Improving the performance of a thermoelectric generator system utilizing the thermal energy of air compressed in the compressor of a turbocharged tractor based on different-sized modules

Abstract

The present study includes a numerical analysis on the electrical power output of a thermoelectric generator system placed between the compressor and intercooler of a turbocharged tractor. While thermal energy of exhaust gases is used in thermoelectric generators of automobiles in the current literature, in this study, in contrast, the thermal energy of the compressed air in the compressor was used in the thermoelectric generator. This constituted the authenticity of the present study. In addition, the effect of cross-sectional areas of p- and n-type thermoelements on the energy conversion from thermal to electrical was investigated. To that end, numerical analyses of three different modules, the TGM-199-1.4-2.0 (commercial module), the TGM-199-1.5-2.0 (designed module), and the TGM-199-1.6-2.0 (designed module) were conducted; these were also comprised of the identical number of thermocouples. As a result of numerical analyses, for the TGM-199-1.6-2.0 module, the increase in the electrical current was found to be 14.67% at R-r = 0.75; 15.4% at R-r = 1; 15.95% at R-r = 1.25; and 16.2% at R-r = 1.5 in comparison with the TGM-199-1.4-2.0 commercial module. Additionally, it was determined that the thermal efficiency values of the TGM-199-1.4-2.0 module were greater than those of the TGM-199-1.5-2.0 and TGM-199-1.6-2.0 modules. In the turbocharged tractor with the assembled thermoelectric generator, the temperature of the air coming out of the intercooler was decreased by 4.27% at 268 K outdoor temperature, in comparison with the one without the thermoelectric generator (for R-r = 1.25). This decrease was determined to be 4.34% for the TGM-199-1.5-2.0 and 5.22% for the TGM-199-1.6-2.0, which indicates a specific enhancement of engine performance.