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Thermoelectric Analysis for Helical Power Generation Systems

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Abstract

The performance of a three-dimensional helical thermoelectric generation (TEG) system is examined by exposing it to a temperature difference with hot and cold sources. The helical paths for the two thermal fluids give the TEG device the potential to efficiently convert thermal energy. The characteristic performance of the helical system is numerically analyzed by using the finite-volume method in a compact system. The helical system is compared with a straight system in which all the thermoelectric (TE) elements present equivalent geometry. The difference in the TE performance between the two systems is not significant when the TE surfaces are maintained at constant temperatures. Both the electromotive force and the current in the TEG system increase linearly with the temperature difference ΔT applied at the two module surfaces. The current preferentially flows through a main path determined by the geometry of the TE element. The merits of the helical design are its compactness, space saving, and smooth fluid flow due to gravity, compared with the straight system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8628, Hokkaido, Japan

    Xiangning Meng, Takeyuki Fujisaka & Ryosuke O. Suzuki

  2. School of Materials and Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    Xiangning Meng

  3. Japan Science and Technology Agency, JST, Tokyo, Japan

    Ryosuke O. Suzuki

Authors
  1. Xiangning Meng
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  2. Takeyuki Fujisaka
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  3. Ryosuke O. Suzuki
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Correspondence to Xiangning Meng.

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Meng, X., Fujisaka, T. & Suzuki, R.O. Thermoelectric Analysis for Helical Power Generation Systems. J. Electron. Mater. 43, 1509–1520 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-013-2768-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-013-2768-8

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