Thermoelectric generator (TEG) technologies and applications

TLDR

Thermoelectric generators convert thermal energy into electricity via the Seebeck effect, offering a quiet, environmentally safe, and versatile green power solution that can be fabricated on various substrates and applied to a wide range of bulk and compact systems. This study aims to predict thermoelectric device output to guide future use and design of TEGs and systems. The paper analyzes TEGs by reviewing their thermoelectric effects, materials, figure‑of‑merit, design improvements, substrate options, and simulating performance with COMSOL Multiphysics and ANSYS‑CFD. TEGs have proven viable for direct electricity generation from industrial waste heat.

Abstract

Nowadays humans are facing difficult issues, such as increasing power costs, environmental pollution and global warming. In order to reduce their consequences, scientists are concentrating on improving power generators focused on energy harvesting. Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have demonstrated their capacity to transform thermal energy directly into electric power through the Seebeck effect. Due to the unique advantages they present, thermoelectric systems have emerged during the last decade as a promising alternative among other technologies for green power production. In this regard, thermoelectric device output prediction is important both for determining the future use of this new technology and for specifying the key design parameters of thermoelectric generators and systems. Moreover, TEGs are environmentally safe, work quietly as they do not include mechanical mechanisms or rotating elements and can be manufactured on a broad variety of substrates such as silicon, polymers and ceramics. In addition, TEGs are position-independent, have a long working life and are ideal for bulk and compact applications. Furthermore, Thermoelectric generators have been found as a viable solution for direct generation of electricity from waste heat in industrial processes. This paper presents in-depth analysis of TEGs, beginning with a comprehensive overview of their working principles such as the Seebeck effect, the Peltier effect, the Thomson effect and Joule heating with their applications, materials used, Figure of Merit, improvement techniques including different thermoelectric material arrangements and technologies used and substrate types. Moreover, performance simulation examples such as COMSOL Multiphysics and ANSYS-Computational Fluid Dynamics are investigated.