Modeling, Experimental Study on the Heat Transfer Characteristics of Thermoelectric Generator

作     者：Ze-Guang Zhou Dong-Sheng Zhu Hong-Xia Wu Hong-Sheng Zhang 

作者机构：School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering South China University of Technology 

出 版 物：《Journal of Thermal Science》 (热科学学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2013年第22卷第1期

页      面：48-54页

核心收录：

学科分类：080701[工学-工程热物理] 080902[工学-电路与系统] 0809[工学-电子科学与技术（可授工学、理学学位）] 08[工学] 0807[工学-动力工程及工程热物理] 

基　　金：supported by The Major Technology Special Program of Guangdong Province(Grant No.2008A080302002 and 2010A080405003) 

主　　题：thermoelectric generator thermal network thermal resistance analytical model heat transfercharacteristic output power 

摘      要：This paper investigates the heat transfer characteristics of a thermoelectric generator. The influence of heat dissipation intensity to the sub-thermal resistances distribution is experimentally studied. Based on the thermal network analysis and finite time thermodynamics, an analytical model including all thermal resistances (in both thermocouples and external heat exchangers) is developed to predict the performance of the generator. The results show that the computed values of output power agree well with the experimental values. The heat transfer enhancement on the generator cold side greatly reduces the cold side temperature and thermal resistance, and obviously improves the output power. Compare with air natural convection cooling, the main thermal resistance changes from the resistance between the fins and the ambient to the thermal contact resistances between the generator and the heat sink at the conditions of forced convection and water cooling. This study may be guide the optimization of generator structure.