Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) modules—Optimum electrical configurations and performance determination

Nganyang Paul Bayendang; Mohamed Tariq Kahn; Vipin Balyan; Nganyang Paul Bayendang; Mohamed Tariq Kahn; Vipin Balyan

doi:10.3934/energy.2022007

AIMS Energy

2022, Volume 10, Issue 1: 102-130. doi: 10.3934/energy.2022007

Previous Article Next Article

Research article Special Issues

Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) modules—Optimum electrical configurations and performance determination

Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering (DEECE), Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, WC, RSA

Received: 20 November 2021 Revised: 03 March 2022 Accepted: 09 March 2022 Published: 23 March 2022

Renewable energy technologies such as solar, thermal, wind, hydro, bio-fuels, fuel cells etc. are becoming trendy and being commissioned in large-scales, due to their environmental friendliness and energy sustainability. This manuscript focuses on alternative energy based-on thermoelectricity, particularly thermoelectric generators (TEGs). From the literature review, there is less emphasis on how multiple TEGs can be best configured electrically for optimum operations. In light of this, Matlab/Simulink were employed to institute a unique theoretical framework, that can easily be comprehensively used to simulate thermoelectricity parameters, with focus to determine TEG modules (of any quantity/configuration) optimal resistance matching and performance. The principal findings of the study are; 1) the effects of TEGs internal resistance, which proportionally causes output voltage drop and power loss as well as efficiency loss and 2) TEG modules may not be connected anyhow in series and or in parallel, but in a setup that gives a total electrical resistance that matches the load electrical resistance. Thus, TEGs should be a) of the same model with the same or approximate internal resistance, b) in a configuration whereby the TEGs total resistance equals the load resistance, as doing so ensures maximum power is transferred between the source (TEGs) and the electrical load and c) preferably be in a symmetrical electrical configuration. A symmetrical electrical configuration ensures ⅰ) the TEG modules total output resistance, irrespective of the quantity used, approximates that of a single TEG, with the overall TEG modules simply becoming now one large powerful TEG having an equivalent resistance of a single TEG and ⅱ) the TEGs power, voltage and current operations are optimal.
- alternative energy,
- energy harvesting,
- optimal TEGs configurations,
- thermoelectricity,
- thermoelectric generators
Citation: Nganyang Paul Bayendang, Mohamed Tariq Kahn, Vipin Balyan. Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) modules—Optimum electrical configurations and performance determination[J]. AIMS Energy, 2022, 10(1): 102-130. doi: 10.3934/energy.2022007

Related Papers:

Abstract

Renewable energy technologies such as solar, thermal, wind, hydro, bio-fuels, fuel cells etc. are becoming trendy and being commissioned in large-scales, due to their environmental friendliness and energy sustainability. This manuscript focuses on alternative energy based-on thermoelectricity, particularly thermoelectric generators (TEGs). From the literature review, there is less emphasis on how multiple TEGs can be best configured electrically for optimum operations. In light of this, Matlab/Simulink were employed to institute a unique theoretical framework, that can easily be comprehensively used to simulate thermoelectricity parameters, with focus to determine TEG modules (of any quantity/configuration) optimal resistance matching and performance. The principal findings of the study are; 1) the effects of TEGs internal resistance, which proportionally causes output voltage drop and power loss as well as efficiency loss and 2) TEG modules may not be connected anyhow in series and or in parallel, but in a setup that gives a total electrical resistance that matches the load electrical resistance. Thus, TEGs should be a) of the same model with the same or approximate internal resistance, b) in a configuration whereby the TEGs total resistance equals the load resistance, as doing so ensures maximum power is transferred between the source (TEGs) and the electrical load and c) preferably be in a symmetrical electrical configuration. A symmetrical electrical configuration ensures ⅰ) the TEG modules total output resistance, irrespective of the quantity used, approximates that of a single TEG, with the overall TEG modules simply becoming now one large powerful TEG having an equivalent resistance of a single TEG and ⅱ) the TEGs power, voltage and current operations are optimal.

References

[1]	Bayendang NP, Kahn MT, Balyan V (2020) A structural review of thermoelectricity for fuel cells CCHP applications. Hindawi J Energy 2020: 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2760140 doi: 10.1155/2020/2760140
[2]	Twaha S, Zhu J, Yan Y, et al. (2016) A comprehensive review of thermoelectric technology: materials, applications, modelling and performance improvement. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev 65: 698–726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.07.034 doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2016.07.034
[3]	Lesage FJ, Pelletier R, Fournier L, et al. (2013) Optimal electrical load for peak power of a thermoelectric module with a solar electric application. Energy Convers Manage 74: 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2013.05.008 doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2013.05.008
[4]	Kwan TH, Wu X, Yao Q (2018) Bidirectional operation of the thermoelectric device for active temperature control of fuel cells. Appl Energy 222: 410−422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.04.016 doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.04.016
[5]	Koketsu K, Tanzawa T (2021) Design of a charge pump circuit and system with input impedance modulation for a flexible-type thermoelectric generator with high-output impedance. Electronics 10: 1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10101212 doi: 10.3390/electronics10101212
[6]	Jia X, Gao Y (2015) Optimal design of a novel thermoelectric generator with linear-shaped structure under different operating temperature conditions. Appl Therm Eng 78: 533−542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.12.011 doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.12.011
[7]	Ge Y, Liu Z, Sun H, et al. (2018) Optimal design of a segmented thermoelectric generator based on three-dimensional numerical simulation & multi-objective genetic algorithm. Energy 147: 1060−1069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2018.01.099 doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.01.099
[8]	Wang L, Li K, Zhang S, et al. (2020) Modeling the effects of module size and material property on thermoelectric generator power. ACS Omega 5: 2984–2985. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c03914 doi: 10.1021/acsomega.0c03914
[9]	Kishore RA, Nozariasbmarz A, Poudel B, et al. (2020) High-performance thermoelectric generators for field deployments. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 12: 10389−10401. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b21299 doi: 10.1021/acsami.9b21299
[10]	Karri NK, Mo C (2019) Geometry optimization for structural reliability and performance of a thermoelectric generator. SN Appl Sci 1: 1097. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-1120-1 doi: 10.1007/s42452-019-1120-1
[11]	He J, Tritt TM (2017) Advances in thermoelectric materials research: Looking back and moving forward. Science 357: 6358. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aak9997 doi: 10.1126/science.aak9997
[12]	Champier D (2017) Thermoelectric generators: A review of applications. Energy Convers Manage 140,167−181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.02.070 doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2017.02.070
[13]	Dargusch M, Liu W-D, Chen Z-G (2020) Thermoelectric generators: Alternative power supply for wearable electrocardiographic systems. Adv Sci 7: 2001362. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202001362 doi: 10.1002/advs.202001362
[14]	Ao D-W, Liu W-D, Chen Y-X, et al. (2021) Novel thermal diffusion temperature engineering leading to high thermoelectric performance in Bi2Te3-based flexible thin-films. Adv Sci 9: 2103547. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202103547 doi: 10.1002/advs.202103547
[15]	Petsagkourakis I, Tybrandt K, Crispin X, et al. (2018) Thermoelectric materials and applications for energy harvesting power generation. Sci Technol Adv Mater 19: 836−862. https://doi.org/10.1080/14686996.2018.1530938 doi: 10.1080/14686996.2018.1530938
[16]	Haras M, Skotnicki T (2018) Thermoelectricity for IoT—A review. Nano Energy 54: 461−476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.10.013 doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.10.013
[17]	Nandihalli N, Liu C-J, Mori T (2020) Polymer based thermoelectric nanocomposite materials and devices: Fabrication and characteristics. Nano Energy 78: 105186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105186 doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105186
[18]	Jouhara H, Żabnieńska-Góra A, Khordehgah N, et al. (2021) Thermoelectric generator (TEG) technologies and applications. Int J Thermofluids 9: 100063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2021.100063 doi: 10.1016/j.ijft.2021.100063
[19]	Bayendang NP, Kahn MT, Balyan V, et al. (2020) A comprehensive thermoelectric generator (TEG) modelling. AIUE Congress 2020: Energy and Human Habitat Conference: 1−7. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4289574
[20]	Lee H (2016) Thermoelectrics: design and materials, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Wiley, New Jersey, USA. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118848944
[21]	Liu C, Chen P, Li K (2014) A 500W low-temperature thermoelectric generator: design and experimental study. Int J Hydro Energy 39: 15497−15505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.07.163 doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.07.163
[22]	Liu C, Chen P, Li K (2014) A 1 KW thermoelectric generator for low-temperature geothermal resources. PROCEEDINGS, 39^th Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering. Available from: https://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/pdf/IGAstandard/SGW/2014/Li.pdf.
[23]	Suter C, Jovanovic ZR, Steinfeld A (2012) A 1kW thermoelectric stack for geothermal power generation—modeling and geometrical optimization. Appl Energy 99: 379−385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.05.033 doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.05.033
[24]	Zhao Y, Fan Y, Ge M, et al. (2021) Thermoelectric performance of an exhaust waste heat recovery system based on intermediate fluid under different cooling methods. Case Stud Therm Eng 23: 100811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2020.100811 doi: 10.1016/j.csite.2020.100811
[25]	Ramírez R, Gutiérrez AS, Cabello Eras JJ, et al. (2019) Evaluation of the energy recovery potential of thermoelectric generators in diesel engines. J Clean Prod 241: 118412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118412 doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118412
[26]	Orr B, Akbarzadeh A, Mochizuki M, et al. (2016) A review of car waste heat recovery systems utilising thermoelectric generators and heat pipes. Appl Therm Eng 101: 490−495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.10.081 doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.10.081
[27]	LaGrandeur J, Crane D, Hung S, et al. (2006) Automotive waste heat conversion to electric power using skutterudite, TAGS, PbTe and BiTe. 2006 25^th International Conference on Thermoelectrics, Vienna, Austria, 343−348. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICT.2006.331220
[28]	Massaguer E, Massaguer A, Pujol T, et al. (2017) Modelling and analysis of longitudinal thermoelectric energy harvesters considering series-parallel interconnection effect. Energy 129: 59-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.04.061 doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.04.061
[29]	Li X, Xie C, Quan S, et al. (2019) Optimization of thermoelectric modules' number and distribution pattern in an automotive exhaust thermoelectric generator. IEEE Access 7: 72143−72157. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2919689 doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2919689
[30]	Ezzitouni S, Fernández-Yáñez P, Rodríguez LS, et al. (2021) Electrical modelling and mismatch effects of thermoelectric modules on performance of a thermoelectric generator for energy recovery in diesel exhaust system. Energies 14: 3189. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14113189 doi: 10.3390/en14113189

Reader Comments

Your name:*

Email:*
© 2022 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)