Finite-Element Simulations of a Thermoelectric Generator and Their Experimental Validation

AbstractA versatile finite-element simulation tool was developed to predict the electric power output, the distributions of the electric and entropy potentials (i.e., the absolute temperature) and the local flux densities of electric charge and thermal energy (i.e., heat) for a thermoelectric generator. The input parameters are the thermogenerator architecture (i.e., geometries of different components and number of legs) and material properties such as specific electric conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity. The finite-element simulation tool was validated by modeling a commercially available thermoelectric generator, which was based on semiconducting n- and p-type Bi

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Experimental Characterisation and Finite-element Simulations of a Thermoelectric Generator with Ceramic p-type Ca3Co4O9 and Metallic n-type Cu0.57Ni0.42Mn0.01 Legs

Energy Harvesting and Systems ◽

10.1515/ehs-2016-0022 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 77-85 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

B. Geppert ◽

D. Groeneveld ◽

M. Bittner ◽

A. Feldhoff

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Thermoelectric Generator ◽

Input Parameter ◽

Electrical Contact ◽

Element Model ◽

Simulation Tool ◽

Active Materials ◽

Element Simulation ◽

Current Densities ◽

P Type

Abstract This study presents the characterisation of a prototype thermoelectric generator including ceramic ${\rm{C}}{{\rm{a}}_{\rm{3}}}{\rm{C}}{{\rm{o}}_{\rm{4}}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{9}}}$ p-type and metallic ${\rm{C}}{{\rm{u}}_{{\rm{0}}{\rm{. 57}}}}{\rm{N}}{{\rm{i}}_{{\rm{0}}{\rm{. 42}}}}{\rm{M}}{{\rm{n}}_{{\rm{0}}{\rm{. 01}}}}$ n-type legs. The generator was constructed applying the conventional rigid chessboard design, which provides an electrical series connection of the thermoelectrically active materials in between of two electrical isolating cover plates made of alumina. Ag-epoxy resin was used for electric connectors which were directly bond to the thermoelectrically active materials. The generator was rebuild in the framework of a finite-element model to simulate the generator’s transport characteristics using the physical data of the single materials as input parameters for the simulation tool. The simulation results give a view to the distributions of temperature and electric potential as well as vector plots showing the generated current density of charge inside the regarded materials. The finite-element simulation tool was used to consider the electrical contact resistivities between the thermoelectric legs and the connector material. The input parameter for the specific isothermal electric resistivity of the Ag-epoxy connectors were varied by including the electrical contact resistances to match the simulated to the measured data in order to receive the correct electric current densities in the modeled device.

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Simulation and Experimental Study on Rear Frame Strength of Winch Lashing Car

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.819.81 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 819 ◽

pp. 81-85

Author(s):

Jing Tao Yue ◽

Hui Pu ◽

Xiang He Tao

Keyword(s):

Experimental Study ◽

Finite Element ◽

Finite Element Simulation ◽

Experimental Validation ◽

Evaluation Result ◽

The Real ◽

Element Simulation ◽

General Transport

Heavy general transport vehicles are recommended as lashing points during rescue operations of winch. Taking SX2190 heavy transport vehicles frame as the experimental object, this paper introduces contents and methods of the test, and gets evaluation result of the rear frame through finite element simulation and experimental validation of the real frame-towing hook system for winch lashing car.

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