TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing the accuracy of mathematical models used in thermoelectric simulation
T2 - Thermal influence of insulated air zone and radiation heat
AU - Gao, Junling
AU - Du, Qungui
AU - Chen, Min
AU - Li, Bo
AU - Zhang, Dongwen
PY - 2015/5/5
Y1 - 2015/5/5
N2 - An accurate mathematical model of thermoelectric modules (TEMs) provides the basis for the analysis and design of thermoelectric conversion system. TEM models from the literature are only valid for the heat transfer of N-type and P-type thermoelectric couples without considering air around the actual thermoelectric couples of TEMs. In fact, air space imposes significant influence on the model computational accuracy, especially for a TEM with large air space inside. In this study, heat transfer analyses of air between the TEM cold and hot plates were carried out in order to propose a new mathematical model that minimises simulation errors. This model was applied to analyse characteristic parameters of two typical TEMs, and the ratio of cross-sectional area of air space to thermocouples were 48.2% and 80.0%, respectively. The average relative errors in simulation decreased from 5.2% to 2.8% and from 12.8% to 3.7%, respectively. It is noted that our new model gives result more accurate than models from the literature provided that higher temperature difference occurs between hot side and cold side of TEM. Thus, the proposed model is of theoretical significance in guiding future design of TEMs for high-power or large-temperature-difference thermoelectric conversion systems.
AB - An accurate mathematical model of thermoelectric modules (TEMs) provides the basis for the analysis and design of thermoelectric conversion system. TEM models from the literature are only valid for the heat transfer of N-type and P-type thermoelectric couples without considering air around the actual thermoelectric couples of TEMs. In fact, air space imposes significant influence on the model computational accuracy, especially for a TEM with large air space inside. In this study, heat transfer analyses of air between the TEM cold and hot plates were carried out in order to propose a new mathematical model that minimises simulation errors. This model was applied to analyse characteristic parameters of two typical TEMs, and the ratio of cross-sectional area of air space to thermocouples were 48.2% and 80.0%, respectively. The average relative errors in simulation decreased from 5.2% to 2.8% and from 12.8% to 3.7%, respectively. It is noted that our new model gives result more accurate than models from the literature provided that higher temperature difference occurs between hot side and cold side of TEM. Thus, the proposed model is of theoretical significance in guiding future design of TEMs for high-power or large-temperature-difference thermoelectric conversion systems.
KW - Heat transfer through air
KW - Mathematical model
KW - Thermoelectric conversion system
KW - Thermoelectric module
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84924853191&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.02.072
DO - 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.02.072
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:84924853191
SN - 1359-4311
VL - 82
SP - 162
EP - 169
JO - Applied Thermal Engineering
JF - Applied Thermal Engineering
ER -