Thermoelectric devices are one of the technologies used either to generate electricity by applying a temperature difference using thermal energy or as a heating/cooling system by applying an electrical voltage.The num...Thermoelectric devices are one of the technologies used either to generate electricity by applying a temperature difference using thermal energy or as a heating/cooling system by applying an electrical voltage.The number of materials required to produce a product is an important factor in determining its price.Production costs associated with these materials,as well as their availability and quality,play a crucial role in price determination by manufacturers.In this context,a method that employs a uniform volume distribution was implemented.This approach enabled the analysis to focus on other variables,thereby promoting a more precise and relevant evaluation of overall performance.Based on the finite element method,this study investigated the influence of geometric shape,including Rect-leg,Y-leg,Pin-leg and X-leg designs,on the performance of solar thermoelectric generators and thermoelectric coolers.The study was conducted considering the same hot alumina junction surface that receives solar radiation;however,the ef-fective surface,which corresponded to the heat flow area and had a similar area near the exposed surface,varied depending on the chosen leg geometry,thus impacting the heat flux due to the variation in thermal resistance.In the case of a solar thermoelectric generator,the Rect-leg model,having the same effective surface area,presented the lowest heat loss value resulting from convection and radiation in the heat spreader and the hot alumina plate.Under the same conditions,the Y-leg showed the highest value.The Rect-leg design generated,by using thermal and optical concentration,the highest output power of 0.028 and 0.054 W,and efficiency of 3.47%and 4.7%,respectively,whereas the Y-leg generated lower values of 0.006523 and 0.018744 W for power,and 2.83%and 2.71%for efficiency,respectively.In the case of the thermoelectric coolers,the Y-leg generated the highest temperature difference between the hot and cold sides of 67.28 K at an electric current value of 1.8 A,whereas the Rect-leg,Pin-leg and X-leg generated~66.25,~67.02 and~67.19 K at 6.1,2.7 and 2.6 A.展开更多
文摘Thermoelectric devices are one of the technologies used either to generate electricity by applying a temperature difference using thermal energy or as a heating/cooling system by applying an electrical voltage.The number of materials required to produce a product is an important factor in determining its price.Production costs associated with these materials,as well as their availability and quality,play a crucial role in price determination by manufacturers.In this context,a method that employs a uniform volume distribution was implemented.This approach enabled the analysis to focus on other variables,thereby promoting a more precise and relevant evaluation of overall performance.Based on the finite element method,this study investigated the influence of geometric shape,including Rect-leg,Y-leg,Pin-leg and X-leg designs,on the performance of solar thermoelectric generators and thermoelectric coolers.The study was conducted considering the same hot alumina junction surface that receives solar radiation;however,the ef-fective surface,which corresponded to the heat flow area and had a similar area near the exposed surface,varied depending on the chosen leg geometry,thus impacting the heat flux due to the variation in thermal resistance.In the case of a solar thermoelectric generator,the Rect-leg model,having the same effective surface area,presented the lowest heat loss value resulting from convection and radiation in the heat spreader and the hot alumina plate.Under the same conditions,the Y-leg showed the highest value.The Rect-leg design generated,by using thermal and optical concentration,the highest output power of 0.028 and 0.054 W,and efficiency of 3.47%and 4.7%,respectively,whereas the Y-leg generated lower values of 0.006523 and 0.018744 W for power,and 2.83%and 2.71%for efficiency,respectively.In the case of the thermoelectric coolers,the Y-leg generated the highest temperature difference between the hot and cold sides of 67.28 K at an electric current value of 1.8 A,whereas the Rect-leg,Pin-leg and X-leg generated~66.25,~67.02 and~67.19 K at 6.1,2.7 and 2.6 A.
