THERMAL SCIENCE

International Scientific Journal

Authors of this Paper

External Links

PERFORMANCE INVESTIGATION OF A TWO-STAGE THERMOELECTRIC COOLER WITH INHOMOGENEOUS MATERIALS

ABSTRACT
A novel model of two-stage thermoelectric cooler with inhomogeneous thermal conductivity in steady-state operating condition is established. The modification of the constant properties model allows controlling the distribution of Joule heat. Considering internal irreversibilities of the thermoelectric cooler, expressions for the cooling capacity, COP, and exergy efficiency are derived. By utilizing numerical methods, the temperature profile along the thermoelectric legs is presented. The optimal operating regions are explored. The COP vs. cooling capacity describing optimal operating regions in inhomogeneity materials are plotted. Meanwhile, the influence of the main parameters such as the variation of thermal conductivity distribution, cold-end temperature and the number of thermoelectric modules on the cooling performance is discussed in detail. Results indicate that the cooling capacity, COP and exergy efficiency are improved compared to those of homo¬geneous two-stage thermoelectric coolers when an appropriate inhomogeneous property parameter is applied. The work can provide guidance on design of actual two-stage thermoelectric coolers with inhomogeneous materials.
KEYWORDS
PAPER SUBMITTED: 2021-02-26
PAPER REVISED: 2021-06-20
PAPER ACCEPTED: 2021-06-25
PUBLISHED ONLINE: 2021-09-04
DOI REFERENCE: https://doi.org/10.2298/TSCI210226254H
CITATION EXPORT: view in browser or download as text file
THERMAL SCIENCE YEAR 2022, VOLUME 26, ISSUE Issue 4, PAGES [3335 - 3344]
REFERENCES
  1. Shakouri, A., Recent Developments in Semiconductor Thermoelectric Physics and Materials, in: Annual Review of Materials Research, Santa Cruz, USA, 2011
  2. DiSalvo, F.J., Thermoelectric cooling and power generation, Science, 285. (1999), 5428, pp. 703-706
  3. Shen, L., et al., Performance enhancement investigation of thermoelectric cooler with segmented configuration, Applied Thermal Engineering, 168. (2020), Mar, 114852
  4. Su, S.,J. Chen, Simulation Investigation of High Efficiency Solar Thermoelectric Generators With Inhomogeneously Doped Nanomaterials, Ieee Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 62. (2015), 6, pp. 3569-3575
  5. Huang, B.J., et al., A design method of thermoelectric cooler, International Journal of Refrigeration Revue Internationale Du Froid, 23. (2000), 3, pp. 208-218
  6. Sharma, S., et al., A Review of Thermoelectric Devices for Cooling Applications, International Journal of Green Energy, 11. (2014), 9, pp. 899-909
  7. Bell, L.E., Cooling, heati ng, generating power, and recovering waste heat with thermoelectric systems, Science, 321. (2008), 5895, pp. 1457-1461
  8. Chen, J.C.,J.A. Schouten, Comment on "A new approach to optimum design in thermoelectric cooling systems" J. Appl. Phys. 80, 5494 (19 96), Journal of Applied Physics, 82. (1997), 12, pp. 6368-6369
  9. Liu, W., et al., New trends, strategies and opportunities in thermoelectric materials: A perspective, Materials Today Physics, 1. (2017), Jun, pp. 50-60
  10. Nami, H., et al., A comprehensi ve thermodynamic and exergoeconomic comparison between single and two stage thermoelectric cooler and heater, Applied Thermal Engineering, 124. (2017), Sep, pp. 756-766
  11. Kanimba, E., et al., A modeling comparison between a two stage and three stage ca scaded thermoelectric generator, Journal of Power Sources, 365. (2017), Oct, pp. 266-272
  12. Bian, Z.,A. Shakouri, Beating the maximum cooling limit with graded thermoelectric materials, Applied Physics Letters, 89. (2006), 21, 212101
  13. Sharma, S., et al., Exergy analysis of single stage and multi stage thermoelectric cooler, International Journal of Energy Research, 38. (2014), 2, pp. 213-222
  14. Lu, T., et al., Inhomogeneous thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric cooling, Aip Advances, 4. (2014 ), 12, 124501
  15. Bian, Z., et al., Maximum cooling temperature and uniform efficiency criterion for inhomogeneous thermoelectric materials, Physical Review B, 75. (2007), 24, 245208
  16. Hu, J. Z., et al., Enhanced thermoelectric cooling performance with graded thermoelectric materials, Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 57. (2018), 7, 071801
  17. Huang, Y. Y., et al., Performance optimization of a two stage parallel thermoelectric cooler with inhomogeneous electrical conductivity , Applied Thermal Engineer ing , 192 (2021), 116696
  18. Lam, T.T.,W.K. Yeung, Pulsed current effect on the performance of conical inhomogeneous thermoelectrics , Thermal Science and Engineering Progress , 22 (2021), 100747
  19. Hans, R., et al., Performance Optimization of Two Stage Exoreversible Thermoelectric Converter in Electrically Series and Parallel Configuration, Journal of Electronic Materials, 44. (2015), 10, pp. 3571-3580
  20. Liu, Z., et al., Geometry optimization of two stage thermoelectric generators using simplified co njugate gradient method, Applied Energy, 190. (2017), Mar, pp. 540-552
  21. Sun, X., et al., Comparison of the two stage and traditional single stage thermoelectric generator in recovering the waste heat of the high temperature exhaust gas of internal combustion engine, Energy, 77. (2014), Dec, pp. 489-498
  22. Zhang, H., et al., Two stage thermoelectric generators for waste heat recovery from solid oxide fuel cells, Energy, 132. (2017), Aug, pp. 280-288
  23. Chen, J.C., et al., Comparison of the optimal pe rformance of single and two stage thermoelectric refrigeration systems, Applied Energy, 73. (2002), 3 4, pp. 285-298
  24. Mahan, G.D., Inhomogeneous thermoelectricit rics , Journal of Applied Physics, 70. (1991), 8, pp. 4551-4554
  25. Kaushik, S.C.,S. Manikandan, The influence of Thomson effect in the performance optimization of a two stage thermoelectric cooler, Cryogenics, 72. (2015), Dec, pp. 57-64
  26. Liu, J. Y. E xamination of the cooling performance of a two stage thermoelectric cooler considering the thomson effect , Numerical Heat Transfer Part a Applications, 60. (2011), 6, pp. 519-542

© 2024 Society of Thermal Engineers of Serbia. Published by the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International licence