Numerical study of a novel automotive thermoelectric generator system equipped with segmented converging heat exchanger

The automotive thermoelectric generator (ATEG) system represents a significant advancement in exhaust waste heat recovery for conventional or extended-range engines. This study aims to comprehensively assess the performance advantages of a novel ATEG system equipped with a segmented converging heat exchanger. The numerical method is used to conduct the simulation analysis. An experimental bench is established to verify the accuracy of numerical model. The results indicated that the numerical model is highly accurate, with a maximum error of 2.7 % compared with the experimental data. The novel ATEG system demonstrates an 8.6 % increase in output power relative the conventional system. This improvement is attributed to the enhanced fluid mixing and heat transfer promoted by the segmented converging heat exchanger. The temperature difference uniformity of the novel system exhibits an approximate improvement of 8.3 % over the conventional system. Additionally, the power gain of the novel system will be larger at an exhaust condition with high temperature and moderate flow rate. This study provides a valuable insight into a novel heat exchanger applied in ATEG system used for waste heat recovery.