Published 8 issues per year
ISSN Print: 1065-5131
ISSN Online: 1563-5074
Indexed in
HEAT TRANSFER ENHANCEMENT USING PROTRUSIONS FOR THERMOELECTRIC POWER GENERATORS
ABSTRACT
The use of thermoelectric devices is limited by their low efficiencies. Since heat transfer through the thermoelectric couples plays a vital role in determining the efficiency of a thermoelectric (TE) module, substantial effort is being made to enhance the heat transfer which in turn will increase the power generation in the TE heat exchangers. In this computational fluid dynamic (CFD) study, a new design of thermoelectric couple was analyzed. Heat transfer enhancement techniques using protrusions in the hot gas stream were used. It was observed that the cases in which the hot gas is deflected onto the thermoelectric legs result in higher heat transfer. This enhancement in the heat transfer results from the thinning of the thermal boundary layer on top of the channel, due to the local acceleration of the flow. CFD analysis predicts a 15% increase in heat transfer using top bumps, a 30% increase by using the conductor's protrusion, and a 35% increase in heat transfer by using the combination of top bumps and conductor's protrusion. It was also observed that although the use of top bumps and conductors increases the heat transfer, this increase is at the cost of an increased pressure drop across the channel.
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Wang Yiping, Li Shuai, Xie Xu, Deng Yadong, Liu Xun, Su Chuqi, Performance evaluation of an automotive thermoelectric generator with inserted fins or dimpled-surface hot heat exchanger, Applied Energy, 218, 2018. Crossref