| Title |
An Experimental Study on Thermoelectric Generator Performance for Waste Coolant Recovery Systems in Vehicles |
| DOI |
http://dx.doi.org/10.6110/KJACR.2014.26.7.329 |
| Keywords |
폐열회수 ; 열전발전 ; 히트파이프 ; 성능지수 ; 발전효율 Waste heat recovery ; Thermoelectric generation ; Heat pipe ; Figure of merit ; Conversion efficiency |
| Abstract |
This study indicated the possibility of energy regeneration from waste coolant heat, by using thermoelectric generation integrated with heat pipe. The internal combustion engine rejects more than 60% wasteful energy to the atmosphere by heat. The thermoelectric generator has recently been studied, to convert the energy from engine waste heat into electricity. For coolant waste heat recovery, a thermoelectric generator was investigated, to find out the possibility of vehicular application. Performance characteristics were conducted with various test conditions of coolant temperature, coolant mass flow rate, air temperature, and air velocity, with the thermoelectric generator installed either horizontally or vertically. Experimental results show that the electric power and conversion efficiency increases according to the temperature difference between the hot and cold side of the thermoelectric generator, and the coolant flow rate of the hot side heat exchanger. Performance improvement can be expected by optimizing the heat pipe design. |