.36 V and 20.43 mA.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
