Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

A study on heat transfer enhancement in the radial direction of gas flow for thermoelectric power generation

Wang, Xinzhu, Li, Bo, Yan, Yuying, Liu, Sheng, Li, Jun (2016) A study on heat transfer enhancement in the radial direction of gas flow for thermoelectric power generation. Applied Thermal Engineering, 102 . pp. 176-183. ISSN 1359-4311. (doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.03.063) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:87892)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.03.0...

Abstract

The performance of thermoelectric generation (TEG) systems is significantly dependent on the hot side temperature of thermoelectric legs and the temperature difference between the hot side and cold side of the legs. To keep the TEG module working at an optimal condition, a high heat flux over 10 W/cm2 through the TEG needs to be maintained. Due to the low heat transfer coefficient of the gas flow to the exhaust pipe wall surface, typically at a high temperature ranging from 400 °C to 800 °C, the actual heat flux into the TEG heat exchanger is limited significantly, resulting in relatively low efficiency of the TEG conversion. In the present study, an effective solution for enhancing the heat transfer of gas flow in the radial direction to the TEG is proposed by means of immersing high temperature heat pipes perpendicularly into the exhaust flow. Similarly, conventional heat pipes are radially inserted into a concentric coolant jacket in order to enhance heat transfer performance at the cold side of TEG modules. Overall, the TEG assembly is configured as a compact and scalable heat pipe heat exchanger. The simulation results show that the hot side temperature of the TEG can reach and be maintained as high as 300 °C while the cold side temperature of the TEG can be maintained at approximately 85 °C for a normal engine coolant loop. The results also show that the closer to the heat source in the pipeline the TEG system is located, the better the power generation that is expected. Moreover, better thermoelectric generation can be expected at a higher engine speed. By installing the TEG heat exchanger between catalytic converter and muffler, the best power output in the thermoelectric heat exchanger can be achieved at 450 W and 5000 rpm. If the TEG heat exchanger is adjacent to the outlet of a catalytic converter, the best-simulated performance at 6000 rpm is 705 W for a single sub pipeline. Therefore, a total power generation of 1410 W is achievable since the existing exhaust pipe is a dual pipeline system.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.03.063
Uncontrolled keywords: Thermoelectric generation; Waste heat recovery; Heat pipe; Heat transfer enhancement; Exhaust heat treatment
Subjects: T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery > Control engineering
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Engineering and Digital Arts
Depositing User: Amy Boaler
Date Deposited: 04 May 2021 09:50 UTC
Last Modified: 17 Aug 2022 12:22 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/87892 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.