Journal of South China University of Technology (Natural Science Edition) ›› 2013, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (4): 47-53.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-565X.2013.04.008

• Power & Electrical Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Calculation Model of Semiconductor Thermoelectric Generator Unit Based on Variable Material Properties

Du Qun-gui Zou Jie-hui Chen Shui-jin Gao Jun-ling   

  1. School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering,South China University of Technology,Guangzhou 510640,Guangdong,China
  • Received:2012-05-21 Revised:2012-10-01 Online:2013-04-25 Published:2013-03-01
  • Contact: 杜群贵(1965-)，男，博士，教授，主要从事车辆与机电工程现代设计方法研究． E-mail:ctqgdu@scut.edu.cn
  • About author:杜群贵(1965-)，男，博士，教授，主要从事车辆与机电工程现代设计方法研究．
  • Supported by:

    广东省重大科技专项项目( 2009A080302002， 2010A080405003) ; 广东省教育部产学研结合项目( 2011B090400572)

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Abstract:

In order to effectively calculate the electricity-generating performance parameters of semiconductor thermoelectricgenerator units,the existing calculation model based on constant material properties is analyzed,and anew model based on variable material properties,which includes the procedures of solving the temperature distributionof semiconductor particles and calculating the material parameters as well as the electricity-generating performanceparameters,is proposed.Then,the two models respectively based on constant and variable material propertiesare used to calculate the performance parameters of a semiconductor thermoelectric generator unit in various workingconditions.The results are finally compared with those of ANSYS simulation. It is found that the proposed modelbased on variable material properties is superior to that based on constant material properties because it greatlyreduces the calculation error.

Key words: semiconductor thermoelectric generator unit, electricity generation performance, variable material property, calculation model, finite element method