Experimental results confirming improved efficiency of thermoelectric power generation systems with alternate thermodynamic cycles

Author

Diller, Robert W. ; Bell, Lon E.

Author_Institution

BSST, LLC, Irwindale, CA, USA

fYear

2003

fDate

17-21 Aug. 2003

Firstpage

571

Lastpage

573

Abstract

Results are presented of a design verification study demonstrating the system efficiency increase in thermoelectric power generation systems that utilize heat content extracted from heated circulating fluids. Devices with electrical outputs ranging from 1 to 5 watts are described. Test results for these devices are compared to the theoretical best values for conventional thermoelectric power generation systems having a single fixed hot side temperature and a single fixed cold side temperature, by extracting heat from a hot side working fluid. Demonstrated efficiency gains are factors of two to four greater than the theoretical best efficiencies of conventional systems.

Keywords

thermoelectric conversion; thermoelectric power; alternate thermodynamic cycles; design verification study; heat content; heated circulating fluids; hot side working fluid; improved efficiency; single fixed cold side temperature; single fixed hot side temperature; system efficiency increase; thermoelectric power generation systems; Circuit testing; Copper; Power generation; System testing; Tellurium; Temperature; Thermal resistance; Thermodynamics; Thermoelectric devices; Thermoelectricity;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Thermoelectrics, 2003 Twenty-Second International Conference on - ICT

Print_ISBN

0-7803-8301-X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICT.2003.1287577

Filename

1287577