Power Generation Characteristics of a Sandwich-Type Self-Heating Thermoelectric Generator with Spatially Varying Embedded Heat Source

Shin, S., Bang, S., Choi, J., Son, H.-J., Yoon, H., Yun, H., Choi, J.-H., and Wee, D. Power Generation Characteristics of a Sandwich-Type Self-Heating Thermoelectric Generator with Spatially Varying Embedded Heat Source. International Journal of Energy Research, Early View. doi:10.1002/er.3285

Power generation characteristics of a sandwich-type thermoelectric generator in which the heat source is embedded into

thermoelectric elements are investigated. Our previous work on a similar concept only considered a uniform heat source

distribution inside thermoelectric elements. In this work, the effect of the spatial distribution of a heat source is examined.

In particular, the effect of the concentration of heat source near the one end, that is, the hot end, is intensively studied as a

potential means of improving the efficiency of the device.

Although the effects of heat source concentration in impractical cases without heat transfer limitations on the cold side

remain ambiguous, it become clear that heat source concentration indeed has positive effects in more realistic cases with

finite heat transfer coefficients imposed on the cold side. Because of the relatively low efficiency of typical thermoelectric

generation, a significant amount of heat must be dissipated from the cold end of the thermoelectric element. Greater heat

source concentration near the hot end leads to more effective utilization of available heat source, reduces the amount of heat

rejected at the cold end, and lowers the hot end temperature of the thermoelectric element. Overall, it is suggested that heat

source concentration can be used as a method to achieve more efficient operation and better structural integrity of the

system.