Numerical Simulation on Thermoelectric Performance and Thermal Stresses of A Segmented Annular Thermoelectric Generator

Abstract

In this paper, a three-dimensional finite element model of the segmented annular thermoelectric generator (SATEG) is established, and effects of geometric configuration on the thermoelectric performance and mechanical reliability of the SATEG are studied.The optimized external resistances and geometric configuration for the maximum output power and maximum conversion efficiency are calculated by using the presented model, and properties of thermoelectric material are assumed to be temperature-dependent. Numerical results show that the output power and efficiency of SATEG decrease with the increasing values of the length and angle ratio of thermoelectric leg. The output power of CoSb3-based annular thermoelectric generator (ATEG) is higher than that of SATEG when the corresponding optimum external resistances are matched. In addition, the maximum von Mises stresses in the SATEG can be reduced by increasing the length of thermoelectric leg. This study will be helpful for the optimization design of SATEG devices.