Optimizing thermoelectric generators based on Mg2(Si, Sn) alloys through numerical simulations
Thermoelectric generator (TEG) that works in medium and high temperature ranges has appeared as a necessity in combating with the waste heat management from various industries. Therefore, design of TEG with thermoelectric materials capable to exhibit high capacity for thermoelectric power generation...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174521000222 |
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| author | Divija Pandel Amit Kumar Singh Malay Kumar Banerjee Ritesh Gupta |
| author_facet | Divija Pandel Amit Kumar Singh Malay Kumar Banerjee Ritesh Gupta |
| author_sort | Divija Pandel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thermoelectric generator (TEG) that works in medium and high temperature ranges has appeared as a necessity in combating with the waste heat management from various industries. Therefore, design of TEG with thermoelectric materials capable to exhibit high capacity for thermoelectric power generation is of emerging technological interest. It is known that alloys based on Mg2(Si, Sn) and PbTe thermoelectric materials are best suited for the intermediate temperature scale (400–900 K). For constructing a TEG, higher manganese silicides (HMS) are often used for integration with n-type Mg2X (Si, Ge, Sn) alloys. The thermo-mechanical property-mismatch reasons out the option for such a combination in fabrication of a sustainable thermoelectric generator. This makes one focus on evolving a generation system that comprises of both n- and p-type thermo elements prepared from suitable Mg2X (Si, Ge, Sn) alloys. The present research analyses the feasibility of designing a Mg2 (Si, Sn) alloy based thermoelectric generator by modeling approach. It presents a comprehensive take on the effect of thermoelectric leg dimensions and contact resistances on the output voltage, output power and efficiency, with alteration in the operating temperature span. The COMSOL modeling results indicate that the power output reduces considerably with increment in the thermoelectric leg length, while the conversion efficiency enhances. Contrarily, augmenting the cross-sectional area of a thermoelectric leg follows an opposite trend i.e., it increases the power output and decreases the conversion efficiency. The power output and the conversion efficiency values diminish when contact resistances are considered in the modeling study. This study also incorporates an efficient heat exchanger system including contact resistances and conductive and convective heat losses for accurate estimation of power output and efficiency of the optimized TEG module. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:43:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc3938346b1d49b6a2511320875920db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-1745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:43:39Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc3938346b1d49b6a2511320875920db2022-12-21T22:08:16ZengElsevierEnergy Conversion and Management: X2590-17452021-09-0111100097Optimizing thermoelectric generators based on Mg2(Si, Sn) alloys through numerical simulationsDivija Pandel0Amit Kumar Singh1Malay Kumar Banerjee2Ritesh Gupta3Materials Research Centre, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur 302017, India; Corresponding author at: Materials Research Centre, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, J.L.N. Marg, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302017, India.Materials Research Centre, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur 302017, India; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur 302017, IndiaSuresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur 302017, IndiaDepartment of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur 302017, IndiaThermoelectric generator (TEG) that works in medium and high temperature ranges has appeared as a necessity in combating with the waste heat management from various industries. Therefore, design of TEG with thermoelectric materials capable to exhibit high capacity for thermoelectric power generation is of emerging technological interest. It is known that alloys based on Mg2(Si, Sn) and PbTe thermoelectric materials are best suited for the intermediate temperature scale (400–900 K). For constructing a TEG, higher manganese silicides (HMS) are often used for integration with n-type Mg2X (Si, Ge, Sn) alloys. The thermo-mechanical property-mismatch reasons out the option for such a combination in fabrication of a sustainable thermoelectric generator. This makes one focus on evolving a generation system that comprises of both n- and p-type thermo elements prepared from suitable Mg2X (Si, Ge, Sn) alloys. The present research analyses the feasibility of designing a Mg2 (Si, Sn) alloy based thermoelectric generator by modeling approach. It presents a comprehensive take on the effect of thermoelectric leg dimensions and contact resistances on the output voltage, output power and efficiency, with alteration in the operating temperature span. The COMSOL modeling results indicate that the power output reduces considerably with increment in the thermoelectric leg length, while the conversion efficiency enhances. Contrarily, augmenting the cross-sectional area of a thermoelectric leg follows an opposite trend i.e., it increases the power output and decreases the conversion efficiency. The power output and the conversion efficiency values diminish when contact resistances are considered in the modeling study. This study also incorporates an efficient heat exchanger system including contact resistances and conductive and convective heat losses for accurate estimation of power output and efficiency of the optimized TEG module.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174521000222Thermoelectric generatorsConversion efficiencyOutput powerGeometric dimensionsContact resistancesHeat sink |
| spellingShingle | Divija Pandel Amit Kumar Singh Malay Kumar Banerjee Ritesh Gupta Optimizing thermoelectric generators based on Mg2(Si, Sn) alloys through numerical simulations Energy Conversion and Management: X Thermoelectric generators Conversion efficiency Output power Geometric dimensions Contact resistances Heat sink |
| title | Optimizing thermoelectric generators based on Mg2(Si, Sn) alloys through numerical simulations |
| title_full | Optimizing thermoelectric generators based on Mg2(Si, Sn) alloys through numerical simulations |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing thermoelectric generators based on Mg2(Si, Sn) alloys through numerical simulations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing thermoelectric generators based on Mg2(Si, Sn) alloys through numerical simulations |
| title_short | Optimizing thermoelectric generators based on Mg2(Si, Sn) alloys through numerical simulations |
| title_sort | optimizing thermoelectric generators based on mg2 si sn alloys through numerical simulations |
| topic | Thermoelectric generators Conversion efficiency Output power Geometric dimensions Contact resistances Heat sink |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174521000222 |
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