Prediction of the fuel economy potential for a skutterudite thermoelectric generator in light-duty vehicle applications

Based on two scenarios of the TEG integrated in different positions of a conventional light-duty vehicle, a semi-empirical model is developed, which includes a quasi-static vehicle model, a dynamic exhaust model, a dynamic coolant model, and a dynamic TEG model. Four integration effects: the additional mass, the power consumption of an electric circulation pump, the effect of exhaust back-pressure and the energy loss in the DC-DC converter, are studied in the semi-empirical model. The evaluation results show the TEG installation position has a significant influence on the fuel saving potential due to the higher quality of the exhaust gas. Placing the TEG closer to the exhaust manifold can increase fuel saving potential by 50%. The four integration effects taken together cause a 25% reduction of fuel saving potential. The energy loss in DC-DC convector and added weight are the main contributors to this reduction. An optimised design for the TEG installation operating under an optimised control strategy delivers a fuel consumption reduction of 4% over the constant-speed 120 km/h driving cycle.