3 kW Thermoelectric Generator for Natural Gas-Powered Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Holistic Development, Optimization and Validation
Emissions from heavy-duty vehicles need to be reduced to decrease their impact on the climate and to meet future regulatory requirements. The use of a cost-optimized thermoelectric generator based on total cost of ownership is proposed for this vehicle class with natural gas engines. A holistic mode...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/15 |
| _version_ | 1827668606959222784 |
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| author | Lars Heber Julian Schwab Timo Knobelspies |
| author_facet | Lars Heber Julian Schwab Timo Knobelspies |
| author_sort | Lars Heber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Emissions from heavy-duty vehicles need to be reduced to decrease their impact on the climate and to meet future regulatory requirements. The use of a cost-optimized thermoelectric generator based on total cost of ownership is proposed for this vehicle class with natural gas engines. A holistic model environment is presented that includes all vehicle interactions. Simultaneous optimization of the heat exchanger and thermoelectric modules is required to enable high system efficiency. A generator design combining high electrical power (peak power of about 3000 W) with low negative effects was selected as a result. Numerical CFD and segmented high-temperature thermoelectric modules are used. For the first time, the possibility of an economical use of the system in the amortization period of significantly less than 2 years is available, with a fuel reduction in a conventional vehicle topology of already up to 2.8%. A significant improvement in technology maturity was achieved, and the power density of the system was significantly improved to 298 W/kg and 568 W/dm<sup>3</sup> compared to the state of the art. A functional model successfully validated the simulation results with an average deviation of less than 6%. An electrical output power of up to 2700 W was measured. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:44:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-210a42762c2a42c4ab374207cb9b2843 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:44:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-210a42762c2a42c4ab374207cb9b28432023-11-23T11:24:08ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-12-011511510.3390/en150100153 kW Thermoelectric Generator for Natural Gas-Powered Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Holistic Development, Optimization and ValidationLars Heber0Julian Schwab1Timo Knobelspies2German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Vehicle Concepts, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Vehicle Concepts, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Vehicle Concepts, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyEmissions from heavy-duty vehicles need to be reduced to decrease their impact on the climate and to meet future regulatory requirements. The use of a cost-optimized thermoelectric generator based on total cost of ownership is proposed for this vehicle class with natural gas engines. A holistic model environment is presented that includes all vehicle interactions. Simultaneous optimization of the heat exchanger and thermoelectric modules is required to enable high system efficiency. A generator design combining high electrical power (peak power of about 3000 W) with low negative effects was selected as a result. Numerical CFD and segmented high-temperature thermoelectric modules are used. For the first time, the possibility of an economical use of the system in the amortization period of significantly less than 2 years is available, with a fuel reduction in a conventional vehicle topology of already up to 2.8%. A significant improvement in technology maturity was achieved, and the power density of the system was significantly improved to 298 W/kg and 568 W/dm<sup>3</sup> compared to the state of the art. A functional model successfully validated the simulation results with an average deviation of less than 6%. An electrical output power of up to 2700 W was measured.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/15automotive thermoelectric generatorengine exhaust heat recoverythermo-economic analysisCFD in thermoelectrics |
| spellingShingle | Lars Heber Julian Schwab Timo Knobelspies 3 kW Thermoelectric Generator for Natural Gas-Powered Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Holistic Development, Optimization and Validation Energies automotive thermoelectric generator engine exhaust heat recovery thermo-economic analysis CFD in thermoelectrics |
| title | 3 kW Thermoelectric Generator for Natural Gas-Powered Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Holistic Development, Optimization and Validation |
| title_full | 3 kW Thermoelectric Generator for Natural Gas-Powered Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Holistic Development, Optimization and Validation |
| title_fullStr | 3 kW Thermoelectric Generator for Natural Gas-Powered Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Holistic Development, Optimization and Validation |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3 kW Thermoelectric Generator for Natural Gas-Powered Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Holistic Development, Optimization and Validation |
| title_short | 3 kW Thermoelectric Generator for Natural Gas-Powered Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Holistic Development, Optimization and Validation |
| title_sort | 3 kw thermoelectric generator for natural gas powered heavy duty vehicles holistic development optimization and validation |
| topic | automotive thermoelectric generator engine exhaust heat recovery thermo-economic analysis CFD in thermoelectrics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/15 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT larsheber 3kwthermoelectricgeneratorfornaturalgaspoweredheavydutyvehiclesholisticdevelopmentoptimizationandvalidation AT julianschwab 3kwthermoelectricgeneratorfornaturalgaspoweredheavydutyvehiclesholisticdevelopmentoptimizationandvalidation AT timoknobelspies 3kwthermoelectricgeneratorfornaturalgaspoweredheavydutyvehiclesholisticdevelopmentoptimizationandvalidation |