Optimal Heat Exchanger Dimensional Analysis under Different Automobile Exhaust Temperatures for Thermoelectric Generator System

An entirely numerical thermoelectric generator model is formulated by taking the heat transfer and flow resistance characteristics of exhaust fluid with different exchanger scales into consideration. Applied to automotive exhaust heat recovery, this study mainly focused on the effect of exhaust temperature on exhaust exchanger structure optimization, the objective being maximal net power output. Results show that the optimal height was unchanged at different exhaust temperatures, unlike the optimal length and width, which increased and decreased at higher temperatures, respectively. A small TEG module is necessary at high exhaust temperatures.