纳米流体强化冷端传热对热电发电效率的影响

热电发电系统效率除了与热电材料物性相关之外,提高热电器件两端温差也是提升转换效率的重要途径。因而,提高冷端的换热能力,降低冷端温度是提高热电发电系统效率的重要途径。纳米流体作为一种新型换热介质,能够显著地改善液体工质的传热性能,具有均匀、稳定、导热系数高等特点。本文研究了水冷却和纳米流体冷却两种情况下热电发电系统输出特性,发现纳米流体冷却大幅提高了系统的输出功率和转换效率,并研究了流速对热电发电系统输出特性的影响。     

基于梯度翅片换热器的热电发电系统性能研究

本文建立了热电发电系统(TEG)多物理场数值模型,并充分考虑换热器流体影响,综合研究了具有不同热侧换热器翅片结构的TEG系统性能。在雷诺数为1000~10000范围内,分析了流体沿程温度分布特征、泵功及热电发电模块的能量转换特性.所研究的三种翅片结构包括:全流道等高度直翅片(Fin-1)、下游强化梯度翅片(Fin-2)以及上游强化梯度翅片(Fin-3).研究表明,通道长高比及热电材料覆盖率一定,热电发电功率及转换效率随流量呈二次曲线变化关系,存在最匹配流量使得系统发电性能最佳。等高度直翅片对流量的变化敏感,随流量增大,则压损增大,导致系统净输出功率及发电效率无收益.而梯度翅片可以在更大范围内产生正收益;下游强化梯度翅片具有最佳的流体沿程温度均匀性,但沿程局部热阻却最大.综合考虑沿程局部热阻分布及泵功消耗,上游强化梯度翅片TEG系统净转换效率最高,因此局部热阻分布及泵功综合因素应为TEG内的换热器合理设计的关键。     

空间太阳电池槽式聚光热电联供系统特性分析

建立了空间太阳电池的热电联供系统在槽式聚光条件下的热电性能模型, 并与实验进行了对比.理论计算与实验结果吻合较好, 最大误差在5.1%以内, 证明了该数学模型的正确性.通过此数学模型, 从聚光镜面的光学效率与焦线宽度、导热胶的导热系数、金属平板光照面的吸收率等内部特性参数及风速、太阳直辐射等外部特性参数出发, 对所设计制造的空间太阳电池槽式聚光热电联供系统进行分析.较为全面而系统地分析了这些参数的改变对其系统的热电效率、总效率及火用效率等性能指标的影响, 其中聚光镜面的光学效率影响最大, 光学效率从0.5增加至0.95, 系统的总效率和火用效率分别增加0.9倍和0.5倍, 其余参数对性能也有较强影响.研究结果为新一轮系统装置的制作提供了优化设计基础.     

汽阳极多管AMTEC性能分析方法及参数优化分析

为建立汽阳极多管碱金属热电转换装置(AMTEC)性能分析方法,以PX-3A型装置为分析对象,建立了汽阳极多管AMTEC热、电和压力耦合模型,开发了装置稳态性能分析程序。程序通过提取RadCAD软件的角系数计算结果优化热模型角系数计算方法,计算结果与文献中PX-3A实验值吻合验证了模型的合理性和程序的正确性。利用程序对PX-3A型装置进行参数优化分析,结果表明:冷凝端温度最佳取值范围为550～650 K;负载电阻较大时,BASE管越多输出功率和转换效率越高;为减小压损,圆周型遮热罩高度应尽量低,且遮热罩半径取10～11 mm最佳。     

CuGaTe_2和CuInTe_2的电子和热电性质的第一性原理研究

热电材料是通过载流子作用实现热能和电能直接转换的功能材料,在能源、环境、国防等领域具有重要应用.如何提高材料的转换效率是目前热电材料研究的关键.最近发现,三元黄铜矿Ⅰ-Ⅲ-Ⅳ_2(Ⅰ=Ag,Cu;Ⅲ=Al,Ga,In;Ⅳ=S,Se,Te)是一类潜在的高性能热电材料,其结构独特,可通过多种途径优化其性能.本文采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法系统地研究CuGaTe_2和CuInTe_2的电子特性,为提高其热电效率提供新思路研究发现改进的Becke Johnson-广义梯度近似比广义梯度近似交换关联近似计算的能隙值更接近实验值.基于玻尔兹曼理论研究了体系热电性质,发现通过优化载流子的浓度可以改善体系的热电性.通过拟合计算的晶格热导率发现,在300-800 K,CuGaTe_2和CuInTe_2的晶格热导率和温度成反比,表明其晶格热导率主要来源于声子散射,并且声子散射又是以Umklapp散射为主.CuGaTe_2在700 K的热电优值ZT可以达到0.63,远大于其他Te类材料的ZT值.     

废热温差发电器驱动的电化学制冷系统研究

提出了利用废热(工业废气、尾气余热等)温差发电器驱动的电化学制冷系统,并建立数学物理模型,分别研究废热温度和环境温度对系统的功率消耗、热效率、制冷功率和性能系数的影响.结果表明,温差发电器性能的模型计算值与文献测试值误差在6.8%以内;随着废热温度的增加,系统的输出功率、热效率和制冷功率随之增加,但性能系数急剧减小;随着环境温度的增加,系统热效率和制冷功率逐渐降低,但输出电压和性能系数逐渐增加;与TGM-127型系统相比,虽然HZ-2型系统的热电转换性能处于劣势,但其体积和重量明显减小,更适合应用在汽车、卫星等领域。     

光伏-热电耦合系统器件选择原理

耦合器件的性能决定了光伏-热电耦合系统的可行性与优越性,但耦合系统器件的选择原理尚未被研究。本文建立了光伏热电耦合系统的理论模型,提出了使得光伏-热电耦合系统效率优于纯光伏系统的最小热电优值作为耦合系统器件选择与可行性评估的标准。提供了一套计算最小热电优值的方法,给出了采用具有不同效率及温度特性的光伏电池的耦合系统的最小热电优值,并讨论了热电器件结构和冷却系统对最小热电优值的影响。     

焊料层对热电制冷器性能的影响分析

热电制冷器广泛应用于热电制冷和热电发电等领域。建立了热电制冷器热电性能的三维有限元模型,进行多物理场耦合计算,考虑热电材料对温度的依赖性,对两种型号的热电制冷器中焊料层部分的结构尺寸进行了不同工况下的研究分析,对比不同焊料厚度和截面边长对热电制冷器最大温差及热电转换效率的影响。结果表明,焊料层截面边长和厚度对热电制冷器的最大温差影响显著,截面边长为热电壁尺寸的0.95～1.007 86范围内热电制冷器的最大温差能提升10 K,并且在0.970 59～0.975范围内达到最佳;厚度为0.08～0.093 3 mm时既能满足经济性又能使热电制冷器的最大温差提高13 K。     

余热驱动热耦合多级自由活塞斯特林热电联供系统研究

我国工业余热资源丰富,尤其是中低温余热具有巨大的回收利用潜力。本文提出采用热耦合多级自由活塞斯特林发电机来构建余热回收利用系统,可有效拓宽余热利用温度范围,减小余热热源传热损失。首先基于热声理论,从声阻抗角度计算考察了单级自由活塞斯特林热电联供系统在变温和变充气压力等工况下的性能;然后对一台三级自由活塞斯特林热电联供系统进行解耦计算,分别考察了供水温度、单级加热量、工作压力等因素对系统性能的影响;最后开展了实验研究,在420/350/300℃热端温度及22/22/18 kW加热量下获得自由活塞斯特林热电联产系统净输出电功10.09 kW,供热量45.29 kW,对应总热电效率为16.27%,综合热利用率为89.32%,各级相对卡诺效率分别为30.90%、32.10%、36.08%,展现出重要的应用前景。     

基于热电制冷效应的光伏热水系统效能分析

基于热电制冷效应的光伏热水系统,主要由太阳能光伏电池板、太阳能数字控制器、温度监控及开关转换控制器、热电制冷模块组成。文中通过采用国产应用较为成熟的三元碲化铋-碲化锑固溶体合金作为材料,来设计热电制冷模块并计算出系统的制冷系数和供热系数,得出系统供热功率是传统电加热功率的1.98倍,与传统热泵一样,系统供热系数可达3.03,都具有较高的性价比。最后通过CFD软件进行简单模拟校核,结果表明:添加热电制冷模块后,温度明显下降,光电转化效率提高8%左右,运行更加稳定,为热电制冷技术在太阳能热水系统后续研究提供必要的理论依据。     

半导体温差发电过程的模型分析与数值仿真

本文提出一种新型的半导体温差发电模型,在温差发电过程的数值模拟中考虑了热电单元之间封闭腔体内空气传热的影响.同时进一步运用有限元的数值计算方法对不同电臂对数和不同型号温差发电模型的温度场、电压场进行了数值仿真计算,并对仿真结果进行分析.结果表明:采用127对热电单元模型计算的能量转换效率随冷热端温差增大而迅速提高,与采用1对热电单元模型计算的能量转换效率之差从冷热端温差为20℃的0.39%提高到冷热端温差为220℃时的5.16%,能量转换效率比1对热电单元平均高出3.02%.冷端温度恒定在30℃时,温差发电芯片的输出电压、功率以及能量转换效率均随着电偶臂的横截面积的增大而提高,且电偶臂冷热两端的温差越大提高幅度也越大,而温差发电芯片内阻则与电偶臂横截面积成反比关系,当温差为220℃时对应的输出功率最高达28.9 W.     

Enhanced thermoelectric power in dual-gated bilayer graphene

The thermoelectric power of a material, typically governed by its band structure and carrier density, can be varied by chemical doping that is often restricted by solubility of the dopant. Materials showing large thermoelectric power are useful for many industrial applications, such as the heat-to-electricity conversion and the thermoelectric cooling device. Here we show a full electric-field tuning of thermoelectric power in a dual-gated bilayer graphene device resulting from the opening of a band gap by applying a perpendicular electric field on bilayer graphene. We uncover a large enhancement in thermoelectric power at a low temperature, which may open up a new possibility in low temperature thermoelectric application using graphene-based device.     

平板集热太阳热电器件建模及结构优化

太阳能热电转换是光伏效应外另一种直接将太阳辐射转变为电能的途径, 近年来已经成为太阳能利用的热点之一. 本文以Bi₂Te₃材料为基础构建平板集热太阳热电器件模型, 采用有限元法分析AM1.5辐射条件下器件温度分布情况, 并结合基于温度的物性参数计算集热比、热臂截面积与长度变化等因素对器件的开路电压、 最大输出功率及转化效率的影响. 研究发现: 集热比与热臂长度的变化对器件性能有显著影响, 热臂截面积的变化对器件转化效率影响相对较弱; 在这一模型中, 平板集热太阳热电器件的转化效率达到1.56%.     

太阳能光伏-温差发电驱动的新型冰箱模型设计与热力学分析

结合太阳能电池温度特性和温差发电特点,设计了一套新的太阳能光伏发电-温差发电驱动的冰箱模型,该模型包括太阳能光伏电池、半导体温差发电模块、电源控制系统等.根据负载用电需求,做出了光伏发电系统的设计方案.采用热力学基本理论,对该模型进行了工作效率及 火 用 效率的分析.结果发现:能效比COP达到了2.73(一般 冰箱COP为2左右), 火 用 效率也达到42.5%.同时,该系统模型环境效益明显,可以减排CO₂ 1394.2 kg,SO₂     

Evaluating the efficiency of thermo-electric conversion of heat from gas combustion in a small-scale system with counterflow heat exchange

The efficiency of thermoelectric conversion of heat from gas combustion was evaluated in a small-scale system consisting of two channels with opposing gas flows and thermocouples located in the separating wall. Combustion occurred in the chamber fed with fresh mixture heated by combustion products through heat-conducting walls of the channel. In the channel walls, there were thermoelectric converters. It has been shown that in this system, the maximum conversion efficiency of heat from gas combustion may be close to the maximum efficiency of thermoelectric conversion calculated by the maximum acceptable working temperature of the hot side of the converter. This conclusion is valid in the case when the adiabatic combustion temperature of the gas mixture is below the maximum allowable operating temperature of the hot side of the thermoelectric converter. The considered system is promising for the burning of low-calorific gas mixtures and does not require additional energy for cooling the cold side of the thermoelectric converter.     

Study of the performance of a thermoelectric generator transformation of the thermal energy conveyed by a heat transfer fluid into electrical energy

A mathematical model to predict the maximum energy conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric generator is developed to improve the performance and maximize the energy conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric power generator. The studied device corresponds to an original configuration of thermoelectric modules mounted on the peripheral surfaces of two channels, one of the channels is crossed by hot fluid and the other by a cold fluid. First, the effect of the flow rate was studied to choose the flow rate adapted to our study for three different configurations of the thermopile, the co-current configuration, the counter-current configuration, and the sandwich configuration. Then a comparison was made to choose the best configuration between these three studied configurations by addressing their thermoelectric performances. The results revealed that the sandwich configuration is much better than the co-current and counter-current configurations and reduces the surface area occupied by the TEG by half while generating more power than a solar panel.     

Performance of thermoelectric generator with graphene nanofluid cooling

Improvement of the heat transfer of the cold side is one of the approaches to enhance the performance of TEG systems.As a new type of heat transfer media, nanofluids can enhance the heat transfer performance of working liquid significantly.Based on a three-dimensional and steady-state numerical model,the heat transfer and thermoelectric conversion properties of TEG systems were studied. Graphene anoplatelet aqueous nanofluids were used as the coolants for the cold side of the TEG system to improve the heat transfer capacity of the cold side. The results showed that the heat absorbed by the hot side, voltage, output power, and conversion efficiency of the TEG system were increased greatly by the nanofluid coolants.The output power and the conversion efficiency using 0.1-wt% graphene nanoplatelet aqueous nanofluid as the coolant are enhanced by 26.39% and 14.74%, respectively.     

Graphene for Thermoelectric Applications: Prospects and Challenges

Thermoelectric power generators require high-efficiency thermoelectric materials to transform waste heat into usable electrical energy. An efficient thermoelectric material should have high Seebeck coefficient and excellent electrical conductivity as well as low thermal conductivity. Graphene, the first truly 2D nanomaterial, exhibits unique properties which suit it for use in thermoelectric power generators, but its application in thermoelectrics is limited by the high thermal conductivity and low Seebeck coefficient resulting from its gapless spectrum. However, with the possibility of modification of graphene's band structure to enhance Seebeck coefficient and the reduction of its thermal conductivity, it is an exciting prospect for application in thermoelectric power generation. This article examines the electronic, optical, thermal, and thermoelectric properties of graphene systems. The factors that contribute to these material properties in graphene systems like charge carriers scattering mechanisms are discussed. A salient aspect of this article is a synergistic perspective on the reduction of thermal conductivity and improvement of Seebeck coefficient of graphene for a higher thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency. In this regard, the effect of graphene nanostructuring and doping, forming of structural defects, as well as graphene integration into a polymer matrix on its thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient is elucidated.     

Optimal performance at arbitrary power of minimally nonlinear irreversible thermoelectric generators with broken time-reversal symmetry

We investigate the performance at arbitrary power of minimally nonlinear irreversible thermoelectric generators (MNITGs) with broken time-reversal symmetry within linear irreversible thermodynamics, and the efficiency of MNITGs at arbitrary power is analytically derived. Furthermore, a universal bound on the efficiency of thermoelectric generators (TGs) with broken time-reversal symmetry and the arbitrary power is obtained. Some system-specific characteristics are discussed and uncovered. A large efficiency at arbitrary power can also be achieved via the cooperative mechanism between the system parameters. Our results indicate that the broken time-reversal symmetry provides the physically allowed degrees of freedom for tuning the performance of thermoelectric devices, and the physical trade-off region between the efficiency and the power output can also offer the appropriate space for optimizing the performance of TGs.