Title: Performance assessment of nanostructured thermoelectric cooler

Authors: Mustafa Asker

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Central Campus, Aydın, 09010, Turkey

Abstract: In this research study, 1D numerical simulation for p-type (Bi_0.2Sb_0.8)₂Te₃ nanocomposite thermoelectric cooler (TEC) is conducted by utilising a finite volume method. The model is verified through a comparison with the published analytical data and good agreement is observed. Multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) is used to enhance the thermal characteristics of TEC which is represented by the figure of merit. In this context, three separate scenarios are developed for different MWCNT compositions in order to investigate the influence of various design parameters on the performance of TEC. It is found that the most efficient performance is achieved for nanocomposite containing 0.12 wt% of MWCNT with a figure of merit equal to 1.4. Moreover, the maximum value of exergy efficiency for this nanocomposite is found to be 0.195 at a current value of 0.7 A.

Keywords: coefficient of performance; COP; exergy efficiency; finite volume method; thermoelectric cooler; TEC.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2021.113841

International Journal of Exergy, 2021 Vol.34 No.3, pp.267 - 281

Received: 25 May 2020
Accepted: 13 Jul 2020
Published online: 31 Mar 2021 *

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