Study on heat pipe assisted thermoelectric power generation system from exhaust gas

Currently, most fuel consumed by vehicles is released to the environment as thermal energy through the exhaust pipe. Environmentally friendly vehicle technology needs new methods to increase the recycling efficiency of waste exhaust thermal energy. The present study investigated how to improve the m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Heat and mass transfer 2017-11, Vol.53 (11), p.3295-3304
Main Authors: Chi, Ri-Guang, Park, Jong-Chan, Rhi, Seok-Ho, Lee, Kye-Bock
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Automobiles
Automotive engineering
Configuration management
Efficiency
Engineering
Engineering Thermodynamics
Exhaust gases
Exhaust pipes
Exhaust systems
Heat
Heat and Mass Transfer
Inclination angle
Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering
Internal combustion engines
Original
Power consumption
Power efficiency
Recycling
Solar energy
Thermal energy
Thermodynamics
Thermoelectric generators
Thermoelectric power generation
Thermoelectricity
Waste heat
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Summary:Currently, most fuel consumed by vehicles is released to the environment as thermal energy through the exhaust pipe. Environmentally friendly vehicle technology needs new methods to increase the recycling efficiency of waste exhaust thermal energy. The present study investigated how to improve the maximum power output of a TEG (Thermoelectric generator) system assisted with a heat pipe. Conventionally, the driving energy efficiency of an internal combustion engine is approximately less than 35%. TEG with Seebeck elements is a new idea for recycling waste exhaust heat energy. The TEG system can efficiently utilize low temperature waste heat, such as industrial waste heat and solar energy. In addition, the heat pipe can transfer heat from the automobile’s exhaust gas to a TEG. To improve the efficiency of the thermal power generation system with a heat pipe, effects of various parameters, such as inclination angle, charged amount of the heat pipe, condenser temperature, and size of the TEM (thermoelectric element), were investigated. Experimental studies, CFD simulation, and the theoretical approach to thermoelectric modules were carried out, and the TEG system with heat pipe (15–20% charged, 20 ° –30 ° inclined configuration) showed the best performance.
ISSN:0947-7411
1432-1181
DOI:10.1007/s00231-017-2046-z