Article
Thermodynamics
Kartik Srivastava, Rashmi Rekha Sahoo
Summary: This study examines a new vortex generator installed on the hot side of a thermoelectric generator's exhaust heat exchanger and analyzes its performance using numerical methods. The experiment identifies the best design configuration for the vortex generator to optimize power output in a waste heat recovery system. The results show that the configuration with a pitch/channel height ratio of 3 and a tilt angle of 60 degrees achieves the highest power output. Additionally, the study finds that the vortex generator can improve the fuel consumption efficiency of the engine.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Alireza Hassanzadeh, Sajjad Baghestani
Summary: This article introduces a new self-powered temperature sensor based on thermoelectric generators (TEGs). The sensor utilizes two types of TEGs to measure temperature and supply the interface circuit, and employs a three-terminal TEG to account for the temperature difference between the cold and hot surfaces. By using a machine-learning algorithm and Seebeck curve fitting, the sensor achieves an error of less than +/- 1 degrees C for cold surface temperatures ranging from 0 degrees C to 70 degrees C.
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Miftah Y. Fauzan, S. M. Muyeen, Syed Islam
Summary: This paper presents a technique to enhance the performance of a thermoelectric generator under non-uniform heat distribution, validated through experimentation. A method for maximizing power to overcome the effects of non-uniform heat distribution is proposed.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Tianjun Liao, Qidong Xu, Yawen Dai, Chun Cheng, Qijiao He, Meng Ni
Summary: By combining RC and TER, the temperature span can be significantly improved, leading to better thermal management and power generation performance.
Article
Thermodynamics
B. Bijukumar, A. G. Kaushik Raam, V. Sukanya, C. M. Nirmal Mukundan, Ahmed Al-Durra
Summary: This work presents a new method for arranging TEMs in TEG arrays to reduce power loss associated with temperature mismatch. The physical placement of the modules is organized based on the exhaust gas flow direction to distribute the temperature gradient consistently. The superior performance of the proposed CWA structure has been validated through simulations and testing.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Adama Coulibaly, Nadjet Zioui, Said Bentouba, Sousso Kelouwani, Mahmoud Bourouis
Summary: Research demonstrates that using thermoelectric generators in vehicle braking can improve energy efficiency. Although only 0.3% of total thermal energy can be converted into electrical energy, it is enough to power on-board instrumentation and vehicle devices.
CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Zhengyang Zhao, Zhengxing Zuo, Wei Wang, Nianling Kuang, Peiyun Xu
Summary: This study proposes an opposed flow porous micro combustor structure that provides stable combustion under high inlet power. The results show that the combustor meets the temperature requirements of thermoelectric module and has a high thermal efficiency and power density. By improving the structure and customizing the thermoelectric module, the system achieves both high conversion efficiency and power density.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Review
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Nassima Radouane
Summary: Our community is currently facing issues such as rising electricity costs, pollution, and global warming. Scientists are improving energy-harvesting power generators to minimize their impact, using the Seebeck effect to demonstrate the capabilities of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) in converting thermal energy into electrical energy. TEGs are environmentally friendly, operate quietly, can be fabricated using different technologies, and have a long operational lifetime. They can be integrated into various devices and have applications in fields such as automobile and biomedical.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wei-Hsin Chen, Yen-Kuan Lin, Ding Luo, Liwen Jin, Anh Tuan Hoang, Lip Huat Saw, Sandro Nizetic
Summary: This study analyzes the improvement of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) by performing 3D numerical simulations using different doping levels of SnTe. The results show that the undoped SnTe-AgSbSe2 composite has the highest output power, while the composite doped with 3% SnTe achieves the highest conversion efficiency. In addition, the equal segmented thermoelectric generator (STEG) design shows higher output power and conversion efficiency compared to conventional TEGs. Therefore, it is concluded that the combination of doped SnTe thermoelectric material and equal-STEG design can efficiently enhance the performance of thermoelectric modules (TEMs).
Article
Thermodynamics
W. Q. Li, T. Y. Zhang, B. B. Li, F. Q. Cui, L. L. Liu
Summary: The study investigated the thermal and thermoelectric performances of an integrated energy storage/release/harvesting system using PCM-based metal foam composite. Results showed that inserting metal foam in PCM improved heat dissipation and enhanced thermoelectric energy. Pure PCM provided the most thermoelectric energy during solidification due to highest latent heat release, but the composite with lower porosity had the best thermal control and highest thermoelectric energy harvest.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Yuriy Lobunets
Summary: The article discusses the importance of utilizing low-potential energy sources and the potential of thermoelectric power generation technology, highlighting the key to optimizing thermoelectric generator efficiency lies in the research of material and device parameter optimization. The researchers also emphasized the importance of mathematical modeling and the possibility of tuning thermoelectric material properties for specific tasks in external conditions.
JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Song Lv, Jiahao Yang, Juwen Ren, Bolong Zhang, Yin Lai, Zhihao Chang
Summary: This research constructs a three-dimensional thermal simulation transient model for evaluating the performance of the PV-TEG-PCM system under fluctuating solar irradiation. The effects of PCM melting temperature, thickness, and thermal conductivity are studied, and the results show that the performance of the PV-TEG-PCM system is superior to other systems.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Thinh Tran-Dinh, Hieu Minh Pham, Loan Pham-Nguyen, Sang-Gug Lee, Hanh-Phuc Le
Summary: This paper introduces a self-startup power management IC (PMIC) designed for thermoelectric generators (TEGs), supporting cold-start operation and achieving high efficiency output at different voltages.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS I-REGULAR PAPERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vikas Verma, Kunj Bihari Rana, Shyam Sunder Sharma
Summary: The research aimed to improve the performance of a small-scale solar paraboloidal dish-thermoelectric generator system through experimental investigations. It was found that the temperature difference between the hot side and cold side of TEG modules significantly affected the power output, and different TEG modules resulted in different outcomes.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Mutabe Aljaghtham, Emrah Celik
Summary: This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of novel unileg cascade thermoelectric systems, and simulation results show that unileg cascade systems perform significantly better than their unicouple counterparts in both two and three stage configurations, offering enhanced thermoelectric power generation and reduced thermal stress.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Michael Y. Toriyama, Madison K. Brod, Lidia C. Gomes, Ferdaushi A. Bipasha, Badih A. Assaf, Elif Ertekin, G. Jeffrey Snyder
Summary: Valley degeneracy is a key feature of the electronic structure that benefits the thermoelectric performance and can be achieved in compounds with inverted bands through a certain level of band inversion, offering a potential increase in the thermoelectric figure of merit zT.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fatma Marrakchi, Saqib Sohail Toor, Asbjorn Haaning Nielsen, Thomas Helmer Pedersen, Lasse Aistrup Rosendahl
Summary: The effects of different catalysts on the production of crude bio-oils from wheat stem through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) were studied. It was found that Na2CO3 catalyst resulted in a yield of 30.85 wt% crude bio-oil with the highest higher heating value (HHV) of 34.36 MJ/kg and the lowest hydrochar content of 22.03 wt%. Additionally, HTL-AP treatment with various catalysts showed significant removal efficiencies for pollutants, such as COD, TOC, phenols, total N, P, and dissolved K.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Eleonora Isotta, Shizhou Jiang, Gregory Moller, Alexandra Zevalkink, G. Jeffrey Snyder, Oluwaseyi Balogun
Summary: Grain-boundary engineering is an effective strategy to tune thermal conductivity, leading to improved performance in various applications. By employing spatially resolved frequency-domain thermoreflectance, thermal imaging of individual grain boundaries is demonstrated in SnTe. Local suppressions in thermal conductivity at grain boundaries are observed. The extracted grain-boundary thermal resistance is found to be correlated with the grain-boundary misorientation angle, providing comprehensive understanding of how microstructure affects heat transport.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Yeyun Cai, Ning Ding, A. Rezania, Fang Deng, L. Rosendahl, Jie Chen
Summary: For designing thermoelectric generation systems in practice, it is important to maximize output power, system efficiency, and minimize system investment. Existing studies often make ideal assumptions about the input heat and coefficients, and focus more on optimizing the geometry of the thermoelectric generator (TEG) rather than the system parameters. This study proposes a transient model that considers three system parameters and explores their effects on output power, conversion efficiency, and system investment, leading to a more comprehensive and efficient system design.
Article
Acoustics
Majid Khazaee, John E. Huber, Lasse Rosendahl, Alireza Rezania
Summary: This paper presents a four-point bending piezoelectric energy harvester with extensive investigation and modeling to identify influential parameters for improving energy conversion efficiency. The electromechanical analytical model is verified by experimental data. The study compares the four-point bending harvester with standard cantilever harvesters in terms of voltage generation, mechanical strain, and figure of merit. Optimal operating conditions for the four-point bending harvester are investigated using dimensionless parameters.
JOURNAL OF SOUND AND VIBRATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ruben Bueno Villoro, Duncan Zavanelli, Chanwon Jung, Dominique Alexander Mattlat, Raana Hatami Naderloo, Nicolas Perez, Kornelius Nielsch, Gerald Jeffrey Snyder, Christina Scheu, Ran He, Siyuan Zhang
Summary: By using scanning transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography, this study revealed the structural differences of hexagonal close-packed lattice phases at grain boundaries in Ti-doped NbFeSb half-Heusler compounds. It was found that the enrichment of Fe leads to high electrical resistivity in Nb0.95Ti0.05FeSb, while the accumulation of Ti dopants results in good electrical conductivity in Nb0.80Ti0.20FeSb. This resistive to conductive grain boundary phase transition provides a new design space for decoupling the intertwined electronic and phononic transport in thermoelectric materials.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
James P. Male, Brea Hogan, Max Wood, Dean Cheikh, G. Jeffrey Snyder, Sabah K. Bux
Summary: The elastic and mechanical properties of advanced RE3-xTe4 (RE = La, Pr, Nd) thermoelectric materials are significantly influenced by the cation vacancy concentration x. Increasing x leads to increased stiffness of elastic constants and decreased thermal expansion. Vickers indentation hardness and fracture toughness both decrease with increasing x, indicating more brittle behavior. These counter-intuitive mechanical property trends highlight the importance of intrinsic defects and the potential for tuning the mechanical performance of RE3-xTe4 for next-generation thermoelectric devices.
MATERIALS TODAY PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Milad Hasani, Majid Khazaee, John E. Huber, Lasse Rosendahl, Alireza Rezania
Summary: In this study, the prominent features and characteristics of four-point bending energy harvesters (FPB-EH) were investigated to improve energy conversion in piezoelectric energy harvesters. The innovative FPB configuration extends energy harvesting capabilities compared to conventional cantilever beams. A comprehensive analytical electromechanical model, which includes multi-beam sections and multi-mode-shape functions, was developed and validated against experimental results and finite element analysis. The parametric study showed that the FPB configuration can enhance energy conversion efficiency and normalized output energy by factors of over 3 and 6, respectively. Guidance is provided for selecting between cantilever and four-point bending configurations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ashlee K. Hauble, Michael Y. Toriyama, Stephan Bartling, Ali M. Abdel-Mageed, G. Jeffrey Snyder, Susan M. Kauzlarich
Summary: Low-dimensional materials, such as layered Zintl phases, have unique properties that make them desirable for various applications. The complex structure and composition of layered Zintl phases pose challenges in producing phase-pure bulk samples for characterization. Eu11Zn4Sn2As12, a layered Zintl phase of significant complexity, exhibits magnetic, electronic, and thermoelectric properties, making it a promising material for further optimization and exploitation in thermoelectric applications.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Hengfeng Yuan, Shaowei Qing, Shangkun Ren, Alireza Rezania, Lasse Rosendahl, Xiankui Wen, Jingliang Zhong, Xiaolong Gou, Shengli Tang, E. Peng
Summary: In this study, a novel hollow PDMS-filler design is proposed to improve the performance of the thermoelectric generator (TEG). The effects of longitudinal and transverse hollow structures on the TEG's output power and optimal fill factor are evaluated using a validated thermal and electrical coupled model, and the impact of key geometrical and physical parameters on TEG design optimization is revealed. Results show that the transverse-hollow structure combined with both-sides high-thermal-conductivity layers can significantly increase the TEG's output power up to 137.34 μWcm<sup>2</sup>, presenting a potential solution for the next generation of efficient and low-cost flexible TEGs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michael Y. Y. Toriyama, Adam N. N. Carranco, G. Jeffrey Snyder, Prashun Gorai
Summary: This study derives three material descriptors to evaluate the performance of narrow-gap semiconductors and semimetals in thermoelectric cooling. These descriptors include band gap, n- and p-type TE quality factors, and the asymmetry in transport between the majority and minority carriers. By applying these descriptors, three candidate room-temperature TE materials, namely SrSb2, Zn3As2, and NaCdSb, are identified from a broad set of 650 Zintl phases. These material descriptors enable fast and targeted searches for low-temperature thermoelectric narrow-gap semiconductors.
MATERIALS HORIZONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yi-Fen Tsai, Charlotte L. Stern, Bo-Chia Chen, G. Jeffrey Snyder, Hsin-Jay Wu
Summary: This work presents the discovery of a newly-found Cu8-xGe(S, Te)(6) argyrodite with a high-symmetry cubic phase stable in the entire low-to-mid temperature range (250-700 K). The substitution of sulfur with tellurium increases the configuration entropy, making Cu8-xGe(S, Te)(6) a promising mid-entropy thermoelectric (TE) alloy with ultralow thermal conductivity.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Adetoye H. Adekoya, Shashwat Anand, G. Jeffrey Snyder
Summary: The solubility of defects is crucial in controlling the properties of engineering materials. The shape of single-phase boundaries surrounding these defects has been overlooked, despite its significant impact on material engineering. We examine the shape of single-phase boundaries for substitutional defects and find that they should be concave or star-shaped, rather than convex-like droplets. The shape depends on the thermodynamic stability of the compound, with more stable compounds having star-like phase regions.
MATERIALS HORIZONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Eleonora Isotta, Shizhou Jiang, Gregory Moller, Alexandra Zevalkink, G. Jeffrey Snyder, Oluwaseyi Balogun
Summary: Grain-boundary engineering is an effective strategy to control thermal conductivity in materials, but the mechanism by which grain boundaries modulate heat flow is not yet fully understood. In this study, thermal imaging technique revealed local suppressions in thermal conductivity at grain boundaries and showed a correlation between grain-boundary thermal resistance and misorientation angle. Extracting thermal properties from microscale imaging enables a comprehensive understanding of how microstructure affects heat transport.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dulyawich Palaporn, Supree Pinitsoontorn, Ken Kurosaki, G. Jeffrey Snyder
Summary: This work proposes a new fabrication route for bulk Ag2Se with a tube-like porous structure via a modified cold sintering process. By optimizing the process parameters, Ag2Se achieves a maximum zT above 1.0 at 400K and an average zT around unity within the 300-400K range, representing one of the highest reported values.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)