A heat transfer numerical model for thermoelectric generator with cylindrical shell and straight fins under steady-state conditions

Based on summarizing the latest research of vehicle exhaust thermoelectric generator (TEG), this paper proposes a newly designed TEG with cylindrical shell and straight fins. A two-dimensional heat transfer numerical model using finite difference method is established under steady-state conditions. This model is used to predict the output performance of TEG in different simulation conditions. The average contribution rate to the output power CRvar is given in this paper to evaluate the influence level of different input parameters. Simulation results show that increasing the inlet temperature and the inlet mass flow rate of the exhaust, as well as reducing the inlet temperature of the coolant are useful methods to improve the performance of TEG in a certain extent. The heat transfer numerical model presented in this paper can be also applied to the numerical simulations and the optimization work on early designing stages of other types of TEG.