Theoretical performance prediction of a diesel locomotive based thermoelectric generator

In recent years researchers have shown interest in development of renewable energy resources and more efficient energy conversion techniques for ensuring sustainable energy supply. Towards more efficient energy utilization approach, generation of thermoelectricity from waste heat forms an attractive tool. Although application in large scale is still limited due to lower conversion efficiency of currently available thermoelectric materials, it is demonstrated by researchers that precisely designed thermoelectric generators may harness significant amount of useful energy, which otherwise re mains untapped and lost forever. In this paper a conceptual parallel flow type Thermoelectric Generation system for Diesel Locomotive exhaust heat recovery is proposed. This paper also presents a one dimensional, steady state, numerical model developed for theoretical performance prediction of the proposed system. Optimistic results were obtained from the theoretical evaluation that supports the idea of developing the system further.