Design and analysis of a thermoelectric generator for automotive exhaust heat recovery

Abstract

The swift economic advancement has led to a significant rise in the number of vehicles, the majority of which continue to rely on internal combustion engines as their primary propulsion technique, therefore intensifying the greenhouse effect. As a kind of green energy generation, thermoelectric generators serve as a significant way of recovering heat from exhaust. This paper presents the design and optimize of a TEG system aimed at recovering heat from automobile exhaust gas. Utilizing Comsol for multi-physics field simulation, the study examines the effects of fin quantity, exhaust gas temperature, and flow rate, leading to the following conclusions: The incorporation of fins can enhance the power generation capability of the system; but, it will also lead to an increase in power loss. Consequently, the ideal number of fins for the device developed in this article is 10. The elevation in temperature positively influences the power generation capacity of the system by enhancing the temperature differential between the hot and cold ends. Additionally, an increase in flow rate can augment the output power and overall power generation capacity; however, excessive flow rates may diminish system performance.