Comparison of Approaches to Thermoelectric Modules Mathematical Optimization

For mathematical simulation and optimization of thermoelectric (TE) modules different methods are applied. The paper numerically compares two most rigorous ones and shows that these approaches provide close results. TE pellets behaviour is described by the thermal conductance equation with temperature-dependent parameters. The usage of algebraic rate equations with effective parameters requires solving the thermal conductance equation as well. Usually a simulation of a pellet in operation is not sufficient as it is necessary to cope with the problem of optimization, commonly taking maximum coefficient of performance as a criterion. The Optimal Control Theory, based on the Pontriaguin maximum principle, provides an all-purpose approach to the problem. This paper proves that the method of effective parameters applied to TE module optimization yields a fairly good and reliable mathematical alternative