Performance study on a thermoelectric generator with exhaust-module-coolant direct contact

Abstract

The Automotive Thermoelectric Generator (ATEG) aims to recycle the heat in vehicle exhaust, and transforms it into electricity. This paper proposes a specific structure of an automotive direct contact thermoelectric generator (ADCTEG) system. With no space among the TEMs, exhaust gas and coolant water, this automotive direct-contact configuration works in favor of system integration, minimizing the contact thermal resistance, and maximizing thermal efficiency. In this new TEG system, the thermoelectric modules (TEMs) expose the hot side surface on the automotive waste gas, while another surface directly contact with the cooling water. For the purpose of revealing output characteristics of the ADCTEG and the heat transfer performance, several numerical simulations and bench test are carried out to predict the temperature distribution, flow field and output power generation. Meanwhile, the influence of experimental parameters on ADCTEG power generation performance is studied also, the output characteristics of ADCTEG under vehicle on-board environment are discussed. The net output power of ADCTEG under different engine rotation speed is calculated. The researches on output characteristics of liquid–solid–gas ADCTEG system has guiding significance for the structure design of heat exchanger and the optimization design of thermal resistance and heat transfer of the system, and also has reference value for the potential application of automotive TEG.

Keywords

• ADCTEG
• Direct contact
• Output characteristics
• Net output power