Work

Effect of Irreversibilities on the Performance of Thermoelectric Generator Investigated Using Exergy Analysis

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: For a practical thermoelectric generator (TEG) system, the performance is affected by many irreversible processes.This study evaluates the effects of multi-irreversibilities on TEG performance using exergy analysis.Based on the exergy analysis, two performance indexes, the energy efficiency and exergy efficiency, are used.A finite element scheme is employed to model the TEG system.The heat loss from the TEG to the environment and temperature-dependent material properties are considered.The results suggest that when the application of the small electrical current is considered, decreasing the hot-reservoir temperature or increasing the cold-reservoir temperature can improve the TEG exergy efficiency.Although heat loss slightly decreases the maximum energy and exergy efficiency, it can improve energy and exergy efficiencies for a case with large electrical current.On the other hand, when the Seebeck coefficient or thermal conductivity is temperature-dependent, both the maximum energy efficiency and exergy efficiency increase with increasing hot-reservoir temperature.However, the temperature-dependence of the electrical resistivity reduces the maximum exergy efficiency when the hot-reservoir temperature increases even though the maximum energy efficiency is increased.

Source: Journal of Thermal Science and Technology

DOI: 10.1299/jtst.8.1

Authors: Chien-Chang WANG, Chen-I HUNG

Institution: National Cheng Kung University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Science Council