COURSE NAME:-

HEAT & MASS TRANSFER

REPORT TITLE:-
EXPERIMENTAL TESTING AND APPLICATIONS OF POWER
OBTAINED BY THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR USING
EXHAUST

SUBMITTED TO:
SIR ABID HUSSAIN

SUBMITTED BY:
MUHAMMAD USMAN BIN AHMED
Reg # 17-ME-16
Mechanical 2k17
Section: A
1|Page

Table of Contents`

LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................ 2

LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................. 2
ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... 3
1. INTRODUCTION OF EXPERIMENT ........................................................ 4
1.1 PROBLEM TO BE DEALT ............................................................. 4
1.2 POSSIBLE SOLUTION .................................................................... 4
2. THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR......................................................... 5
2.1 WORKING PRINCIPLE .................................................................. 5
2.2 CONSTRUCTION OF THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR ... 6
3. MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS ........................................................... 7
4. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION ............................................................... 8
4.1 EQUIPMENT USED ................................................................................... 8
4.2 EXPERIMENTAL ARRANGEMENT & PROCEDURE ...................... 9
4.3 OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS .......................................... 11
4.3.1 OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS TABLE............................. 11
4.4 GRAPHS PLOTTED ............................................................................ 12-14
5. APPLICATIONS TO OUR REQUIRED AUTOMOTIVE MODEL
14
6. RESULTS AND DATA ANALYSIS ......................................................15-16
CONCLUSION.................................................................................................. 17
REFERENCES .................................................................................................. 18
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LIST OF FIGURES:-

Figure 1 "Block diagram of a thermoelectric generator" ........................................................................ 5

Figure 2 "Schematic diagram of a thermoelectric generator" ................................................................. 5
Figure 3 "thermoelectric generator working".......................................................................................... 6
Figure 4 "Heat sink a) without fan. b) with fan" ..................................................................................... 9
Figure 5 "TEG used in experiment" ......................................................................................................... 9
Figure 6 "Schematic diagram of experimental setup" .......................................................................... 10
Figure 7 "The experimental apparatus" ................................................................................................ 10
Figure 8 "Graph of Data points vs. TC /TH" ............................................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 9 "Graph of Output power (PTEG) vs. Input voltage(V)" ............................................................. 12
Figure 10 "Graph of % efficiency vs. Input voltage(V)" ........................................................................ 12
Figure 11 "Graph of Output power (PTEG) vs. temperature difference(T)" ......................................... 13
Figure 12 "Graph of efficiency vs. temperature difference(T) " ......................................................... 13
Figure 13 "Graph of generated voltage(VTEG) vs. temperature difference(T)" .................................. 13
Figure 14 "Graph of Current (I) vs. Temperature difference (T)" ....................................................... 14
Figure 15 "Rectangular exhaust heat exchanger using TEGs" .............................................................. 15
Figure 16 "Hexagonal exhaust heat exchanger using TEGs" ................................................................. 15

LIST OF TABLES:-

Table 1 “Parameters used in experiment” ............................................................................................. 11

Table 2 “Table of observations & calculations” ................................................................................... 11
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ABSTRACT:-
In this report, we are concerned with one of the limitation of internal combustion engine (ICE),
i.e. dissipation of heat in the exhaust system of various automobiles, power plants etc. and one
of its remedy. As we know the internal-combustion-engine can’t effectively convert the
chemical-energy into the mechanical-energy and a major portion of that energy, which is about
33% of total energy is dissipated as heat produced during combustion process in the engine. So
the designers were looking forward for the utilization of waste heat produced in exhaust. One
such device made by the developers was thermo-electric generator (TEG), which uses the
difference of temperature between its two sides; one hot & other cold; and convert it into
electricity. Another way of improving efficiency in this experiment is the employment of heat
pipes, mainly for the purpose of reduction of thermal resistance in the system, and thereby
regulating the temperature for thermoelectric generators. Thus the current research analysis
primarily discusses the experimental arrangement to design a heat dissipation setup for TEGs
for the efficient and effective utilization of heat dissipation in the exhaust. It also discusses the
performance characteristics of a TEG at various range of temperature difference, and the
applications of power obtained from this particular setup of TEG and heat pipes.

KEYWORDS: Thermo-electric generator(TEG), See-beck effect, See-beck

coefficient(), thermal conductivity(κ), electrical resistivity(ρ), heat-pipes, wasted-heat
retrieve system, exhaust-system, fuel saving.
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1. INTRODUCTION OF THE EXPERIMENT:-

1.1. PROBLEM TO BE DEALT:

As we know the current IC engines operate at efficiency of about 30-50% depending upon the
type of engine and working conditions. Moreover, the rise in petroleum prices and the effect
of harmful gases expelled through the exhaust system of IC engine in the atmosphere and
environment had serious impact on the sustainability of environment and economic conditions
of society. The main focus of this experiment is to increase the effectiveness of a mechanical
system, particularly the exhaust system of the IC engine, by utilizing the heat dissipated in
exhaust during combustion process as a source of electric energy; and also to reduce thermal
resistance and irregularity of temperature in exhaust by using appropriate medium of flow.

1.2. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:

The above discussion shows the key problems regarding the exhaust system of a mechanical
system( IC engine in this case) and its impact on the efficient performance of engines. While
considering all these problems, there grew a need to develop renewable energy technology and
waste heat recovery technology.
 The renewable energy technologies include diesel particulate filters, filter
substrates, catalysts, and exhaust-gas recirculation coolers, and are used in order to
decrease the discharge of hazardous gases in ecosystem, as well as to improve the
efficiency by the methodology to reuse the waste particles of fuel. Eco friendly fuels
are developed like LPG, a fossil fuel and CNG (compressed natural gas), constituted
mainly of methane.

 The waste heat recovery technologies develop a mechanism to reuse the extra
compressed air and the waste heat for a specific purpose to increase the engine’s
efficiency. They include turbocharger; which forces the extra compressed air back to
the compression chamber, thermoelectric generator; which utilizes the difference of
temperature between the two sides of device (i.e. waste heat) to generate electricity,
six stroke engine; which captures the waste heat to improve fuel efficiency,
regenerative braking; an energy recovery mechanism which speeds down a vehicle by
effective conversion of kinetic energy into usable form, which can be accessed when
needed.
In this paper; we are concerned with the use of TEGs, their operation, performance
characteristics, and applications in automobile industry.

2. THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS:
“ A thermoelectric generator is a solid-state device, which uses heat flux (temperature
difference) to convert waste heat into supplementary electric power”
They are environment-friendly devices; and are used in “power plants” for converting heat flux
in the form of temperature difference into supplementary electric power; automobiles .
Automobiles generate waste heat (in the exhaust). Utilizing that heat energy with the help of a
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thermoelectric generator, can rise the “fuel efficiency” of the car. Further improvements can
cause up to a 8-12% increment in mileage for heavy-duty vehicles.

Figure 2 “Block diagram of a thermoelectric

generator” Figure 1 “Circuit diagram of a TEG”

2.1 WORKING PRINCIPLE OF THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS:

The thermoelectric effect is the governing principle in TEG, which causes the uninterrupted
conversion of heat flux into electric power. According to Joules Law, a current-carrying
conductor produces heat varies linearly to the product of the resistance of the conductor and
the current’s square passing through it. A scientist “Thomas J. Seebeck” tested this law by
understanding it on a different note. He took two unlike metals with end points of metals
(junctions) were at distinct temperatures. He noticed that a voltage is generated between the
end-surfaces varying linearly to the difference in the heat. This generation of current due to the
“difference in temperature” at the joining of two distinct metals is termed as the Seebeck
Effect. The Seebeck Effect generates lesser extents of voltage and current, but can be increased
by using more TEGs in series.
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Figure 3 “thermoelectric generator working”

2.2 THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS CONSTRUCTION:-

Three basic parts are there to discuss of a TEG:
1. “THERMO-ELECTRIC MATERIALS”: They are a fundamental part of TEG and they
are the agents that work on the see-beck effect and generate electric power through heat
flux. There are three parameters to characterize the thermoelectric materials; namely
“see-beck coefficient α , electrical resistivity ρ, thermal conductivity κ”. “The Seebeck
coefficient (also known as thermo-electric power, thermo-power, and thermo-electric
sensitivity) of a material is the measure of the magnitude of an induced thermo-electric
voltage as a result of a temperature difference across that material, as produced by
the Seebeck effect”. Electrical resistivity is the property of a material to resist the flow
of electric current through a path. The thermal conductivity of a material is its ability
to conduct heat. The properties desired in an ideal thermoelectric material are little
thermal conductivity so as to disallow the transfer of heat and maintain a regulated
temperature difference; truncated electrical resistivity(or high electrical conductivity) ,
so as to minimize the opposition to the flow of induced electric current ; and high
seebeck coefficient, so as to enlarge the amount of induced voltage across the TEG. For
insulators, we can get a desired property, high (or even very high) seebeck coefficient,
but their electrical resistance is very high so they don’t let electricity to pass through
and hence can’t be used as a thermoelectric material. For conductors like metals,
electrical resistivity is very low, but the thing is that they have the remaining two
properties undesirable, i.e. low see beck coefficient and very high thermal conductivity.
So to cope with these problems, another class of materials called semi-conductors are
appropriate to be used, as they can have adequate value of seebeck coefficient,
favorable resistance range which can be varied by doping and low thermal conductivity.
Therefore, TEGs are constructed of P & N type materials, that have a series electrical
connection for efficient output conduction, and parallel thermal connection, to regulate
the heat flux through the device. The most common thermo-electric material is Bismuth
7|Page

Telluride (Bi2Te3), but others like lead-telluride (𝑃𝑏𝑇𝑒) and 𝑆𝑖𝐺𝑒 are also available, but
they have special elements which are very scarce, and hence expensive.

2. “THERMOELECTRIC MODULE”: A thermoelectric module is a basically a device

composing of a circuit consisting of “thermo-electric materials” which generate
electricity from temperature difference precisely.” A thermoelectric module is a
combination of two dissimilar thermoelectric materials joined at their ends: an n-type ,
and a p-type semiconductor”.

3. “THERMOELECTRIC SYSTEM”: Utilizing thermo-electric modules, a thermo-electric

system is designed to induce useful power by absorbing in heat from a “source such as
a hot exhaust fire”. To gain that advantage, the system requires a huge temperature
difference, which is not simply applicable in actual scenarios. The cold side must be
lowered in temperature with the help of any fluid.

3. MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS:-
The “efficiency of a thermoelectric generator” is simply the measure of how much electric
power is produced due to a specified temperature difference. Mathematically, it is defined as
“the ratio of produced output power and input heat supplied” ( in our case through the
production of voltage by a heater through which hot plate is attached. ).
Mathematically;
𝑃𝑇𝐸𝐺
= (1)
𝑄𝐻

It can be calculated by using numerous methods. Basically, it is dependent upon the nature of
thermoelectric material used; and indirectly on the 3 factors; namely thermal conductivity,
electrical resistivity and see-beck coefficient. The required measurement of usefulness of a
system is determined by its maximum efficiency and in case of thermoelectric generator; it is
determined by its figure of merit:-
2 T
zT = (2)
κρ

And the maximum efficiency of TEG in terms of figure of merit is given by:-

𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑇𝐻−𝑇𝐶 × √1+𝑧𝑇−1

𝑇
(3)
𝑇𝐻 √1+𝑧𝑇+ 𝐻
𝑇𝐶

According to the above equations; the efficiency of the TEG shows a linear relationship with
the square of see-beck coefficient, and varies inversely to its thermal conductivity and electrical
resistivity.
TEG basically operates under the application of four physical laws; see-beck effect ( upon
which electric power generation from waste heat is based), Peltier effect ( the reverse of see-
beck effect, upon which thermo-electric cooling is based), Thomson effect ( upon which heat
8|Page

is absorbed in the given surface, when electric current is passed through it) , and Joule’s law (
which deals with the generation of heat when current is passed through a material surface along
its length). Considering Thomson effect negligible, we can get the heat flow hot side of the
TEG as follows:-

𝐼2𝑅𝑇𝐸𝐺
𝑄𝐻 = 𝜅 𝑇𝐸𝐺 (𝑇𝐻 − 𝑇𝐶 ) + 𝑇𝐸𝐺 𝑇𝐻 𝐼 − 2
(4)
Where 𝜅𝑇𝐸𝐺 shows the “overall thermal-conductance” of TEG arrangement, in which the hot
plate, thermal paste, TEG and aluminium/copper sink are connected in series and is equal to
the sum of thermal conductivities of all the components joined. Similarly, 𝑇𝐸𝐺 shows the
“overall see-beck coefficient” and 𝑅𝑇𝐸𝐺 shows the “overall electrical resistance”.
Also,
 𝐼2𝑅𝑇𝐸𝐺
𝑄𝐶 = 𝜅 𝑇𝐸𝐺 (𝑇𝐻 − 𝑇𝐶 ) + 𝑇𝐸𝐺 𝑇𝐶𝐼 − 2
(5)
Now, power produced by this setup is given by:-

𝑃𝑇𝐸𝐺 = 𝑄𝐻 − 𝑄𝐶 = 𝑇𝐸𝐺(𝑇𝐻 − 𝑇𝐶 ). 𝐼 − 𝐼2𝑅𝑇𝐸𝐺 (6)

Also, we know that:-

𝑃𝑇𝐸𝐺 = 𝑉𝑇𝐸𝐺 𝐼 (7)

Hence;

𝑉𝑇𝐸𝐺 = 𝑇𝐸𝐺(𝑇𝐻 − 𝑇𝐶 ) − 𝐼𝑅𝑇𝐸𝐺 (8)

Hence for a TEG; 𝑉𝑇𝐸𝐺, 𝑃𝑇𝐸𝐺 and  can be easily evaluated, if material properties of the
experimentation setup are known.

4. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION:-

4.1 APPARATUS USED:-

1. A high precision response hot plate.
2. Thermoelectric generator (TEG) to be tested.
3. 2 K-type thermocouples.
4. Electric axial fan.
5. Heat sink (aluminium with copper core)
6. Thermal paste
7. Temperature data logger
8. Multimeter
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4.2 “EXPERIMENTAL ARRANGEMENT & PROCEDURE”:-

The experimental arrangement consists of low-time high accuracy response giving “feed-back
heated plate” ( which senses the small amount of voltage increase from the input heater
(source)). A “TG12-4” thermo-electric-generator module was taken in this experiment, which
is a development product of “Marilow Industries Inc.” having highest power grading of 4.1
watts at 𝑇 = 180𝐶. The thermo-electric generator to be tested was inserted on the hot plate,
such that the hot surface of the TEG at the high-temperature termination of hot plate. As we
want to know the temperature of both the hot & cold surfaces of thermo-electric-generator, so
a specific device used to measure that temperatures in this experiment is K-type thermocouples.
Heat sink made of aluminium with copper core was then attached at a point on the cold surface
of TEG for the sole purpose of lowering the cold surface temperature of TEG. And this was
achieved by using an electric axial fan, which cools the sink by the mechanism of forced
convection. It has been energized with the help of a specific self-governing power source of
“12 V DC power supply.” and was kept at the same state throughout the experiment. Heat sink
with and without axial fan is shown in fig. 5. Actually, the cold side of TEG should be at the
constant temperature throughout the experiment. In our case, it was 25C. The heated plate
temp. was then changed from 48.8C upto 70.4C by changing the input voltage given through
the heater, such that enough time was given for changes for the thermo-electric-generator temp.
to gain stable level was given and the the electricity produced should be shown constant value.
Now there was another problem that there were small gaps left at the surfaces, which affect
thermal conductivity or heat transfer significantly. So, to overcome this, thermal paste having
𝜅 = 0.93 𝑊/𝑚𝐾 was used between the surface ending peripheries. At the end, the entire setup
was firmly tied with the hot plate through fiber wires to reduce the error and to ensure that no
relative movement was taken in the experimental setup. To observe the temperature of warm
surface of TEG, the “thermo-couple” was inserted between the “hot plate & hot side of TEG”.
Similarly; to observe the temperature of cold surface of TEG, another “thermo-couple” is
inserted on the “upper side” of TEG and is firmly ascribed with the cold surface of TEG. The
heat sink was then put on the above side of the cold surface of TEG. Now, to take readings;
both “K-type thermo-couples” were connected to the “temperature data logger”, and to measure
input and output voltages, a digital multimeter is used. Digital multimeter(DMM) was used to
obtain the values of both the generated voltage and output current( by short-circuiting). The
values were recorded, and a next increment was applied to hot side temperature by varying the
input voltage of electric heater attached to the hot plate. The thermo-electric generator used in
this experiment is shown in fig. 4. The whole experimental setup is given in fig. 7. The
“schematic” figure of the arrangement is given in fig. 6.

Figure 5 “Heat sink a) without fan. b) with Figure 4 “TEG used in

fan” experiment”
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Figure 7 “The experimental apparatus”

Figure 6 “Schematic diagram of experimental setup”

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4.3 OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS:-

The following parameters are recorded for the particular experimental setup:-
Table 1 Parameters used in experiment

PARAMETER SYMBOL RECORDED (OBSERVED VALUE)

Total length of setup L 1 cm = 0.01 m
Cross-sectional area of TEG hot A 3 cm * 4 cm = 0.0012 m2
plate
See-beck coefficient  3.4×10-4 V/K
Thermal conductivity Κ 0.98 W/Mk
Electrical resistivity Ρ 1.30 ×10-5 Ωm
Insulator material - Ceramic
Conductor material - Silver/aluminium/copper

Also, the total resistance of setup (𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐶) is:-

𝜌𝐿 1.30×10−5 Ωm × 0.01 m
𝑅𝑇𝐸𝐺 = = = 1.0833 𝑚Ω
𝐴 0.0012 𝑚2

4.3.1 TABLE OF EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS& CALCULATIONS:-

Table 2 Table of observations & calculations

“Temperature “Temperature “Temperature

Sr. “Input
of hot side of of cold side of difference QH QC
No. voltage(V)”
TEG” (TH) TEG (TC)” (T)= TH- TC”

Volts °C °C °C W W
1 14 53.8 25 28.8 19.2982 19.07825
2 16 61.4 25 36.4 30.1587 29.77873
3 18 70.4 25 45.4 36.1842 35.63421
4 20 82.1 25 57.1 45.4054 44.56541
5 22 95.2 25 70.2 53.7778 52.56778
Current (I) VTEG = PTEG/I “Output “%
power Efficiency(TEG)”
(PTEG)”
Amps Volts W %
0.091666667 2.4 0.22 1.14
0.145038168 2.62 0.38 1.26
0.189003436 2.91 0.55 1.52
0.264150943 3.18 0.84 1.85
0.352769679 3.43 1.21 2.25

4.4 GRAPHS PLOTTED:-

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" Data points vs. TC /TH(C)"

Temperature of hot side (TH) °C Temperature of cold side (TC) °C
95.2
100
82.1
80 70.4
61.4
53.8
TC /TH(C)
60

40 25 25 25 25 25
20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Data points

Figure 8 “Data points vs. TC /TH”

"Output power (PTEG) vs.Input voltage(V)"

1.4 1.21
"Output power (PTEG)(W)"

1.2
1 0.84
0.8
0.55
0.6
0.38
0.4 0.22
0.2
0
0 5 10 15 20 25

"Input voltage(V)"

Fig. 9. “Output power (PTEG) vs. Input voltage(V)”

"% Efficiency(TEG) vs.Input voltage(V)"

2.5 2.25

1.85
2
% Efficiency(TEG)

1.52
1.5 1.26
1.14

0.5

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
"Input voltage(V)"
Fig. 10. “% efficiency vs. Input voltage(V)”
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"Output power (PTEG) vs.

Temperature difference (T)"
1.4 1.21
"Output power (PTEG)(W)"
1.2
1 0.84
0.8 0.55
0.6 0.38
0.4 0.22
0.2
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Temperature difference [T(C)]

Figure. 11. “Output power (PTEG) vs. temperature difference(T)”

"% Efficiency(TEG) vs.

Temperature difference (T)"
2.5 2.25
1.85
2
% Efficiency(TEG)

1.52
1.26
1.5 1.14
1

0.5

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Temperature difference [T(C)]

Figure. 12. “% efficiency vs. temperature difference(T)”

"VTEG(V) vs.Temperature difference (T)"

4 3.43
3.18
3.5
2.62 2.91
3
2.4
2.5
VTEG(v)

2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Temperature difference (T)

Figure. 13. “generated voltage(VTEG) vs. temperature difference(T)”

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"Current (I) vs. Temperature difference (T)"

0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
I (Amps)

0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Temperature difference (T)C

Figure. 14. “Current (I) vs. Temperature difference (T)”

5. APPLICATIONS TO OUR REQUIRED AUTOMOTIVE MODEL; WASTE HEAT

RECOVERY SYSTEM:-
In the past few years, large multinational automotive companies like Honda, Ford, Renault,
BMW etc. were searching eagerly for a methodology to increase their mileage(“no. of miles
that can be driven in one liter of fuel”) and indirectly the fuel efficiency to enhance the
marketing value of their cars. They had seen a way of achieving this goal is to build TEG based
heat exchanger system in their engine exhausts to effectively utilize waste heat energy and give
an additional power to the IC engine, which in turn make the fuel consumption lower.
Experimentation was done and different type of models were made by different engineers for
each company which are almost similar. The thermo-electric-generators are inserted on the
exhaust pipe surface, which is basically a heat pipe for efficient transfer of heat as it has high
thermal conductivity, and lowered in temperature with the help of a heat sink using “engine
coolant”. For instance; BMW exhaust system uses a particular “shell and tube heat exchanger”
and a high power ranging up-to 750-800 W is produced using small TEGs connected in series,
thereby making a set. They can be connected in parallel to maximize the output voltage.
Exhaust pipe surface can be changed depending upon convenience, like rectangular, hexagonal
etc. similarly, the Renault system used in truck engines utilizes a specific “counter flow heat
exchanger arrangement” cooled by a fluid, which consists of a blend of “high temperature
thermo-electric-generators” at the high-temperature termination and “low temperature thermo-
electric-generators” at the low-temperature closing point . This particular effective arrangement
is estimated to produce approximately “1 kW”. The “Honda” company develops “a simple
design of a thin flat-rectangular box with thermo-electric generators placed on the top and
bottom surfaces”. It also uses liquescent(fluid) for temperature maintenance. The rectangular
and hexagonal shaped model are represented in figures 15. & 16. respectively.
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Figure 15 “Rectangular exhaust heat exchanger using TEGs”

Figure 16 “Hexagonal exhaust heat

exchanger using TEGs”

6. RESULTS & DATA ANALYSIS:-

The experimental data was arranged in tabular form. The readings were recorded varying the
input heater voltage from 14V to 22V, recorded at 2V intervals. For each value of input voltage,
the generated output voltage VTEG and short-circuit induced current (I) is recorded using
“digital-multimeter (DMM)”. A sufficient time was taken between readings for the thermo-
electric-generator to reach a stable state to take correct readings. The experiment was carried
out in the laboratory with following conditions:-
 "𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑚 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 25𝐶”.
 "𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑎𝑏" = 58%".
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 "𝐴𝑡𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 1.010 𝑏𝑎𝑟"

The temp. of cold side of thermo-electric-generator was slightly changing to a higher one due
to the increment in hot side temperature, but the values nearly remain constant due to heat sink
an axial fan. The temperature difference ranges from 28.8C-70.2C. The see-beck coefficient
is calculated using the following equation:-
𝑉𝑇𝐸𝐺 = 𝑇
It is calculated as an average of 0.34 mV/K for this TEG. All the parameters are recorded in
table 1. The semi-conductor materials normally have low value of electrical resistivity and
thermal conductivity, so they give a large figure of merit; but this small scale TEG used also
has low value of see-beck coefficient.
Seven different graphs were drawn to show the relationship between various variables in this
experiment. The trend of graphs and their recorded results are briefly explained below:-
1. Figure 8. Shows the graph between data points and logged temperatures (sr.no. vs.
𝑇𝐻, 𝑇𝐶). The cold temperature remains constant, while 𝑇𝐻 rises almost linearly. Thus,
by varying the voltage, temperature(𝑇𝐻) grows almost linearly.
2. Figure 9. Shows the graph between output power(𝑃𝑇𝐸𝐺) for various values of input
voltage [Output power (PTEG) vs. Input voltage(V)]. The graph effectively indicates
that with the increase in voltage, the output power also increases showing a linear
relationship. But the power developed is quite low due to the low efficiency of TEG.
The maximum power developed was 1.21 watts with an efficiency of 2.25% at 𝑇 =
70.2𝐶.
3. Figure 10. provides the graph between % efficiency for several values of input voltage
[% efficiency vs. Input voltage(V)]. The graph effectively indicates that with the
increase in voltage, the % efficiency also increases showing a linear relationship. This
shows if different TEGs are arranged in series, the induced voltage increases
significantly and thus result in increase in efficiency and power developed.
4. Figure 11. shows the graph between output power(𝑃𝑇𝐸𝐺) for various values of
temperature difference(T) [Output power (PTEG) vs. temperature difference(T)]. The
graph effectively indicates that with the increase in temperature difference, the output
power also increases showing a DIRECT relationship.
5. Figure 12. shows the graph between % efficiency for several values of temperature
difference(T) [% efficiency vs. temperature difference(T)]. The graph effectively
indicates that with the increase in temperature difference, the % efficiency also
increases showing a direct relationship.
6. Figure 13. shows the graph between generated voltage(𝑉𝑇𝐸𝐺) for various values of
temperature difference(T) [generated voltage(𝑉𝑇𝐸𝐺) vs. temperature difference(T)].
The graph effectively indicates that with the increase in temperature difference, the
𝑉𝑇𝐸𝐺 also increases showing a direct relationship. So is the case in fig. 14, where
current (I) shows the similar behavior.
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The maximum temperature difference measured was 70.2°C and this generated an efficiency
of 2.25% and an output power of 1.21 watts. So, we got a method to convert the waste amount
of energy into the electric power; which is a great revolution for automotive industry. An
experimental model of TEG is made and analyzed for its different output factors and its use in
automotive industry is justified.

CONCLUSION:-
Critically analyzing the results and looking at the trend generated in our experiment; we can
conclude that a TEG is a useful addition to the automotive energy, which utilizes the exhaust
heat and generates electricity which in turn adds up to the instantaneous power generated by
the engine and drives the engine. Even though; the efficiency of TEG in our experiment is low
due to the lower value of  and the ordinary temperature differences; it can be considerably
and favorably increased to a bigger extent if we connect various TEGs in series, making a set
as discussed earlier. This will increase the temperature difference to a higher magnitude,
thereby increasing the Output power (PTEG), generated voltage(𝑉𝑇𝐸𝐺) and more importantly the
effectiveness and efficiency of a thermo-electric generator. We can also achieve bigger
efficiency by using thermoelectric generator with improved properties such as higher see-beck
coefficient (), lower thermal conductivity (κ) and lower electrical resistivity (ρ). An estimate
shows that in order to gain efficiency of about 10%, the temperature difference required is
500C ; in our engine exhaust system model, temperature differences can reach beyond 500C.
The usage of thermoelectric materials in vehicle engines for wasted heat recovery can help
effectively in the world need for saving the energy and reduction of pollutants. They can
effectively increase the fuel savage of an ordinary car up-to 5%, thereby increasing its mileage
as discussed before. Modern multi-national car companies like BMW, Honda are currently
making practical use of this technology as discussed before. TEGs can be advantageous in a
way that they are robust, flexible, resilient, long-lasting and cost effective. As we know that
heat exchangers are effectively designed and produced in engines for proper heat
transfer(engine coolant passes through radiator coils and exhaust air across the coils, which
results in heat exchange as the coolant is cooled and the incoming air is heated); they can be
effectively made with TEGs to generate further electric power increasing efficiency. It is
revealed that the wasted heat from exhaust can be utilized by combination of two effective
devices known as “thermo-electric-generators and heat-pipes” as in our research. It was
inferred from this analysis that:
 Both “thermo-electric-generators and heat-pipes” are solid-state, have no harmful
effects, silent and can be easily accessed.

 TEGs can operate in harsh environment conditions due to solid-state design and
has no moving parts. For this reason, they are also used in NASA's deep space
explorers along with other applications.
 Heat-pipes can completely overcome “the thermal hindrance between the
thermo-electric-generator and exhaust gases” making the system quite better.

 Heat-pipes also decrease the “pressure losses in the exhaust gas cascade/jet due
to the lower surface-area of heat pipes”.
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 Heat pipes can be used to maintain a “specific temp. of both the hot & cold sides
of thermo-electric- generators”.
But there are some limitation such as TEGs have are relatively less efficient and require very
high surface temperatures and heat pipes have maximum heat transfer rates. But the fact is that
the future developments can gave an enormous and superficial revolution to automotive
industry, saving the fuel, minimizing the pollution, saving the energy and helping the world to
accept the challenge to build renewable energy systems.

REFERENCES:-

1. Research Paper; Experimental testing and applications of power

obtained by thermoelectric generator using exhaust, Prashant Chandra
Pujari and Amit Kaushik; Delhi Technological University, New Delhi,
India. Accepted:- 28th March, 2019
2. Research Paper; Thermoelectric generator experimental performance
testing for wireless sensor network application in smart buildings;
Mohamed Al Muusleh, Evagelina Topiska1,*, Lyne Jack,*, David Jenikins,
1. Heriolt Watt University – Dubai Section, Dubai International Academic
City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2. Heriolt Watt University, Edinburgh,
United Kingdom.