Title: Thermodynamic analysis of a thermoelectric device

Authors: M. Kassas

Addresses: Electrical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Box 1151, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Thermoelectric devices are the possible candidates to generate direct electricity from the available thermal radiation as well as other heat sources. As compared with conventional power generating devices, they are more compact, longer-lived and environmental friendly. In the present study, the thermoelectric diode is considered and electronic as well as Carnot efficiency of the device are computed. It is found that increasing emitter temperature increases the Carnot efficiency of the device; in which case, diode power intensity and electronic efficiency reduce. The second law efficiency increases with emitter to collector temperature ratio and reduces with increasing collector temperature owing to increase in collector current flow.

Keywords: thermoelectrics; thermoelectric diode; Carnot efficiency; thermodynamics; exergy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2007.012064

International Journal of Exergy, 2007 Vol.4 No.2, pp.168 - 179

Published online: 16 Jan 2007 *

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