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Journal ArticleDOI

An Introduction to System-Level, Steady-State and Transient Modeling and Optimization of High-Power-Density Thermoelectric Generator Devices Made of Segmented Thermoelectric Elements

01 May 2011-Journal of Electronic Materials (Springer US)-Vol. 40, Iss: 5, pp 561-569
TL;DR: In this article, high power-density, segmented, thermoelectric (TE) elements have been intimately integrated into heat exchangers, eliminating many of the loss mechanisms of conventional TE assemblies, including the ceramic electrical isolation layer.
Abstract: High-power-density, segmented, thermoelectric (TE) elements have been intimately integrated into heat exchangers, eliminating many of the loss mechanisms of conventional TE assemblies, including the ceramic electrical isolation layer. Numerical models comprising simultaneously solved, nonlinear, energy balance equations have been created to simulate these novel architectures. Both steady-state and transient models have been created in a MATLAB/Simulink environment. The models predict data from experiments in various configurations and applications over a broad range of temperature, flow, and current conditions for power produced, efficiency, and a variety of other important outputs. Using the validated models, devices and systems are optimized using advanced multiparameter optimization techniques. Devices optimized for particular steady-state operating conditions can then be dynamically simulated in a transient operating model. The transient model can simulate a variety of operating conditions including automotive and truck drive cycles.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a review of thermoelectric generator product development requires solving coupled challenges in materials development and systems engineering, and the authors indicate that system-level performance relies on more factors than traditional thermiolectric material performance metrics alone.

338 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an up-to-date comparison and evaluation of a recent progress in the field of thermoelectricity, resulting primarily from multidisciplinary optimization of materials, topologies and controlling circuitry.

205 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a comprehensive review on AETEGs was carried out from the perspective of nationality where research objects, conditions, main features and important outcomes for each study were highlighted.

144 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a numerical model was developed to simulate coupled thermal and electrical energy transfer processes in a thermoelectric generator (TEG) designed for automotive waste heat recovery systems.
Abstract: A numerical model has been developed to simulate coupled thermal and electrical energy transfer processes in a thermoelectric generator (TEG) designed for automotive waste heat recovery systems. This model is capable of computing the overall heat transferred, the electrical power output, and the associated pressure drop for given inlet conditions of the exhaust gas and the available TEG volume. Multiple-filled skutterudites and conventional bismuth telluride are considered for thermoelectric modules (TEMs) for conversion of waste heat from exhaust into usable electrical power. Heat transfer between the hot exhaust gas and the hot side of the TEMs is enhanced with the use of a plate-fin heat exchanger integrated within the TEG and using liquid coolant on the cold side. The TEG is discretized along the exhaust flow direction using a finite-volume method. Each control volume is modeled as a thermal resistance network which consists of integrated submodels including a heat exchanger and a thermoelectric device. The pressure drop along the TEG is calculated using standard pressure loss correlations and viscous drag models. The model is validated to preserve global energy balances and is applied to analyze a prototype TEG with data provided by General Motors. Detailed results are provided for local and global heat transfer and electric power generation. In the companion paper, the model is then applied to consider various TEG topologies using skutterudite and bismuth telluride TEMs.

132 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A high-temperature thermoelectric generator (TEG) was recently integrated into two passenger vehicles: a BMW X6 and a Lincoln MKT as mentioned in this paper, which was the culmination of a recently completed Department of Energy (DOE)-sponsored TE waste heat recovery program for vehicles (award #DE-FC26-04NT42279).
Abstract: A high-temperature thermoelectric generator (TEG) was recently integrated into two passenger vehicles: a BMW X6 and a Lincoln MKT. This effort was the culmination of a recently completed Department of Energy (DOE)-sponsored thermoelectric (TE) waste heat recovery program for vehicles (award #DE-FC26-04NT42279). During this 7-year program, several generations of thermoelectric generators were modeled, designed, built, and tested at the couple, engine, and full-device level, as well as being modeled and integrated at the vehicle level. In this paper, we summarize the history of the development efforts and results achieved during the project, which is a motivation for ongoing research in this field. Results are presented and discussed for bench, engine dynamometer, and on-vehicle tests conducted on the current-generation TEG. On the test bench, over 700 W of power was produced. Over 600 W was produced in on-vehicle tests. Both steady-state and transient models were validated against the measured performance of these TEGs. The success of this work has led to a follow-on DOE-sponsored TE waste heat recovery program for passenger vehicles focused on addressing key technical and business-related topics that are meant to enable TEGs to be considered as a viable automotive product in the future.

125 citations

References
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BookDOI
09 Dec 2005
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an approach to the first-Principles Modeling of Novel Thermoelectric Materials, and Carlo Gatti, Carlo Bertini, Fausto Cargnoni, Carlo M. Gatti and Carlo A. Williams.
Abstract: GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS General Principles and Basic Considerations D.M. Rowe Modern Thermodynamic Theory of Thermoelectricity L.I. Anatychuk and O.J. Luste Thermoelectric Phenomena under Large Temperature Gradients L.I. Anatychuk and L.P. Bulat Minority Carriers and Thermoelectric Effects in Bipolar Devices Kevin Pipe Effects of Charge Carriers' Interactions on Seebeck Coefficients David Emin Thermal Conductivity of Semiconductors with Complex Crystal Structure V.K. Zaitsev and M.I. Fedorov A Chemical Approach to the First-Principles Modeling of Novel Thermoelectric Materials Luca Bertini, Fausto Cargnoni, and Carlo Gatti Recent Trends for the Design and Optimization of Thermoelectric Materials: A Theoretical Perspective John S. Tse and Dennis D. Klug Thermoelectric Power Generation: Efficiency and Compatibility G. Jeffrey Snyder A New Upper Limit to the Thermoelectric Figure-of-Merit H.J. Goldsmid Thermoelectric Module Design Theories Gao Min Modeling and Characterization of Power Generation Modules Based on Bulk Materials Timothy P. Hogan and Tom Shih Energy Conversion Using Diode-Like Structures Yan Kucherov and Peter Hagelstein Size Effects on Thermal Transport Chandra Mohan Bhandari Thermoelectric Aspects of Strongly Correlated Electron Systems S. Paschen Theory and Modeling in Nanostructured Thermoelectrics Alexander A. Balandin Thermoelectric Power of Carbon Nanotubes G.D. Mahan Phonon-Drag Thermopower of Low-Dimensional Semiconductor Structures Yu.V. Ivanov MATERIAL PREPARATION AND MEASUREMENTS Solid State Synthesis of Thermoelectric Materials B.A. Cook and J.L. Harringa Review of Methods of Thermoelectric Materials Mass Production Yury M. Belov, Sergei M. Maniakin, and Igor V. Morgunov Structural Studies of Thermoelectric Materials Bo Brummerstedt Iversen Measurements of Resistivity and Thermopower: Principles and Practical Realization A.T. Burkov Electrical and Thermal Transport Measurement Techniques for Evaluation of the Figure-of-Merit of Bulk Thermoelectric Materials Terry M. Tritt Measurement of the Thermal Conductivity of Thin Films F. Voelklein, A. Meier, and M. Blumers Solvothermal Synthesis of Nanostructured Thermoelectric Materials X.B. Zhao, T.J. Zhu, and X.H. Ji Approaches to Thermoelectric Standardization E. Muller, C. Stiewe, D.M. Rowe, and S.G.K. Williams THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS Thermoelectric Properties of Bismuth Antimony Telluride Solid Solutions H. Scherrer and S. Scherrer Bi-Sb Alloys: Thermopower in Magnetic Field V.M. Grabov and O.N. Uryupin Thermoelectrics on the Base of Solid Solutions of Mg2BIV Compounds (BIV = Si, Ge, Sn) V.K. Zaitsev, M.I. Fedorov, I.S. Eremin, and E.A. Gurieva Thermoelectric Properties of the Group V Semimetals J-P. Issi Thermoelectrics of Transition Metal Silicides M. Fedorov and V. Zaitsev Formation and Crystal Chemistry of Clathrates P. Rogl Structure, Thermal Conductivity and Thermoelectric Properties of Clathrate Compounds George S. Nolas Skutterudite-Based Thermoelectrics Ctirad Uher Oxide Thermoelectrics Kunihito Koumoto, Ichiro Terasaki, Tsuyoshi Kajitani, Michitaka Ohtaki, and Ryoji Funahashi Thermoelectric Properties of Electrically Conducting Organic Materials A.I. Casian Shifting the Maximum Figure-of-Merit of (Bi, Sb)2(Te, Se)3 Thermoelectrics to Lower Temperatures V.A. Kutasov, L.N. Lukyanova, and M.V. Vedernikov Functionally Graded Materials for Thermoelectric Applications V.L. Kuznetsov Recent Developments in Low Dimensional Thermoelectric Materials M.S. Dresselhaus and J.P. Heremans Thermoelectric Properties of Nanocrystalline Transition Metal Silicides J. Schumann and A.T. Burkov Nanostructured Skutterudites Mamoun Muhammed and Muhammet Toprak Thermal Conductivity of Nanostructured Thermoelectric Materials C. Dames and G. Chen THERMOELEMENTS, MODULES AND DEVICES Modeling and Optimization of Segmented Thermoelectric Generators for Terrestrial and Space Applications Mohamed S. El-Genk and Hamed H. Saber Thermocouple with a Passive HTSC Leg V.L. Kuznetsov and M.V. Vedernikov Anisotropic Thermoelements A.A. Snarskii and L.P. Bulat Miniaturized Thermoelectric Converters Harald Boettner, Joachim Nurnus, and Axel Schubert Thermoelectric Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) F. Voelklein and A. Meier Nanoscale Thermoelectrics Joachim Nurnus, Harald Boettner, and Armin Lambrecht Superlattice Thin-Film Thermoelectric Material and Device Technologies Rama Venkatasubramanian, Edward Siivola, and Brooks O'Quinn THERMOELECTRIC SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS Thermoelectric Power Generation System Recovering Industrial Waste Heat Takenobu Kajikawa The Concept of Thermoelectric Power Generation Topping-Up Co-Generation System Takenobu Kajikawa A Thermoelectric Application to Vehicles Kakuei Matsubara and Mitsuru Matsuura Thermoelectric Microgenerators with Isotope Heat Sources L.I. Anatychuk and A.A. Pustovalov Performance and Mass Estimates of CTM-ARPSs with Four GPHS Bricks Mohamed S. El-Genk and Hamed H. Saber Parametric and Optimization Analyses of Cascaded Thermoelectric-Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems with Four GPHS Bricks Mohamed S. El-Genk and Hamed H. Saber Space Missions and Applications Robert D. Abelson Quantum Well Thermoelectric Devices and Applications S. Ghamaty, J.C. Bass, and N.B. Elsner Thermoelectric Cooling of Electro-Optic Components V.A. Semenyuk Thermoelectric Refrigeration for Mass-Market Applications Montag C. Davis, Benjamin P. Banney, Peter T. Clarke, Brett R. Manners, and Robert M. Weymouth APPENDIX I: HISTORY OF THE INTERNATIONAL THERMOELECTRIC SOCIETY C.B. Vining, D.M. Rowe, J. Stockholm, and K.R. Rao APPENDIX II: SELECTED THERMOELECTRIC SOURCES

1,982 citations

01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: In this article, the analogy between heat and mass transfer is covered and applied in the analysis of heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation, and the analysis is performed by using the handbook of numerical heat transfer.
Abstract: Handbook of Numerical Heat Transfer Free Full Download Links from Multiple Mirrors added by DL4W on 2015-04-10 02:13:35. Handbook of heat transfer / editors, W.M. Rohsenow, J.P. Hartnett. Y.I. Cho. m 3rd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-07053555-8. Students investigate heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation. The analogy between heat and mass transfer is covered and applied in the analysis.

1,644 citations

Book
01 Jan 2001
TL;DR: The Phonon-Glass Electron-Crystal Approach to Thermoelectric Materials Research as mentioned in this paper was proposed for the first time in the early 1970s and has been used extensively in the literature.
Abstract: 1 Historical Development.- 2 Transport of Heat and Electricity in Solids.- 3 Selection and Optimization Criteria.- 4 Measurement and Characterization.- 5 Review of Established Materials and Devices.- 6 The Phonon-Glass Electron-Crystal Approach to Thermoelectric Materials Research.- 7 Complex Chalcogenide Structures.- 8 Low-Dimensional Thermoelectric Materials.- 9 Thermionic Refrigeration.- References.

1,435 citations

Book
01 Jan 1976

420 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
E.E. Antonova1, D.C. Looman1
19 Jun 2005
TL;DR: In this paper, a new set of ANSYS coupled-field elements enables users to accurately and efficiently analyze thermoelectric devices, including Seebeck, Peltier, and Thomson effects.
Abstract: A new set of ANSYS coupled-field elements enables users to accurately and efficiently analyze thermoelectric devices. This paper reviews the finite element formulation, which, in addition to Joule heating, includes Seebeck, Peltier, and Thomson effects. Examples of steady-state and transient simulations of a thermoelectric generator and a single-stage Peltier cooler are presented for thermoelectric analysis verification. An analysis of a multistage thermoelectric cooler is performed to demonstrate ANSYS parametric analysis capability.

254 citations