Thermoelectric modular systems based on semiconductor elements of Peltier-Seebeck for vehicles

Abstract

Elevations in technology of semiconductor materials allow for new vehicle systems use for improvement in the standard ones. One of the most promising materials for achieving an efficacy of more than 50% is polyaniline, which belongs to the class of conductive polymers that has semiconducting peculiarities. For instance, a new generation of semiconductor elements based on the Peltier-Seebeck effect makes it possible to use them to create thermoelectric generators, which means to use the thermal energy of the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines (ICE) to generate electrical power. The second area where Peltier-Seebeck semiconductor elements find application in automobiles are modular climate control systems. Due to the absence of moving parts and relatively small dimensions, they allow the creation of individual climatic zones in the car interior. An elegant design and technological solution is the placement of similar thermal semiconductor modules inside the driver’s and passenger’s seats, which makes it possible to transfer heat more efficiently and make climatic zones more apparent. The article considered engineering options for the design of climate control units based on Peltier elements and the creation of a prototype. The issues of integration into the vehicle on-board network and the features of power control are considered. The studies and results of this paper can contribute to improving the energy efficiency and technosphere safety of vehicles.