Performance of thermoelectric generation unit using 200°C class fluid heat source

This paper describes the electrical performance of a thermoelectric generating experimental equipment using a 200°C class fluid heat source. The experimental equipment is intended to use the waste heat of the phosphoric acid fuel cells for the hot side heat source. The output power density tended to increase and the thermal contact resistance tended to decrease with the increase of the pressure applied to thermoelectric modules up to 0.5 MPa. But the rate of increase in the power density tended to be saturated with the increase of pressure over 0.5 MPa. For designing the system, the recommendable pressure on modules was 0.5-1.0 MPa from the viewpoint of saturation of the power density. At a pressure on modules of 1 MPa, about 1.6 kW/m² was obtained and the thermal contact resistance of one contact part was 2.5×1 0-4 (m2K/W)