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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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Thermal Engineering |
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| 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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