Water-Cooled Thermoelectric Generators for Improved Net Output Power: A Review
Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have the ability to convert waste heat into electrical energy under unfavorable conditions and are becoming increasingly popular in academia, but have not yet achieved a broad commercial success, due to the still comparably low efficiency. To increase the efficiency...
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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/1996-1073/14/24/8329 |
| _version_ | 1827672762655703040 |
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| author | Björn Pfeiffelmann Ali Cemal Benim Franz Joos |
| author_facet | Björn Pfeiffelmann Ali Cemal Benim Franz Joos |
| author_sort | Björn Pfeiffelmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have the ability to convert waste heat into electrical energy under unfavorable conditions and are becoming increasingly popular in academia, but have not yet achieved a broad commercial success, due to the still comparably low efficiency. To increase the efficiency and economic viability of TEGs, research is performed on the materials on one hand and on the system connection on the other. In the latter case, the net output power of the cooling system plays a key role. At first glance, passive cooling seems preferable to active cooling because it does not affect the net electrical output power. However, as shown in the present review, the active cooling is to be preferred for net output power. The situation is similar in air and water-cooling. Even though air-cooling is easier to set up, the water-cooling should be preferred to achieve higher net output power. It is shown that microchannel cooling has similar hydraulic performance to conventional cooling and inserts increase the net output power of TEG. As the review reveals that active water-cooling should be the method of choice to achieve high net output power, it also shows that a careful optimization is necessary to exploit the potential. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:13:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ad6e7074bb14430a0117a65590e6f23 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:13:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ad6e7074bb14430a0117a65590e6f232023-11-23T08:05:46ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-12-011424832910.3390/en14248329Water-Cooled Thermoelectric Generators for Improved Net Output Power: A ReviewBjörn Pfeiffelmann0Ali Cemal Benim1Franz Joos2Center of Flow Simulation, Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, D-40476 Düsseldorf, GermanyCenter of Flow Simulation, Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, D-40476 Düsseldorf, GermanyLaboratory of Turbomachinery, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Helmut Schmidt University, D-22043 Hamburg, GermanyThermoelectric generators (TEGs) have the ability to convert waste heat into electrical energy under unfavorable conditions and are becoming increasingly popular in academia, but have not yet achieved a broad commercial success, due to the still comparably low efficiency. To increase the efficiency and economic viability of TEGs, research is performed on the materials on one hand and on the system connection on the other. In the latter case, the net output power of the cooling system plays a key role. At first glance, passive cooling seems preferable to active cooling because it does not affect the net electrical output power. However, as shown in the present review, the active cooling is to be preferred for net output power. The situation is similar in air and water-cooling. Even though air-cooling is easier to set up, the water-cooling should be preferred to achieve higher net output power. It is shown that microchannel cooling has similar hydraulic performance to conventional cooling and inserts increase the net output power of TEG. As the review reveals that active water-cooling should be the method of choice to achieve high net output power, it also shows that a careful optimization is necessary to exploit the potential.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/24/8329forced convectionheat transfernet output powerthermoelectric generatorwater-cooling |
| spellingShingle | Björn Pfeiffelmann Ali Cemal Benim Franz Joos Water-Cooled Thermoelectric Generators for Improved Net Output Power: A Review Energies forced convection heat transfer net output power thermoelectric generator water-cooling |
| title | Water-Cooled Thermoelectric Generators for Improved Net Output Power: A Review |
| title_full | Water-Cooled Thermoelectric Generators for Improved Net Output Power: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Water-Cooled Thermoelectric Generators for Improved Net Output Power: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water-Cooled Thermoelectric Generators for Improved Net Output Power: A Review |
| title_short | Water-Cooled Thermoelectric Generators for Improved Net Output Power: A Review |
| title_sort | water cooled thermoelectric generators for improved net output power a review |
| topic | forced convection heat transfer net output power thermoelectric generator water-cooling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/24/8329 |
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