The Low Temperature Difference Thermoelectric Hair Electrical Design And Performance Studies

This paper systemically expounds the basic principles of semiconductor thermoelectr -ic generator (TEG) on the base of non-equilibrium thermodynamics. The steady working model of the single layer generator at small difference in temperature has been established through the present theory of thermoelectricity, and then the running rules has been analyzed by changing its inside structure and outside heat transfer condition. Compared with the results of the experiment, summarizing and finding the effective ways to improve and increase the working efficiency. On theory, major achievements include the following research:1. Putting forward the hypothesis that the polarity of semiconductor will become weakened when temperature raise higher after the figure of merit comes to a certain value, and obtain the general calculation formula about the thermo-emf.2. Establishing the one dimension model of steady heat transfer about the semiconductor elements, the result shows that the temperature distribution of both n-type and p-type semiconductor approximately have the linear shape due to small temperature differential and current intensity.3. According to the simulation about the outside heat transfer condition, the conclusion shows that, compared to the low temperature side, the hot temperature side plays an more important role to the generator.4. Pointing out the defect of Gao and D.M.Rowe' calculation model about the optimization of the inside structure, and then obtain the more accurate calculation formula of output power and working efficiency.In experiment, major achievements include the following research:1. Designing and building the experimental station about small temperature differential TEG. , many groups of experiments at different situation have been finished, obtaining some reliable experimental date.2. The experimental date basically comfort with the calculation equation of output power about traditional TEG through introducing irreversible coefficient.3. Obtaining various curves at different cases about the performance of the TEG in term of two different situation which contain the temperature difference between the two sides of the module and between the two sides of elements.