Effects of Non-Uniform Hot Junction Temperature Distribution on the Outputs of Thermoelectric Power Generation System

Besides the material property and dimensional optimization of the thermoelectric module, temperature distribution uniformity on the hot junction of the module surface highly affects the outputs of the thermoelectric power generation system. This paper reports the findings on the effects of non-uniform input temperature distribution on the performance of thermoelectric power generation system. To assure the investigation, heat transfer model and finite element formulation of thermoelectric module having non-linear material property have been developed. In addition to the experimental data from a real thermoelectric device, thermoelectric power generation system modeling and simulation using finite element packaging ANSYS software was carried out. For the simulation, temperature dependent thermoelectric material properties such as the Seebeck coefficient, thermal and electrical conductivity have been considered. The experimental and simulation results indicate that keeping the temperature distribution uniform on the hot junction of the thermoelectric module results higher efficiency, higher power, voltage and current outputs than the non-uniform temperature distribution.