Power and Fuel Economy of a Radial Automotive Thermoelectric Generator: Experimental and Numerical Studies
Recent developments of high performance thermoelectric (TE) materials have increased the interest of using this technology to directly convert waste heat into electricity. In the automotive sector, many automotive thermoelectric generators (ATEGs) designs use TE modules (TEMs) with high hot side tem...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/10/2720 |
| _version_ | 1811186159307456512 |
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| author | Martí Comamala Toni Pujol Ivan Ruiz Cózar Eduard Massaguer Albert Massaguer |
| author_facet | Martí Comamala Toni Pujol Ivan Ruiz Cózar Eduard Massaguer Albert Massaguer |
| author_sort | Martí Comamala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent developments of high performance thermoelectric (TE) materials have increased the interest of using this technology to directly convert waste heat into electricity. In the automotive sector, many automotive thermoelectric generators (ATEGs) designs use TE modules (TEMs) with high hot side temperatures to cope with high engine load regimes. Here, we develop a new concept of a radial ATEG that is specifically designed to work with low temperature TEMs, which enables the use of Pb-free modules and reduces the thermal stress of the device. A prototype is built and tested at different regimes in an engine test bench. A numerical model of the ATEG is developed and validated. The consequences of modifying (1) the exchange area between the heat absorber and the exhaust gases and (2) the effective figure of merit of TEMs on the electrical output power and fuel economy are investigated by means of simulations. Results indicate that the maximum fuel economy (1.3%) is not attained at the point of maximum output power (228 W). In terms of fuel economy, the back pressure at the exhaust penalizes high mass flow regimes. We use a dimensionless parameter to analyze the potential of the ATEG for reducing fuel consumption. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:40:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9ccaa95b9e504780b768ee7c02180f3f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:40:57Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ccaa95b9e504780b768ee7c02180f3f2022-12-22T04:21:14ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-10-011110272010.3390/en11102720en11102720Power and Fuel Economy of a Radial Automotive Thermoelectric Generator: Experimental and Numerical StudiesMartí Comamala0Toni Pujol1Ivan Ruiz Cózar2Eduard Massaguer3Albert Massaguer4Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, SpainDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, SpainDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, SpainDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, SpainDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, SpainRecent developments of high performance thermoelectric (TE) materials have increased the interest of using this technology to directly convert waste heat into electricity. In the automotive sector, many automotive thermoelectric generators (ATEGs) designs use TE modules (TEMs) with high hot side temperatures to cope with high engine load regimes. Here, we develop a new concept of a radial ATEG that is specifically designed to work with low temperature TEMs, which enables the use of Pb-free modules and reduces the thermal stress of the device. A prototype is built and tested at different regimes in an engine test bench. A numerical model of the ATEG is developed and validated. The consequences of modifying (1) the exchange area between the heat absorber and the exhaust gases and (2) the effective figure of merit of TEMs on the electrical output power and fuel economy are investigated by means of simulations. Results indicate that the maximum fuel economy (1.3%) is not attained at the point of maximum output power (228 W). In terms of fuel economy, the back pressure at the exhaust penalizes high mass flow regimes. We use a dimensionless parameter to analyze the potential of the ATEG for reducing fuel consumption.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/10/2720thermoelectric generatorATEGwaste heat recoveryfuel economy |
| spellingShingle | Martí Comamala Toni Pujol Ivan Ruiz Cózar Eduard Massaguer Albert Massaguer Power and Fuel Economy of a Radial Automotive Thermoelectric Generator: Experimental and Numerical Studies Energies thermoelectric generator ATEG waste heat recovery fuel economy |
| title | Power and Fuel Economy of a Radial Automotive Thermoelectric Generator: Experimental and Numerical Studies |
| title_full | Power and Fuel Economy of a Radial Automotive Thermoelectric Generator: Experimental and Numerical Studies |
| title_fullStr | Power and Fuel Economy of a Radial Automotive Thermoelectric Generator: Experimental and Numerical Studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Power and Fuel Economy of a Radial Automotive Thermoelectric Generator: Experimental and Numerical Studies |
| title_short | Power and Fuel Economy of a Radial Automotive Thermoelectric Generator: Experimental and Numerical Studies |
| title_sort | power and fuel economy of a radial automotive thermoelectric generator experimental and numerical studies |
| topic | thermoelectric generator ATEG waste heat recovery fuel economy |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/10/2720 |
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