Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) modules—Optimum electrical configurations and performance determination
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, parti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AIMS Press
2022-03-01
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| Series: | AIMS Energy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/energy.2022007?viewType=HTML |
| _version_ | 1797996830182604800 |
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| author | Nganyang Paul Bayendang Mohamed Tariq Kahn Vipin Balyan |
| author_facet | Nganyang Paul Bayendang Mohamed Tariq Kahn Vipin Balyan |
| author_sort | Nganyang Paul Bayendang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:23:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-669f02296ccb4b979be807608e9c97f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2333-8334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:23:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | AIMS Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AIMS Energy |
| spelling | doaj.art-669f02296ccb4b979be807608e9c97f02022-12-22T04:29:40ZengAIMS PressAIMS Energy2333-83342022-03-0110110213010.3934/energy.2022007Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) modules—Optimum electrical configurations and performance determinationNganyang Paul Bayendang 0Mohamed Tariq Kahn1Vipin Balyan2Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering (DEECE), Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, WC, RSADepartment of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering (DEECE), Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, WC, RSADepartment of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering (DEECE), Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, WC, RSARenewable 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.https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/energy.2022007?viewType=HTMLalternative energyenergy harvestingoptimal tegs configurationsthermoelectricitythermoelectric generators |
| spellingShingle | Nganyang Paul Bayendang Mohamed Tariq Kahn Vipin Balyan Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) modules—Optimum electrical configurations and performance determination AIMS Energy alternative energy energy harvesting optimal tegs configurations thermoelectricity thermoelectric generators |
| title | Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) modules—Optimum electrical configurations and performance determination |
| title_full | Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) modules—Optimum electrical configurations and performance determination |
| title_fullStr | Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) modules—Optimum electrical configurations and performance determination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) modules—Optimum electrical configurations and performance determination |
| title_short | Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) modules—Optimum electrical configurations and performance determination |
| title_sort | thermoelectric generators tegs modules optimum electrical configurations and performance determination |
| topic | alternative energy energy harvesting optimal tegs configurations thermoelectricity thermoelectric generators |
| url | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/energy.2022007?viewType=HTML |
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