Performance analysis and validation of thermoelectric energy harvesters

A. Abdelkefi, A. Alothman, M. R. Hajj

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

An analytical electrothermal model is developed and validated using experimental measurements. This model is based on known equations of the thermoelectric theory by accounting for the influence of the temperature on the internal properties of thermoelectric generators. General expressions for the internal properties of thermoelectric generators for different ranges of temperatures are determined. The validation of the model shows that representing the variations of the electrical internal resistance and Seebeck coefficient by linear and quadratic analytic expressions, respectively, as a function of the hot-side temperature is satisfactory. The results show the importance of including the effects of the temperature on the properties of the thermoelectric generator. This is especially true because the maximum generated power is realized when the load resistance is set equal to the internal resistance. The model is used to determine characteristic curves for optimal performance of these generators under different operating hot-side temperatures and temperature differences.

Original languageEnglish
Article number095014
JournalSmart Materials and Structures
Volume22
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2013

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