Electrical, thermomechanical and cost analyses of a low-cost thermoelectric generator

Yusuf A., Ballikaya S.

ENERGY, vol.241, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 241
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.122934
  • Journal Name: ENERGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Computer & Applied Sciences, Environment Index, Geobase, INSPEC, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: Cost-power ratio, Low-cost, Thermal stress, Thermoelectric generator, Thermoelectric materials, NUMERICAL-SIMULATION, POWER-GENERATION, PERFORMANCE, OPTIMIZATION, BEHAVIOR, FIGURE, DESIGN, MERIT
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

High cost, and scarcity of high-performance thermoelectric materials are some of the reasons that hinder large scale production of thermoelectric devices. In view thereof, a novel thermoelectric module is proposed. The new module is composed of four thermoelectric materials; two of which are costly but show high-performance at low temperature, while the other two are cheap but show low-performance at room temperature. This combination is aimed at reducing the dependency on the costly and scarce thermoelectric materials, at the same time ensuring good output performance. The thermoelectric and thermomechanical performances of the proposed module are investigated. The analysis revealed that the percentage cost reduction is higher than the percentage reduction in the output power of the module. Furthermore, over the range of the temperature considered in this study, the maximum von Mises stress in the module is lower than the yield stress of the materials. Likewise, cost-power ratio of 0.952 $/W is achieved. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.