Google Search
C2: Automotive
Currently, large amount of thermal energy dissipated from automotives is emitted through the hot exhaust pipe. High price of fossil fuel for vehicles needs new efficient recycling method to recover energy from waste hot exhaust gas. The present experimental study investigated how to improve the enough power output of a TEG (thermoelectric generator) system assisted with wickless loop heat pipe (loop thermosyphon). The limited space of exhaust gas pipe line cannot allow numerous number of TEG modules to be installed in the system.
The present study shows a novel loop type loop type heat pipe assisted TEG concept to be applied to hybrid vehicles. The operating temperature of a TEG hot side surface should be as high enough as possible in order to maximize the Seebeck effect. Also TEG system needs enough heat transferring normal area to the thermal flow direction in given efficiency of Bi-Te TEG. In the present work, a small engine imitation burner was adapted for hot exhaust gas supplier. It was found that a high heat pipe operating temperature is only limitative for performance in the cases with absorbing sufficient hot energy. Therefore, heat pipe were used as a heat transfer device with enough normal thermal flow area.
The present study shows a novel TEG concept to transfer the heat from the heat source to the sink. This technology can transfer waste heat to any local place with loop type heat pipe. The present TEG system with a heat pipe can transfer heat and generate power of around 1.3 EMF from 170oC hot exhaust gas. The present study with two Bi-Te TEG modules were installed in the condenser section, heat flows to the condenser section from the evaporator section inserted into the exhaust pipe. This novel TEG system can be placed in any place of automotives with loop type heat pipe device.