DocumentCode :
82126
Title :
Optimal Design of Thermoelectric Generators Embedded in a Thermal Resistance Network
Author :
Brownell, Elizabeth ; Hodes, Marc
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Mech. Eng., Tufts Univ., Medford, MA, USA
Volume :
4
Issue :
4
fYear :
2014
fDate :
Apr-14
Firstpage :
612
Lastpage :
621
Abstract :
A procedure to optimize the height and number of semiconductor pellets in a thermoelectric generator (TEG) embedded in a thermal resistance network to maximize its performance (output power) or efficiency is provided. Prescribed are the thermophysical properties of the pellets, total footprint of thermoelectric material, temperature difference across the system, relevant thermal resistances, electrical contact resistance at the interconnects between the pellets, and load resistance. When the efficiency is maximized, the performance is also prescribed and it is implied that its value is below its maximum. The temperature difference imposed across the pellets in a TEG is assumed to be small enough that their thermophysical properties may be approximated as constants and the use of a single thermoelectric material is appropriate. Examples illustrate the use of the optimization procedure. The sensitivity of maximum performance and efficiency to selected variables is quantified.
Keywords :
contact resistance; electrical contacts; load (electric); optimisation; thermal resistance; thermoelectric conversion; TEG; efficiency maximization; electrical contact resistance; load resistance; maximum performance sensitivity; optimal thermoelectric generator design; optimization procedure; pellets interconnection; temperature difference; thermal resistance network; thermoelectric material; thermophysical property; Geometry; Heating; Materials; Power generation; Temperature; Thermal resistance; Optimization; thermoelectric generator (TEG); thermoelectric module (TEM);
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
2156-3950
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/TCPMT.2013.2295169
Filename :
6728675
Link To Document :
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