Structure optimization of a polygonal automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator considering in-vehicle compatibility

Polygonal heat exchangers (HEXs) are more applicable to automobile exhaust thermoelectric generators (AETEGs) due to their symmetrical structure and low backpressure, but their structural parameters will directly affect the systems' performance. For the sake of accurately predicting the AETEG p...

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Main Authors: Rui Quan, Yulong Zhou, Shuyang Yao, Zixiang Feng, Jianglan Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X24017556
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author Rui Quan
Yulong Zhou
Shuyang Yao
Zixiang Feng
Jianglan Liu
author_facet Rui Quan
Yulong Zhou
Shuyang Yao
Zixiang Feng
Jianglan Liu
author_sort Rui Quan
collection DOAJ
description Polygonal heat exchangers (HEXs) are more applicable to automobile exhaust thermoelectric generators (AETEGs) due to their symmetrical structure and low backpressure, but their structural parameters will directly affect the systems' performance. For the sake of accurately predicting the AETEG performance based on a polygonal HEX inserted with sickle-shaped fins, a comprehensive fluid-thermal-electric coupling model was established, and the effects of HEX widths and lengths on its fluid field, thermal field, and electric properties were numerically investigated. Results indicate that increasing HEX widths reduces the pressure drop, output power, and conversion efficiency of the AETEG system while increasing HEX length increases its pressure drop and decreases the conversion efficiency. According to the designed in-vehicle compatibility index considering temperature uniformity, backpressure, output power, and conversion efficiency, the optimal structural parameters for HEX are H = 130 mm, Nw = 1 row, and NL = 8 columns. At an exhaust flow rate of 40 m/s and an input temperature of 600 K, the conversion efficiency, highest power, temperature uniformity, and backpressure of the AETEG system are 0.97 %, 118.24 W, 98.97 %, and 868.67 Pa, respectively. The findings provide an efficient approach to optimize the structural parameters of AETEGs with reduced backpressure in the future.
format Article
id doaj-art-236c52f892644dc2922a05e11a9313fc
institution Kabale University
issn 2214-157X
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
spelling doaj-art-236c52f892644dc2922a05e11a9313fc2025-02-02T05:27:16ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-02-0166105724Structure optimization of a polygonal automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator considering in-vehicle compatibilityRui Quan0Yulong Zhou1Shuyang Yao2Zixiang Feng3Jianglan Liu4Corresponding author.; Hubei Key Laboratory for High-efficiency Utilization of Solar Energy and Operation Control of Energy Storage System, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory for High-efficiency Utilization of Solar Energy and Operation Control of Energy Storage System, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory for High-efficiency Utilization of Solar Energy and Operation Control of Energy Storage System, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory for High-efficiency Utilization of Solar Energy and Operation Control of Energy Storage System, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory for High-efficiency Utilization of Solar Energy and Operation Control of Energy Storage System, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, ChinaPolygonal heat exchangers (HEXs) are more applicable to automobile exhaust thermoelectric generators (AETEGs) due to their symmetrical structure and low backpressure, but their structural parameters will directly affect the systems' performance. For the sake of accurately predicting the AETEG performance based on a polygonal HEX inserted with sickle-shaped fins, a comprehensive fluid-thermal-electric coupling model was established, and the effects of HEX widths and lengths on its fluid field, thermal field, and electric properties were numerically investigated. Results indicate that increasing HEX widths reduces the pressure drop, output power, and conversion efficiency of the AETEG system while increasing HEX length increases its pressure drop and decreases the conversion efficiency. According to the designed in-vehicle compatibility index considering temperature uniformity, backpressure, output power, and conversion efficiency, the optimal structural parameters for HEX are H = 130 mm, Nw = 1 row, and NL = 8 columns. At an exhaust flow rate of 40 m/s and an input temperature of 600 K, the conversion efficiency, highest power, temperature uniformity, and backpressure of the AETEG system are 0.97 %, 118.24 W, 98.97 %, and 868.67 Pa, respectively. The findings provide an efficient approach to optimize the structural parameters of AETEGs with reduced backpressure in the future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X24017556Heat exchangerAutomobile exhaust thermoelectric generatorNumerical modelIn-vehicle compatibilityOptimization
spellingShingle Rui Quan
Yulong Zhou
Shuyang Yao
Zixiang Feng
Jianglan Liu
Structure optimization of a polygonal automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator considering in-vehicle compatibility
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Heat exchanger
Automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator
Numerical model
In-vehicle compatibility
Optimization
title Structure optimization of a polygonal automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator considering in-vehicle compatibility
title_full Structure optimization of a polygonal automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator considering in-vehicle compatibility
title_fullStr Structure optimization of a polygonal automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator considering in-vehicle compatibility
title_full_unstemmed Structure optimization of a polygonal automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator considering in-vehicle compatibility
title_short Structure optimization of a polygonal automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator considering in-vehicle compatibility
title_sort structure optimization of a polygonal automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator considering in vehicle compatibility
topic Heat exchanger
Automobile exhaust thermoelectric generator
Numerical model
In-vehicle compatibility
Optimization
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X24017556
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AT shuyangyao structureoptimizationofapolygonalautomobileexhaustthermoelectricgeneratorconsideringinvehiclecompatibility
AT zixiangfeng structureoptimizationofapolygonalautomobileexhaustthermoelectricgeneratorconsideringinvehiclecompatibility
AT jianglanliu structureoptimizationofapolygonalautomobileexhaustthermoelectricgeneratorconsideringinvehiclecompatibility