Experimental Characterization of Thermoelectric Modules and Comparison with Theoretical Models for Power Generation

The interest in thermoelectrics for power generation applications has dramatically increased over the past decade as a result of recent advancements in thermoelectric materials. Although measuring thermoelectric properties of materials has received significant attention, measuring thermoelectric module (TEM) power generation performance has received less attention. Characterizing TEMs is vital for validating module-level models used in optimizing TEM designs. Measurements of module performance can also be used for the optimal incorporation of TEMs into power generation systems. A TEM test apparatus has been developed and characterized to test current and future modules under a wide range of temperature and loading conditions. In addition to temperatures and electrical performance metrics, heat rates, and mechanical loading conditions are monitored. The developed technique extracts module parameters, which can be used for system-level design, to measure performance of advanced TEMs, and to validate theoretical models for module design optimization. Experimental results are compared with standard analytical TEM models and a newly developed model.