journal article·2018-01-22Open access

Performance Investigation of an Exhaust Thermoelectric Generator for Military SUV Application

Rui Quan, Guangyin Liu, Chengji Wang, Wei Zhou, Liang Huang, Yadong Deng

Coatings· Volume 8· Issue 1

Abstract

To analyze the thermoelectric power generation for sports utility vehicle (SUV) application, a novel thermoelectric generator (TEG) based on low-temperature Bi2Te3 thermoelectric modules (TEMs) and a chaos-shaped brass heat exchanger is constructed. The temperature distribution of the TEG is analyzed based on an experimental setup, and the temperature uniformity optimization method is performed by chipping peak off and filling valley is taken to validate the improved output power. An automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator (AETEG) using four TEGs connected thermally in parallel and electrically in series is assembled into a prototype military SUV, its temperature distribution, output voltage, output power, system efficiency, inner resistance, and backpressure is analyzed, and several important influencing factors such as vehicle speed, clamping pressure, engine coolant flow rate, and ambient temperature on its output performance are tested. Experimental results demonstrate that higher vehicle speed, larger clamping pressure, faster engine coolant flow rate and lower ambient temperature can enhance the overall output performance, but the ambient temperature and coolant flow rate are less significant. The maximum output power of AETEG is 646.26 W, the corresponding conversion efficiency is 1.03%, and the increased backpressure changes from 1681 Pa to 1807 Pa when the highest vehicle speed is 125 km/h.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices · Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies · Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technologies

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Agricultural Mechanical Engineering Research and Design Institute, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China

School of Automation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China

School of Automobile Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of China · Doctor Scientific Research Foundation of Hubei University of Technology

References (32)

Show source-provided references
1. Investigation of solar hybrid system with concentrating Fresnel lens, photovoltaic and thermoelectric generators10.1002/er.3614 ↗
2. Performance assessment of a thermoelectric generator applied to exhaust waste heat recovery10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.03.052 ↗
3. The temperature distribution and electrical performance of fluid heat exchanger-based thermoelectric generator10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.03.022 ↗
4. Thermoelectric generator for industrial gas phase waste heat recovery10.1016/j.energy.2017.06.086 ↗
5. A thermoelectric generator using engine coolant for light-duty internal combustion engine-powered vehicles10.1007/s11664-011-1580-6 ↗
6. Waste heat recovery of a diesel engine using a thermoelectric generator equipped with customized thermoelectric modules10.1016/j.enconman.2016.07.013 ↗
7. Bass, J.C., Kushch, A.S., and Elsner, N.B. (1991, January 28–31). Thermoelectric generator development for heavy-duty truck applications. Proceedings of the Annual Automotive Technology Development Contractors’ Coordination Meeting, Dearborn, MI, USA.
8. Ikoma, K., Munekiyo, M., Furuya, K., Kobayashi, M., Izumi, T., and Shinohara, K. (1998, January 24–28). Thermoelectric module and generator for gasoline engine vehicles. Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Thermoelectrics-ICT1998, Nagoya, Japan.
9. Lagrandeur, J., Crane, D., Mazar, S., and Eder, A. (2006, January 6–8). Automotive waste heat conversion to electric power using skutterudite, TAGS, PbTe and BiTe. Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Thermoelectrics ICT’06, Beijing, China.10.1109/ICT.2006.331220 ↗
10. Testing of an automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator in a light truck10.1243/09544070JAUTO51 ↗
11. Thermoelectric exhaust heat recovery for hybrid vehicles
12. Experiments and simulations on low-temperature waste heat harvesting system by thermoelectric power generators10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.10.005 ↗
13. Thermoelectric power generation system for future hybrid vehicles using hot exhaust gas10.1007/s11664-011-1569-1 ↗
14. An experimental study of a novel prototype for two-stage thermoelectric generator from vehicle exhaust10.1016/j.joei.2015.01.019 ↗
15. Analysis of vehicle exhaust waste heat recovery potential using a Rankine cycle10.1016/j.energy.2012.11.001 ↗
16. Thermoelectric generators for automotive waste heat recovery systems part II: Parametric evaluation and topological studies10.1007/s11664-013-2472-8 ↗
17. Influence of an optimized thermoelectric generator on the back pressure of the subsequent exhaust gas system of a vehicle10.1007/s11664-013-2769-7 ↗
18. Optimization of the heat exchangers of a thermoelectric generation system10.1007/s11664-010-1291-4 ↗
19. Design and optimization of automotive thermoelectric generators for maximum fuel efficiency improvement10.1016/j.enconman.2016.05.035 ↗
20. Heat transfer enhancement in mini-channel heat sinks with dimples and cylindrical grooves10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.03.007 ↗
21. Optimization of thermoelectric heat pumps by operating condition management and heat exchanger design10.1016/j.enconman.2012.02.007 ↗
22. Design of heat sink for improving the performance of thermoelectric generator using two-stage optimization10.1016/j.energy.2012.01.025 ↗
23. Optimization of the incision size and cold-end temperature of a thermoelectric device10.1016/j.energy.2003.10.017 ↗
24. Thermoelectric device and optimum external load parameter and slenderness ratio10.1016/j.energy.2010.07.019 ↗
25. Optimal design for micro-thermoelectric generators using Finite element analysis10.1016/j.mee.2010.06.025 ↗
26. Thermal optimization of the heat exchanger in the vehicular waste-heat thermoelectric generations10.1007/s11664-012-2095-5 ↗
27. Experiments and simulations on heat exchangers in thermoelectric generator for automotive application10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.07.022 ↗
28. Optimization of fin distribution to improve the temperature uniformity of a heat exchanger in a thermoelectric generator10.1007/s11664-014-3527-1 ↗
29. Numerical and experimental investigation for heat transfer enhancement by dimpled surface heat exchanger in thermoelectric generator10.1007/s11664-015-4228-0 ↗
30. Modeling, experimental study and optimization on low-temperature waste heat thermoelectric generator system10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.02.013 ↗
31. A hybrid maximum power point tracking method for automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator10.1007/s11664-016-4875-9 ↗
32. Thermal design of automobile exhaust based thermoelectric generator: Objectives and challenges10.1007/s12239-008-0020-y ↗