Modelling and Optimization of Low-temperature Waste Heat Thermoelectric Generator System

Thermoelectric generation (TEG) technology has several kinds of merits; waste heat recovery is one of its most promising applications, is becoming a noticeable area of research. The primary challenge of this technology is its relatively low heat to electricity conversion (low conversion efficiency), but low efficiency is not a major issue since this technology used waste heat; costless thermal energy input. System performance/efficiency of TEG technology is depends on module properties and system configurations. In this project, a theoretical model has been developed to analyze the different affecting factors to optimize the electric power from low grade waste heat using TEG technology. From the optimization model it can be found that waste heat temperature, arrangement of TE modules, enhancing heat transfer co-efficient and parasitic loss plays an important role to maximize the net electric power. This project is still under develop, the aim of this project is to find out all possible affecting factors to optimize the output power from low grade waste heat source and also the theoretical analysis will be used to established an experimental setup to validate the optimization technique.