High-Performance Thermoelectric Generators for Field Deployments

Kishore, Ravi A; Nozariasbmarz, Amin; Poudel, Bed; Priya, Shashank

doi:10.1021/acsami.9b21299

High-Performance Thermoelectric Generators for Field Deployments

Journal Article · Mon Feb 10 00:00:00 EST 2020 · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b21299· OSTI ID:1602177

^[1]; ^[2]; Poudel, Bed ^[2]; Priya, Shashank ^[3]

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States); Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)

Thermoelectric power generation is a reliable energy harvesting technique for directly converting heat into electricity. Recent studies have reported the thermal-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) up to 11% under laboratory settings. However, the practical effectiveness of TEGs deployed under real environments is still not more than a few percent. In this study, we provide fundamental insight on the operation of TEGs in realistic environments by illustrating the combinatory effect of thermoelectric material properties, device boundary conditions, and environmental thermal resistivity on TEG performance in conjunction with the module parameters. Using numerical and experimental studies, we demonstrate the existence of a critical heat transfer coefficient that dramatically affects the design and performance of TEGs. Results provide a set of concrete design criteria for developing efficient TEGs that meet the metrics for field deployments. High-performance TEGs demonstrated in this study generated up to 28% higher power and 162% higher power per unit mass of thermoelectric materials as compared to the commercial module deployed for low-grade waste heat recovery. This advancement in understanding the TEG operation will have a transformative impact on the development of scalable thermal energy harvesters and in realizing their practical targets for efficiency, power density, and total output power.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1602177

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5500-76194

Journal Information:: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Journal Name: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 12; ISSN 1944-8244

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (53)

Wearable Thermoelectric Generators for Body-Powered Devices Leonov, V.; Vullers, R. J. M. Journal of Electronic Materials, Vol. 38, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-008-0638-6	journal	January 2009
Dimensional Analysis of Thermoelectric Modules Under Constant Heat Flux Suzuki, Ryosuke O.; Fujisaka, Takeyuki; Ito, Keita O. Journal of Electronic Materials, Vol. 44, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-014-3314-z	journal	August 2014
Effect of heat transfer on the performance of thermoelectric generators Chen, Lingen; Gong, Jianzheng; Sun, Fengrui International Journal of Thermal Sciences, Vol. 41, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1290-0729(01)01307-2	journal	January 2002
Transient modeling and dynamic characteristics of thermoelectric cooler Meng, Jing-Hui; Wang, Xiao-Dong; Zhang, Xin-Xin Applied Energy, Vol. 108 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.03.051	journal	August 2013
Review of wearable thermoelectric energy harvesting: From body temperature to electronic systems Nozariasbmarz, Amin; Collins, Henry; Dsouza, Kelvin Applied Energy, Vol. 258 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.114069	journal	January 2020
A review of thermoelectric cooling: Materials, modeling and applications Zhao, Dongliang; Tan, Gang Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 66, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.01.074	journal	May 2014
The thermoelement as thermoelectric power generator: Effect of leg geometry on the efficiency and power generation Sahin, Ahmet Z.; Yilbas, Bekir S. Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 65 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2012.07.020	journal	January 2013
Assessment of the performance of annular thermoelectric couples under constant heat flux condition Shen, Zu-Guo; Wu, Shuang-Ying; Xiao, Lan Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 150 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.08.058	journal	October 2017
Thermoelectric device and optimum external load parameter and slenderness ratio Yilbas, B. S.; Sahin, A. Z. Energy, Vol. 35, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2010.07.019	journal	December 2010
A three-dimensional numerical modeling of thermoelectric device with consideration of coupling of temperature field and electric potential field Wang, Xiao-Dong; Huang, Yu-Xian; Cheng, Chin-Hsiang Energy, Vol. 47, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2012.09.019	journal	November 2012
Power density optimization for micro thermoelectric generators Dunham, Marc T.; Barako, Michael T.; LeBlanc, Saniya Energy, Vol. 93 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.10.032	journal	December 2015
A three-dimensional theoretical model for predicting transient thermal behavior of thermoelectric coolers Cheng, Chin-Hsiang; Huang, Shu-Yu; Cheng, Tsung-Chieh International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 53, Issue 9-10 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2009.12.056	journal	April 2010
Finite element analysis and material sensitivity of Peltier thermoelectric cells coolers PrezAparicio, J. L.; Palma, R.; Taylor, R. L. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 55, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2011.08.031	journal	January 2012
One-dimensional modeling of TE devices considering temperature-dependent parameters using SPICE Mitrani, Daniel; Salazar, Jordi; Turó, Antoni Microelectronics Journal, Vol. 40, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mejo.2008.04.001	journal	September 2009
Thermoelectric generators for wearable body heat harvesting: Material and device concurrent optimization Nozariasbmarz, Amin; Suarez, Francisco; Dycus, J. Houston Nano Energy, Vol. 67 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104265	journal	January 2020
Thermoelectric generators: Linking material properties and systems engineering for waste heat recovery applications LeBlanc, Saniya Sustainable Materials and Technologies, Vol. 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2014.11.002	journal	December 2014
High Power Density Body Heat Energy Harvesting Nozariasbmarz, Amin; Kishore, Ravi Anant; Poudel, Bed ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Vol. 11, Issue 43 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b14823	journal	September 2019
Complex thermoelectric materials Snyder, G. Jeffrey; Toberer, Eric S. Nature Materials, Vol. 7, Issue 2, p. 105-114 https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2090	journal	February 2008
An inconvenient truth about thermoelectrics Vining, Cronin B. Nature Materials, Vol. 8, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2361	journal	February 2009
Thermoelectric materials step up Shi, Xun; Chen, Lidong Nature Materials, Vol. 15, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4643	journal	June 2016
Ultra-high performance wearable thermoelectric coolers with less materials Kishore, Ravi Anant; Nozariasbmarz, Amin; Poudel, Bed Nature Communications, Vol. 10, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09707-8	journal	April 2019
Bring on the heat Schierning, Gabi Nature Energy, Vol. 3, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0093-4	journal	February 2018
Clean Power Generation from the Intractable Natural Coalfield Fires: Turn Harm into Benefit Shi, Bobo; Su, Hetao; Li, Jinshi Scientific Reports, Vol. 7, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-05622-4	journal	July 2017
Optimization of segmented thermoelectric generator using Taguchi and ANOVA techniques Kishore, Ravi Anant; Sanghadasa, Mohan; Priya, Shashank Scientific Reports, Vol. 7, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16372-8	journal	December 2017
Bifunctional thermoelectric tube made of tilted multilayer material as an alternative to standard heat exchangers Takahashi, Kouhei; Kanno, Tsutomu; Sakai, Akihiro Scientific Reports, Vol. 3, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep01501	journal	March 2013
Thermoelectric Fabrics: Toward Power Generating Clothing Du, Yong; Cai, Kefeng; Chen, Song Scientific Reports, Vol. 5, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep06411	journal	March 2015
Modelling of segmented high-performance thermoelectric generators with effects of thermal radiation, electrical and thermal contact resistances Ouyang, Zhongliang; Li, Dawen Scientific Reports, Vol. 6, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep24123	journal	April 2016
Thermoelectric Bi ₂ Te ₃ -improved charge collection for high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells Chen, Tao; Guai, Guan Hong; Gong, Cheng Energy Environ. Sci., Vol. 5, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1039/C1EE02385C	journal	January 2012
Perspectives on thermoelectrics: from fundamentals to device applications Zebarjadi, M.; Esfarjani, K.; Dresselhaus, M. S. Energy Environ. Sci., Vol. 5, Issue 1, p. 5147-5162 https://doi.org/10.1039/C1EE02497C	journal	January 2012
$ per W metrics for thermoelectric power generation: beyond ZT Yee, Shannon K.; LeBlanc, Saniya; Goodson, Kenneth E. Energy Environ. Sci., Vol. 6, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1039/C3EE41504J	journal	January 2013
The panoscopic approach to high performance thermoelectrics Zhao, Li-Dong; Dravid, Vinayak P.; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G. Energy Environ. Sci., Vol. 7, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1039/C3EE43099E	journal	January 2014
Recent advances in thermoelectric materials and solar thermoelectric generators – a critical review Sundarraj, Pradeepkumar; Maity, Dipak; Roy, Susanta Sinha RSC Adv., Vol. 4, Issue 87 https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA05322B	journal	January 2014
Flexible thermoelectric materials and device optimization for wearable energy harvesting Bahk, Je-Hyeong; Fang, Haiyu; Yazawa, Kazuaki Journal of Materials Chemistry C, Vol. 3, Issue 40 https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC01644D	journal	January 2015
Designing thermoelectric generators for self-powered wearable electronics Suarez, Francisco; Nozariasbmarz, Amin; Vashaee, Daryoosh Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 9, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1039/C6EE00456C	journal	January 2016
High efficiency Bi ₂ Te ₃ -based materials and devices for thermoelectric power generation between 100 and 300 °C Hao, Feng; Qiu, Pengfei; Tang, Yunshan Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 9, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1039/C6EE02017H	journal	January 2016
The bridge between the materials and devices of thermoelectric power generators Kim, Hee Seok; Liu, Weishu; Ren, Zhifeng Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 10, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1039/C6EE02488B	journal	January 2017
Realizing a thermoelectric conversion efficiency of 12% in bismuth telluride/skutterudite segmented modules through full-parameter optimization and energy-loss minimized integration Zhang, Qihao; Liao, Jincheng; Tang, Yunshan Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 10, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1039/C7EE00447H	journal	January 2017
Figure of merit ZT of a thermoelectric device defined from materials properties Snyder, G. Jeffrey; Snyder, Alemayouh H. Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 10, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1039/C7EE02007D	journal	January 2017
A comprehensive optimization study on Bi ₂ Te ₃ -based thermoelectric generators using the Taguchi method Kishore, Ravi Anant; Kumar, Prashant; Priya, Shashank Sustainable Energy & Fuels, Vol. 2, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1039/C7SE00437K	journal	January 2018
From materials to device design of a thermoelectric fabric for wearable energy harvesters Ito, Mitsuhiro; Koizumi, Takuya; Kojima, Hirotaka Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Vol. 5, Issue 24 https://doi.org/10.1039/C7TA00304H	journal	January 2017
High thermoelectric performance in Bi _0.46 Sb _1.54 Te ₃ nanostructured with ZnTe Deng, Rigui; Su, Xianli; Hao, Shiqiang Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 11, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE00290H	journal	January 2018
Bulk nanostructured thermoelectric materials: current research and future prospects Minnich, A. J.; Dresselhaus, M. S.; Ren, Z. F. Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 2, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1039/b822664b	journal	January 2009
Concentrated solar thermoelectric generators Baranowski, Lauryn L.; Snyder, G. Jeffrey; Toberer, Eric S. Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 5, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1039/c2ee22248e	journal	January 2012
Design theory of thermoelectric modules for electrical power generation Min, G.; Rowe, D. M. IEE Proceedings - Science, Measurement and Technology, Vol. 143, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1049/ip-smt:19960714	journal	November 1996
Multistage thermoelectric microcoolers Yang, Ronggui; Chen, Gang; Snyder, G. Jeffrey Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 95, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1737473	journal	June 2004
Theoretical efficiency of solar thermoelectric energy generators Chen, Gang Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 109, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3583182	journal	May 2011
Optimization of power and efficiency of thermoelectric devices with asymmetric thermal contacts Yazawa, Kazuaki; Shakouri, Ali Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 111, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3679544	journal	January 2012
Taguchi optimization of bismuth-telluride based thermoelectric cooler Anant Kishore, Ravi; Kumar, Prashant; Sanghadasa, Mohan Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 122, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4990992	journal	July 2017
Optimization of Heat Sink–Limited Thermoelectric Generators Mayer, P. M.; Ram, R. J. Nanoscale and Microscale Thermophysical Engineering, Vol. 10, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1080/10893950600643063	journal	July 2006
Cooling, Heating, Generating Power, and Recovering Waste Heat with Thermoelectric Systems Bell, L. E. Science, Vol. 321, Issue 5895, p. 1457-1461 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1158899	journal	September 2008
CRC Handbook of Thermoelectrics Rowe, D. M. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420049718	book	January 2017
Combinatory Finite Element and Artificial Neural Network Model for Predicting Performance of Thermoelectric Generator Kishore, Ravi; Mahajan, Roop; Priya, Shashank Energies, Vol. 11, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.3390/en11092216	journal	August 2018
A Review on Low-Grade Thermal Energy Harvesting: Materials, Methods and Devices Kishore, Ravi; Priya, Shashank Materials, Vol. 11, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11081433	journal	August 2018

Similar Records

Conformal High-Power-Density Half-Heusler Thermoelectric Modules: A Pathway toward Practical Power Generators

Journal Article · Mon Oct 25 20:00:00 EDT 2021 · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces · OSTI ID:1832868

Thermal to Electrical Energy Conversion of Skutterudite-Based Thermoelectric Modules

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 2012 · Journal of Electronic Materials · OSTI ID:1091703

High Power Density Body Heat Energy Harvesting

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 20:00:00 EDT 2019 · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces · OSTI ID:1572269

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
TEG
aspect ratio
field deployment
fill fraction
heat flux
heat transfer coefficient
low-grade waste heat recovery
thermal resistance
thermoelectric generator

High-Performance Thermoelectric Generators for Field Deployments

Citation Formats

References (53)

Similar Records

Related Subjects