Development of a Test Stand for the Characterization of Thermoelectric Modules for Power Generation

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Smith ◽  
Emil Sandoz-Rosado ◽  
Crisson Jno-Charles ◽  
Clement Henry ◽  
Erik Herrmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Thermoelectric Module ◽  
Test Stand ◽  
Electrical Performance ◽  
Cold Side ◽  
Thermoelectric Modules ◽  
Senior Design ◽  
Wide Range

The characterization of thermoelectric modules for power generation applications has only received minimal attention by researchers. This paper describes the development of a test stand for the characterization of the thermoelectric power modules. The test stand has the ability to provide constant temperatures on the hot and cold side of thermoelectric modules and measure the amount of electrical power generated. Great care was taken to provide a uniform temperature on both the hot side and cold side of the module, with the hot side having the capability to provide temperatures of up to 600°C and the cold side able to be maintained at room temperature. The system is able to deliver a controlled heat flux of 140 kW/m2 to a thermoelectric module. A data acquisition system was developed to record the electrical performance of tested modules under a wide range of operating temperatures regulated by the control system. Using the collected data it will be possible to compare many modules and evaluate their performance with one another as well as provide module power generation parameters which can be useful for thermoelectric system design. This project was commissioned through the RIT Multidisciplinary Senior Design program as a capstone to the undergraduate degree curricula.

Integration of heat recirculating microreactors with thermoelectric modules for power generation: A comparative study using CFD

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Yedala ◽  
Niket S. Kaisare
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Thermoelectric Generator ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Thermoelectric Modules ◽  
Wide Range

Heat recirculating microreactors are being investigated for coupling with thermoelectric generator (TEG) for power generation since they facilitate sustained combustion over a wide range of operating conditions. A major challenge...

Thermoelectric Modules For High Temperature Waste Heat

2005 ◽  
Vol 886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryoji Funahashi ◽  
Toshiyuki Mihara ◽  
Masashi Mikami ◽  
Saori Urata
Keyword(s):  
Room Temperature ◽  
Open Circuit Voltage ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Thermal Strain ◽  
Thermoelectric Module ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Cold Side ◽  
Adhesive Material ◽  
Thermoelectric Modules

ABSTRACTA new adhesive material has been developed in order to obtain practically usable thermoelectric modules composed of oxide thermoelectric legs. The thermoelectric module composed of 8-pair oxide legs has been fabricated. Both hot- and cold-sides of the module were covered by alumina plates. Open circuit voltage VO and maximum power Pmax reach 0.38 V and 0.30 W, respectively at 803 K of a hot-side temperature TH and 362 K of a temperature differential ΔT between TH and cold-side temperature TC. Generating power was repeated 11 times at 873-993 K of TH and at 200-290 K of ΔT. The module was cooled down to room temperature after each generation. At third measurement internal resistance RI of the module increased by 30 %. This is due to destruction of junctions because of thermal strain. No deterioration, however, was observed in thermoelectric properties for the oxide legs.

scholarly journals Characterization of Air-Based Photovoltaic Thermal Panels with Bifacial Solar Cells

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Ooshaksaraei ◽  
K. Sopian ◽  
R. Zulkifli ◽  
Saleem H. Zaidi
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Total Energy ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Exergy Efficiency ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
First Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Laws Of Thermodynamics ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Single Path

Photovoltaic (PV) panels account for a majority of the cost of photovoltaic thermal (PVT) panels. Bifacial silicon solar panels are attractive for PVT panels because of their potential to enhance electrical power generation from the same silicon wafer compared with conventional monofacial solar panels. This paper examines the performance of air-based bifacial PVT panels with regard to the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Four air-based bifacial PVT panels were designed. The maximum efficiencies of 45% to 63% were observed for the double-path-parallel bifacial PVT panel based on the first law of thermodynamics. Single-path bifacial PVT panel represents the highest exergy efficiency (10%). Double-path-parallel bifacial PVT panel is the second preferred design as it generates up to 20% additional total energy compared with the single-path panel. However, the daily average exergy efficiency of a double-path-parallel panel is 0.35% lower than that of a single-path panel.

Experimental Investigation of Thermoelectric Power Generation Using Radiative Heat Exchange

2014 ◽  
Vol 1025-1026 ◽  
pp. 1125-1133
Author(s):  
Niran Watcharodom ◽  
Withaya Puangsombut ◽  
Joseph Khedari ◽  
Narong Vatcharasatien ◽  
Jongjit Hirunlabh
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Heat Exchange ◽  
Waste Heat Recovery ◽  
Radiative Heat ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Air Gap ◽  
Radiative Heat Exchange ◽  
Thermoelectric Modules

This paper reports experimental investigation of a new concept of waste heat recovery for Thermoelectric Power Generation using Radiative heat exchange principle (TERX). To this end a small scale experimental setup was considered; it was composed of a heated plate, an absorber plate, thermoelectric modules and water cooled heat sink. The dimensions of absorber and heated plates were 0.2 m width and 0.3 m length. The air gap space between the two plates could be adjusted. Ten thermoelectric modules were connected in series parallel (5x2). Tests were made for different air gap spaces and fixed water flow rate (2L/min). A constant electric current (200W) was supplied to the heater of hot plate. Data collected included temperature at various positions and the electrical power generated. Experimental investigation confirmed that using radiative heat exchange principle could be considered for TE waste heat power generation. Increasing air gap decreased the electrical power generated as less radiative heat is absorbed by the thermoelectric modules. Under test conditions, the maximum measured electrical power is 0.3132 W at 0.5 cm of air gap, the corresponding temperature difference between the hot and cool sides of thermoelectric modules was about 35oC. Due to its simplicity of installation as no there is no need for direct contact between the thermoelectric generation set and the source of heat, the proposed concept offers a new alternative for waste heat recovery.

Circulation Controlled Airfoil Analysis Through 360 Degrees Angle of Attack

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Z. Graham ◽  
Meagan Hubbell ◽  
Chad Panther ◽  
Jay Wilhelm ◽  
Gerald M. Angle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Circulation Control ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Turbine Shaft

Wind turbines are a source of renewable energy with an endless supply. The most efficient types of wind turbines operate by utilizing the lift force of its blades to create a rotational force. The power capabilities of a wind turbine are tied to the blades’ ability to convert the aerodynamic forces into rotational energy. Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT), unlike the more common horizontal axis (HAWT) type, do not need to be directed into the wind and can place the transmission and electrical power generation components at the bottom of the turbine shaft, near the ground. Currently VAWTs cannot feather or pitch the blades, in the same fashion as a HAWT, for a lift change to control power generation and/or rotational speed at different or changing wind speeds. A method of increasing the lift of a blade without physically moving the blade is to use circulation control (CC), via a blowing slot over a rounded trailing edge. The CC air flow entrains the air around the blade to create more lift. Adding an actuated valve for the blowing slot allows a CC-VAWT to control the amount of lift generated, as well as the location of the augmentation relative to the wind direction, resulting in augmented power generation. In order to study the performance capabilities of a CC-VAWT, a NACA0018 blade was modified to incorporate circulation control. This modified shape was analyzed using computational fluid dynamics at two Reynolds numbers and a wide range of angles of attack. The lift to drag ratio of the CC-VAWT blade shows benefits at low Reynolds numbers over a NACA0018 blade for post stall angles of attack, but there is a decrease in the lift to drag before stall due to a significant increase in drag of the circulation control models. Further CFD refinement and experimental investigations are recommended to validate the predicted effects circulation control will have on the performance of a VAWT.

Innovative Ram Air Turbine for Airborne Power Generation

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Haid ◽  
John Justak
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Operation Time ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Air Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ducted Turbine

An innovative high power density and low drag ram air turbine for airborne power generation has been developed. Future systems on military and commercial aircraft will require greater electrical power. Unfortunately, expanding the capacity of the electrical systems on current aircraft and ones in development can result in costly design changes, require recertification, and significantly impact performance. Powering these systems locally with batteries is often considered. However, operation time is limited by the battery and the additional weight can limit aircraft range. The innovative ram air turbine design configuration described here has a power density that can be significantly higher than batteries and a lower drag and greater integration flexibility than conventional ram air turbines. Unlike batteries, which have a finite specific energy, the ram air turbine is only limited by the flight time of the vehicle. This system has a ducted turbine located in a pod or fuselage interior, unlike current ram air turbines that are externally mounted and require direct exposure to the free-stream flow. The internally mounted ram air turbine contributes less to overall aerodynamic drag than current ram air turbines, allows for more power to be extracted in an equivalent design space, and offers reduced radar signature compared to present externally-bladed turbines. Computational analyses along with wind tunnel testing have been conducted in support of this design. A 25-inch (0.635 m) diameter turbine demonstrated 110 kW of electrical power over a wide range of Mach numbers and simulated altitudes.

scholarly journals Characterization of high-precision resistive voltage divider and buffer amplifier for ac voltage metrology

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Bjørnar Karlsen ◽  
Kåre Lind ◽  
Helge Malmbekk ◽  
Per Ohlckers
Keyword(s):  
High Precision ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Voltage Divider ◽  
Long Term Stability ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Precision Voltage ◽  
Best Fit ◽  
Better Than

A high-precision voltage buffer and a 10:1 resistive voltage divider have been constructed for use in ac voltage and electrical power metrology. Long-term stability of the buffer's dc response has been demonstrated by two dc sweeps performed 20 days apart, with best-fit linearized gain varying less than 1 μV/V. The absolute ac gain has been measured using a high-precision digital multimeter for 10 Hz and 1 kHz with results consistent with dc within 5 μV/V. This value agrees with the characterization of ac–dc difference using thermal converters from different producers with a variety of resistance for various voltages from 1 V to 5 V. The ac–dc difference was further characterized better than 40 μV/V for the same voltages up to 100 kHz and better than 100 μV/V for 3 V at 1 MHz. Absolute ac gain and ac–dc difference has also been measured for the voltage divider and buffer combination from 10 V to 50 V, with similar agreement up to 1 kHz. The ac–dc difference from 10 Hz to 100 kHz of this combination shows an agreement well within 30 μV/V in this entire voltage span with a total response not exceeding 125 μV/V. This make the voltage divider and buffer combination suitable for sampling electrical powers for a wide range of voltages.

Development of a Standalone, Liquid Fuelled Miniature Power Generation System

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naman Jain ◽  
Vaibhav Arghode
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Power ◽  
Thermoelectric Module ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Combustible Mixture ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Fuel Vapor ◽  
Cold Side ◽  
Thermoelectric Power Generator ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Electrical Power Output

This paper aims at developing a mesoscale combustion based thermoelectric power generator as an alternate to the electrochemical batteries. Most of the micro and mesoscale combustors investigated till date are based on external fuel and air supply systems, which may not be beneficial for a practical system. The proposed design is a standalone system which makes use of the heat conducted through the combustor walls, as an energy source to evaporate the liquid fuel stored in a surrounding tank and supply the vaporized fuel to the combustor. The high momentum fuel (vapor) jet is designed to entrain the ambient air in appropriate proportion so as to form a combustible mixture. The partially mixed fuel/air mixture is fed to a mesoscale combustor and the flame is stabilized by facilitating hot gas recirculation regions. The heat conduction through the combustor walls is controlled by providing an air gap between two concentric, low thermal conductivity, ceramic tubes so as to transmit desirable amount of heat to the fuel tank. Note that the heat lost from the combustor, is recovered via increased enthalpy of the supplied fuel. The hot products then flow over the hot side of a thermoelectric module to generate electricity. The cold side of the module is maintained at relatively lower temperature and the rejected heat is used to boil the stored water. The prototype is designed to produce an electrical power output of 15 W with an overall efficiency of about 3% and endurance of 1 hour in a single fuel (and cold side water) refill. The paper presents detailed thermo-fluid and heat transfer analysis of the constituent components and evaluates the performance of the system.

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