Thermoelectric generators for waste heat harvesting: A computational and experimental approach

The temperature and mass flow of the flue gases and the load resistance determine the generation, and consequently, these parameters have been included into the model, among many others. This computational model incorporates all the elements included into the generators (heat exchangers, ceramics, unions) and all the thermoelectric phenomena and moreover, it takes into account the temperature loss of the flue gases while circulating along the thermoelectric generator. The built prototype presents a 65% reduction in the generation of the two levels of the thermoelectric generator due to the temperature loss of the flue gases. The general computational model predicts the thermoelectric generation with an accuracy of the ±12%.