Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are solid state heat engines that generate electricity from a temperature gradient. Optimizing these devices for maximum power production can be difficult due to the many heat transport mechanisms occurring simultaneously within the TEG. In this paper, we develop a model for heat transport in thermoelectric materials in which an " effective thermal conductivity ...

Thermoelectric power generators are used to convert heat into electricity. Like any other heat engine, the performance of a thermoelectric generator increases as the temperature difference on the sides increases. It is generally assumed that as more heat is forced through the thermoelectric legs, their performance increases. Therefore, insulations are typically used to minimize the heat losses ...

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...

The maximum efficiency of a thermoelectric generator is determined by the material's dimensionless figure of merit ZT. Real thermoelectric material properties are highly temperature dependent and are often measured individually using multiple measurement tools on different samples. As a result, reported ZT values have large uncertainties. In this work we present an experimental technique that e...

Thermoelectric modules are becoming more and more popular nowadays again as their prices are going down and the new potential applications have appeared due to recent developments in microelectronic and wireless technology. Not so long ago Peltier modules were mainly used as thermoelectric coolers TECs, for example in thermal image generator (De Baetselier et al., 1995a), thermoelectrically coo...

In this study, we analyze the role of the thermoelectric (TE) properties, namely Seebeck coefficient α, thermal conductivity κ and electrical resistivity ρ, of three different materials in a composite thermoelectric generator (CTEG) under different configurations. The CTEG is composed of three thermoelectric modules (TEMs): (1) two TEMs thermally and electrically connected in series (SC); (2) t...

Thermoelectric energy converters are expected to play a signicant role in clean and renewable energy, and to reduce the reliance on fossil fuelled heat engines that generate approximately 90% of the world's electrical power at a typical 30–40% efficiency. The maximum efficiency of thermoelectric materials is determined by the dimensionless gure of merit, zT 1⁄4 STs/(ke + kL), which is a funct...

In this paper we report on a thermoelectric generator (TEG) using thermal isolation provided by a thick porous Si layer locally formed on the Si wafer and thermocouples composed of p-doped polycrystalline Si/Al. The "hot" contacts of the thermocouples lie on the porous Si layer, while the "cold" contacts lie on bulk crystalline Si. A housing was also designed and fabricated in order to transfer...

UNLABELLED The thermoelectric properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) ( PEDOT PSS) and tellurium- PEDOT PSS (Te- PEDOT PSS) hybrid composites were enhanced via simple chemical treatment. The performance of thermoelectric materials is determined by their electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient. Significant enhancement of the elec...