Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 1: Statistical Physics (general) I

DY 1.10: Talk

Monday, March 22, 2010, 12:30–12:45, H47

Performance optimization of a thermoelectric generator with linear material profiles in a 1D setup — •Knud Zabrocki¹, Eckhard Müller¹, Wolfgang Seifert², and Steffen Trimper² — ¹Institute of Materials Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), D-51170 Köln, Germany — ²Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, D-06099 Halle (Saale), Germany

Graded and segmented thermoelectric elements have been studied for a long time with the aim of improving the performance of thermogenerators that are exposed to a large temperature difference. The global optimization of a performance parameter is commonly based on a one-dimensional continua-theoretical model. Following the proposal by Müller et al., the temperature profile T(x) can be calculated within a model-free setup directly from the 1D thermal energy balance, e. g. based on an independent and free variability of the material parameters the Seebeck coefficient, the electrical and thermal conductivities, S(x), σ(x) and κ (x) is assumed primarily. Thus the optimum current density can be determined from the maximum of the global performance parameter. Here, an analytical solution of the 1D thermal energy balance has been found for constant gradients based on Bessel functions. For particular cases of linear material profiles the authors present results for the optimization of performance parameters like the electrical power output P_el and the efficiency η of a thermogenerator (TEG). These results are compared with another analytical model, the constant property model (CPM) and a suitable reference for the performance is discussed.