Efficiency study of a commercial thermoelectric power generator (TEG) under thermal cycling
Date
2010Source
Journal of Electronic MaterialsVolume
39Pages
2112-2116Google Scholar check
Keyword(s):
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) make use of the Seebeck effect in semiconductors for the direct conversion of heat to electrical energy. The possible use of a device consisting of numerous TEG modules for waste heat recovery from an internal combustion (IC) engine could considerably help worldwide efforts towards energy saving. However, commercially available TEGs operate at temperatures much lower than the actual operating temperature range in the exhaust pipe of an automobile, which could cause structural failure of the thermoelectric elements. Furthermore, continuous thermal cycling could lead to reduced efficiency and lifetime of the TEG. In this work we investigate the long-term performance and stability of a commercially available TEG under temperature and power cycling. The module was subjected to sequential hot-side heating (at 200°C) and cooling for long times (3000 h) in order to measure changes in the TEG's performance. A reduction in Seebeck coefficient and an increase in resistivity were observed. Alternating-current (AC) impedance measurements and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations were performed on the module, and results are presented and discussed. © 2009 TMS.
Collections
Cite as
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Conference Object
Long-term performance of a commercial thermoelectric power generator
Hatzikraniotis, E.; Zorbas, K.; Kyratsi, Theodora; Paraskevopoulos, K. M. (Affiliation: Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceAffiliation: Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, CyprusCorrespondence Address: Hatzikraniotis, E.Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece, 2009)In this work, thermoelectric device was made, using a commercially available ThermoElectric Generator (TEG), in order to measure the gained power and efficiency for long- term performance. The module was subjected to ...
-
Conference Object
Modeling of thermal conductivity in high performing thermoelectric materials
Hatzikraniotis, E.; Kyratsi, Theodora; Paraskevopoulos, K. M. (Institute of Physics Publishing, 2017)The enhanced TE-performance in Mg2Si-Mg2Sn based pseudo-binaries is presented, which is attributed to low thermal conductivity. Sn-Si alloying, reduces the lattice thermal conductivity due to mass fluctuation. Furthermore, ...
-
Article
Highly anisotropic crystal growth and thermoelectric properties of K 2Bi 8-xSb xSe 13 solid solutions: Band gap anomaly at low x
Kyratsi, Theodora; Dyck, J. S.; Chen, W.; Chung, D. Y.; Uher, C.; Paraskevopoulos, K. M.; Kanatzidis, M. G. (2002)The thermoelectric properties of solid solutions of the type β-K 2Bi 8-xSb xSe 13 (0<x<8) were studied with respect to thermal behavior, band gap variation, and charge transport properties as a function of x. At x values ...