Title: Thermoelectric generators simulation in aircraft applications

Authors: Tareq I. Al-Ma'aiteh; Oliver Krammer

Addresses: Department of Electronics Technology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1111, Egry József u. 18, Budapest, Hungary ' Department of Electronics Technology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1111, Egry József u. 18, Budapest, Hungary

Abstract: This paper presents the establishment of a numerical model for investigating thermoelectric generators (TEG) in aircraft applications. A single TEG module was analysed, by calculating the unit main electrical characteristics. The thermoelectric generator consists of 24 cells with p-type and n-type legs with a different Seebeck coefficient based on silicon alloy semiconductor material. Uniform mesh was applied to the module geometry, and variable resistive load were connected to the module in order to simulate the actual operation of unit. The model provided the output parameters of power, voltage and current at different load values. The single module FEM calculation was validated by comparing voltage-current and power-voltage characteristics to them in the manufacturers data sheet. The numerical result at full load of 0.49 Ω is the power of 2.19 W with a voltage and current of 0.98 V and 1.99 A respectively. The average error in the numerical model voltage-current characteristic values was found 4.42%, and the error in numerical model power-voltage characteristics at the maximum power is 10.2%. The model allowed the optimisation of TEG modules in real devices, which can be used in the applications of energy recovery and energy harvesting in aircrafts.

Keywords: Seebeck effect; thermal electric generation; finite element modelling; silicon alloy semiconductor; energy harvesting.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSA.2019.105243

International Journal of Sustainable Aviation, 2019 Vol.5 No.4, pp.313 - 323

Received: 28 May 2019
Accepted: 09 Sep 2019
Published online: 22 Feb 2020 *

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