Radiation-Based Thermoelectric Power Generation with Finned Heat Absorber

Abstract

This paper investigates the performance of a new concept of waste heat thermoelectric power generation using radiative heat transfer with horizontal finned heat absorber (TEG-RFA). To this end,a lab-scale experimental setup was built using a heated plate, horizontal finned absorber, thermoelectric modules and air-cooled heat sink. The dimensions of heated plate were 297 mm length 182 mm width. Four sets of horizontal finned absorber 41 mm wide and 55 mm length with 40 x 40 mm thermoelectric module were assembled to absorb the radiative heat emitted by the heated plate. At the back side, a finned aluminum heat sink 119 mm wide and 200 mm length with two DC fans was installed to cool the 4 sets of TEG. The absorber assembly was well insulated on the four lateral sides to protect heat transfer to the cooling heat sink. The air gap space between the heated plate and finned absorber could be adjusted. In this paper, five air gaps (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 cm) and five electrical power (1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 and 1400 watts) supplied to the heater were considered.Temperatures at different positions and generated voltage and current were recorded. Our experimental results showed that the electrical current generated increased with increasing the power supplied to the heated plate and decreased when increasing air gap space. Under the test conditions considered, the maximum electrical power generated and the corresponding temperature difference between the hot and cool sides of thermoelectric modules were 1.20 Watt and    118^oC at 1400 Watt and 1 cm air gap whereas the minimum measured parameters were 0.060 Watt and 14.90^oC at 1000 Watt and 5 cm air gap. Therefore, our investigation demonstrated that this concept ofthermoelectric generator with horizontal finned absorber cooled using air is an interesting alternative for waste heat recovery namely in industries.