Numerical computation of thermoelectric effiency of graphite sheet optimal dimension

Abstract

Thermoelectric Graphite sheet has been studied numerically due to their ability to convert directly heat to electricity. Electro-thermal heat transfer equations coupling to initial and boundary conditions, are solved using finite difference and finite element schemes. The obtained results of both numerical techniques show good qualitative and quantitative agreements. In addition, the results of our numerical models present good conformity with the experimental result of Luo et al.. The voltage difference, the temperature variation, the Seebeck coefficient, the figure of merit and the maximum efficiency of graphite sheet are determined numerically. The ZT of the graphite sheet is calculated to be 1.27 at a temperature of 850 K for a graphite sheet surface of 0.26×0.25 cm2.