Optimization of thermoelectric generator module spacing and spreader thickness used in a waste heat recovery system
Abstract
When thermoelectric generator (TEG) modules are attached to a rectangular chimney plate for venting hot flue gases, the power generated per unit surface area (power density) is strongly dependent on the TEG module spacing. The thermoelectric module consists of a hot plate, a spreader, a thermoelectric generator and a cold plate based on water cooling. In this study, the optimization of TEG module spacing and its spreader thickness as used in a waste heat recovery system is investigated and solved numerically using the finite difference method along with a simplified conjugate-gradient method. The power density for a thermoelectric module is the objective function to be maximized. A search for the optimum module spacing (S) and spreader thickness (Hsp), ranging from 40 mm < S < 300 mm and 1 mm < Hsp < 30 mm, respectively, is performed. The effects of different operating conditions, including the temperature difference between the waste gas and the cooling water (ΔT = 200-800 K), and effective waste gas heat transfer coefficients (hh = 20-80 W/m2 K) are discussed in detail. The predicted numerical data for the power vs. current (P-I) curve are in good agreement (within 8%) with the experimental data.
- Publication:
-
Applied Thermal Engineering
- Pub Date:
- March 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2012.10.024
- Bibcode:
- 2013AppTE..51..677J
- Keywords:
-
- Thermoelectric generator module;
- Spreader;
- Waste heat recovery;
- Optimization