Influence of Channel Diameter on the Efficiency of Permeable Thermoelements From Bi-Te-Se-Sb Materials

Abstract

The results of studies of permeable thermoelements are presented. The physical model, method of calculation and design of a permeable thermocouple in which the fluid is pumped through the branches of the semiconductor material are described. For materials based on Bi-Te-Se-Sb, the influence of structural parameters (channel diameter and number, branch height and number of segments) in optimal conditions of thermoelement efficiency on energy characteristics is calculated. The features of methods of solving problems in 3-D and 1-D cases for different models of permeable thermocouples are described. 3-D simulation of the generator thermocouple based on COMSOL Multiphysics was used for the calculations. On the basis of computer-aided design, optimal values of such parameters are calculated, which allow to establish the necessary material science requirements for the creation of thermocouple and indicate the possibility of increasing the efficiency of thermoelectric energy conversion by 1.2 - 1.5 times compared to traditional thermocouples.