Effect of Irreversibilities on the Performance of Thermoelectric Generator Investigated Using Exergy Analysis
For a practical thermoelectric generator (TEG) system, the performance is affected by many irreversible processes. This study evaluates the effects of multi-irreversibilities on TEG performance using exergy analysis. Based on the exergy analysis, two performance indexes, the energy efficiency and ex...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
2013-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Thermal Science and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jtst/8/1/8_1/_pdf/-char/en |
| _version_ | 1828878258762940416 |
|---|---|
| author | Chien-Chang WANG Chen-I HUNG |
| author_facet | Chien-Chang WANG Chen-I HUNG |
| author_sort | Chien-Chang WANG |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For a practical thermoelectric generator (TEG) system, the performance is affected by many irreversible processes. This study evaluates the effects of multi-irreversibilities on TEG performance using exergy analysis. Based on the exergy analysis, two performance indexes, the energy efficiency and exergy efficiency, are used. A finite element scheme is employed to model the TEG system. The heat loss from the TEG to the environment and temperature-dependent material properties are considered. The results suggest that when the application of the small electrical current is considered, decreasing the hot-reservoir temperature or increasing the cold-reservoir temperature can improve the TEG exergy efficiency. Although heat loss slightly decreases the maximum energy and exergy efficiency, it can improve energy and exergy efficiencies for a case with large electrical current. On the other hand, when the Seebeck coefficient or thermal conductivity is temperature-dependent, both the maximum energy efficiency and exergy efficiency increase with increasing hot-reservoir temperature. However, the temperature-dependence of the electrical resistivity reduces the maximum exergy efficiency when the hot-reservoir temperature increases even though the maximum energy efficiency is increased. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:02:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aed2ce2c610e4412bfcf2083fc4b71fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1880-5566 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:02:06Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Thermal Science and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-aed2ce2c610e4412bfcf2083fc4b71fd2022-12-21T23:53:08ZengThe Japan Society of Mechanical EngineersJournal of Thermal Science and Technology1880-55662013-01-018111410.1299/jtst.8.1jtstEffect of Irreversibilities on the Performance of Thermoelectric Generator Investigated Using Exergy AnalysisChien-Chang WANG0Chen-I HUNG1Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung UniversityFor a practical thermoelectric generator (TEG) system, the performance is affected by many irreversible processes. This study evaluates the effects of multi-irreversibilities on TEG performance using exergy analysis. Based on the exergy analysis, two performance indexes, the energy efficiency and exergy efficiency, are used. A finite element scheme is employed to model the TEG system. The heat loss from the TEG to the environment and temperature-dependent material properties are considered. The results suggest that when the application of the small electrical current is considered, decreasing the hot-reservoir temperature or increasing the cold-reservoir temperature can improve the TEG exergy efficiency. Although heat loss slightly decreases the maximum energy and exergy efficiency, it can improve energy and exergy efficiencies for a case with large electrical current. On the other hand, when the Seebeck coefficient or thermal conductivity is temperature-dependent, both the maximum energy efficiency and exergy efficiency increase with increasing hot-reservoir temperature. However, the temperature-dependence of the electrical resistivity reduces the maximum exergy efficiency when the hot-reservoir temperature increases even though the maximum energy efficiency is increased.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jtst/8/1/8_1/_pdf/-char/enthermoelectric generator (teg)exergy analysisirreversibilitiestemperature-dependent propertiesfinite element scheme |
| spellingShingle | Chien-Chang WANG Chen-I HUNG Effect of Irreversibilities on the Performance of Thermoelectric Generator Investigated Using Exergy Analysis Journal of Thermal Science and Technology thermoelectric generator (teg) exergy analysis irreversibilities temperature-dependent properties finite element scheme |
| title | Effect of Irreversibilities on the Performance of Thermoelectric Generator Investigated Using Exergy Analysis |
| title_full | Effect of Irreversibilities on the Performance of Thermoelectric Generator Investigated Using Exergy Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Irreversibilities on the Performance of Thermoelectric Generator Investigated Using Exergy Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Irreversibilities on the Performance of Thermoelectric Generator Investigated Using Exergy Analysis |
| title_short | Effect of Irreversibilities on the Performance of Thermoelectric Generator Investigated Using Exergy Analysis |
| title_sort | effect of irreversibilities on the performance of thermoelectric generator investigated using exergy analysis |
| topic | thermoelectric generator (teg) exergy analysis irreversibilities temperature-dependent properties finite element scheme |
| url | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jtst/8/1/8_1/_pdf/-char/en |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chienchangwang effectofirreversibilitiesontheperformanceofthermoelectricgeneratorinvestigatedusingexergyanalysis AT chenihung effectofirreversibilitiesontheperformanceofthermoelectricgeneratorinvestigatedusingexergyanalysis |