Exact Optimum Design of Segmented Thermoelectric Generators
A considerable difference between experimental and theoretical results has been observed in the studies of segmented thermoelectric generators (STEGs). Because of simplicity, the approximate methods are widely used for design and optimization of the STEGs. This study is focused on employment of exac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Chemical Engineering |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6914735 |
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| author | M. Zare H. Ramin S. Naemi R. Hosseini |
| author_facet | M. Zare H. Ramin S. Naemi R. Hosseini |
| author_sort | M. Zare |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A considerable difference between experimental and theoretical results has been observed in the studies of segmented thermoelectric generators (STEGs). Because of simplicity, the approximate methods are widely used for design and optimization of the STEGs. This study is focused on employment of exact method for design and optimization of STEGs and comparison of exact and approximate results. Thus, using new highly efficient thermoelectric materials, four STEGs are proposed to operate in the temperature range of 300 to 1300 kelvins. The proposed STEGs are optimally designed to achieve maximum efficiency. Design and performance characteristics of the optimized generators including maximum conversion efficiency and length of elements are calculated through both exact and approximate methods. The comparison indicates that the approximate method can cause a difference up to 20% in calculation of some design characteristics despite its appropriate results in efficiency calculation. The results also show that the maximum theoretical efficiency of 23.08% is achievable using the new proposed STEGs. Compatibility factor of the selected materials for the proposed STEGs is also calculated using both exact and approximate methods. The comparison indicates a negligible difference in calculation of compatibility factor, despite the considerable difference in calculation of reduced efficiency (temperature independence efficiency). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-094b52a41af04fdb92a744d09aae82cd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-806X 1687-8078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Chemical Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-094b52a41af04fdb92a744d09aae82cd2025-02-03T05:49:27ZengWileyInternational Journal of Chemical Engineering1687-806X1687-80782016-01-01201610.1155/2016/69147356914735Exact Optimum Design of Segmented Thermoelectric GeneratorsM. Zare0H. Ramin1S. Naemi2R. Hosseini3Mechanical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Avenue, P.O. Box 15875-4413, Tehran, IranCenter of Excellence in Design and Optimization of Energy Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranMechanical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Avenue, P.O. Box 15875-4413, Tehran, IranMechanical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Avenue, P.O. Box 15875-4413, Tehran, IranA considerable difference between experimental and theoretical results has been observed in the studies of segmented thermoelectric generators (STEGs). Because of simplicity, the approximate methods are widely used for design and optimization of the STEGs. This study is focused on employment of exact method for design and optimization of STEGs and comparison of exact and approximate results. Thus, using new highly efficient thermoelectric materials, four STEGs are proposed to operate in the temperature range of 300 to 1300 kelvins. The proposed STEGs are optimally designed to achieve maximum efficiency. Design and performance characteristics of the optimized generators including maximum conversion efficiency and length of elements are calculated through both exact and approximate methods. The comparison indicates that the approximate method can cause a difference up to 20% in calculation of some design characteristics despite its appropriate results in efficiency calculation. The results also show that the maximum theoretical efficiency of 23.08% is achievable using the new proposed STEGs. Compatibility factor of the selected materials for the proposed STEGs is also calculated using both exact and approximate methods. The comparison indicates a negligible difference in calculation of compatibility factor, despite the considerable difference in calculation of reduced efficiency (temperature independence efficiency).http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6914735 |
| spellingShingle | M. Zare H. Ramin S. Naemi R. Hosseini Exact Optimum Design of Segmented Thermoelectric Generators International Journal of Chemical Engineering |
| title | Exact Optimum Design of Segmented Thermoelectric Generators |
| title_full | Exact Optimum Design of Segmented Thermoelectric Generators |
| title_fullStr | Exact Optimum Design of Segmented Thermoelectric Generators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exact Optimum Design of Segmented Thermoelectric Generators |
| title_short | Exact Optimum Design of Segmented Thermoelectric Generators |
| title_sort | exact optimum design of segmented thermoelectric generators |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6914735 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mzare exactoptimumdesignofsegmentedthermoelectricgenerators AT hramin exactoptimumdesignofsegmentedthermoelectricgenerators AT snaemi exactoptimumdesignofsegmentedthermoelectricgenerators AT rhosseini exactoptimumdesignofsegmentedthermoelectricgenerators |