Enhancing diesel generators power and fuel consumption using thermoelectric generators and exhaust air of HVAC systems

Abstract

This research presents a novel approach to power generation utilizing thermoelectric generators (TEGs) by combining the hot exhaust gases from diesel generators with the relatively cool exhaust air from HVAC systems. A number of TEGs are strategically integrated with the HVAC exhaust in the suggested architecture. A comprehensive parametric research and a detailed thermal model were created in order to evaluate the feasibility of this idea. According to the findings, there is a nearly linear increase in the temperature differential across each TEG module as the space cooling load, diesel generator power, and thickness to thermal conductivity (t/k) increase. This, in turn, increases the power output of the TEG assembly. Additionally, the TEGs' power generation displays an exponential fall with increasing exhaust gas duct height and a near-linear connection with the length of the TEG plates. With a diesel generator output of 125 kW and a space cooling load of 200 kW, this configuration can produce up to 3231 W under certain situations, using a duct height of 0.05 m and a TEG plate length of 1 m. This hybrid generator setup might increase power generation by about 2.59 % and decrease fuel consumption by the same proportion when compared to conventional systems.

Keywords

• Diesel generators
• Thermoelectric generators
• Power
• Fuel consumption
• HVAC exhaust air
• Thermal Modeling