Abstract
Thermoelectric generators are the important candidates for clean energy conversion from the waste heat; however, their low efficiency limits the practical applications of the devices. Tailoring the geometric configuration of the device in line with the operating conditions can improve the device performance. Consequently; in the present study, the influence of the pin geometric configuration on the thermoelectric generator performance is investigated. The dimensionless tapering parameter is introduced and its effect on the first and second law efficiencies is examined for various operating conditions including the external load resistance and the temperature ratio. It is found that the first and second law efficiencies are significantly influenced by the pin geometry. The dimensionless tapering parameter (a), increasing tapering of the thermoelectric pins, within the range of 2 ≤ a ≤ 4 results in improved first and second law efficiencies. However, the dimensionless tapering parameter maximizing the first and second law efficiencies does not maximize the device output power. This behavior is associated with the external load resistance which has a considerable influence on the device output power such that increasing external load resistance lowers the device output power.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 138-146 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Energy Conversion and Management |
| Volume | 100 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 17 May 2015 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- First law efficiency
- Pin geometry
- Second law efficiency
- Thermal performance
- Thermoelectric generator
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Nuclear Energy and Engineering
- Fuel Technology
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
