A Trial Manufacture of the Thermoelectric Generator Powered by High Temperature Heat Transfer Medium Oil
Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: A thermoelectric generator has been manufactured and evaluated for the purpose that the behavior of heat conduction and power generating performance of modules can be clarified when the thermoelectric generator is powered by high temperature heat transfer medium oil over 500K. The thermoelectric generator needs a compression fitting mechanism which holds heat sinks and thermoelectric generating modules so tight that desirable heat conduction can be maintained for the thousands of heat cycles. Pressure required for the compression fitting mechanism is experimentally investigated with the trially manufactured thermoelectric generator. As an experimental result the compression fitting mechanism of the modules requires 0.28MPa compressive load, which is 80% less than the recommended value by one of the module manufacturers. Electricity obtained by the trially manufactured thermoelectric generator with bismuth-telluride based modules increases in proportion to the square of logarithmic mean temperature difference between heat transfer medium oil and cooling water and attains to 165W at logarithmic mean temperature difference of 180K.
Authors: Akira Tsuyoshi, Kenji Matsuura
Institutions: Kobe City College of Technology, The University of Osaka
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2508039065