Comprehensive performance analysis of concentric cylindrical thermoelectric generator for light-duty vehicles

A thermoelectric generator (TEG) system, as a popular method of waste heat recover for automotive, can generate electric power directly from engine waste heat by using Seebeck effect where a temperature difference is placed between the hot and cold side of a thermoelectric (TE) module. It is important to maintain a sufficient temperature difference across the TEM. In this study, a novel designed concentric cylindrical TEG system for light-duty passenger vehicles is presented. In order to enhance the heat transfer in the whole system, a super heat-transfer device, the heat pipe is introduced. The present study investigated the feasibility of heat transfer enhancement by combining heat pipes and the energy transport efficiency of the whole system. Furthermore, the present study shows several novel concepts of enhancing heat transfer in the radial direction by using different types of heat sink combined with heat pipes. Numerical studies have compared the influence on heat transfer enhancement between different types of heat sink. Results show a single unit of the heat pipe-assisted concentric cylindrical TEG system can generator 29.8 W of electrical power in the case of 200 °C temperature difference. In addition, introducing of heat sink can improve the heat transfer in the concentric cylindrical TEG system by 20 %.