Characterization of thermoelectric generators by measuring the load-dependence behavior
► This paper is to present a methodology to characterize thermoelectric (TE) generators. ► The measurements were done on a TE module TEC1-12707 and a SPICE model was obtained. ► The SPICE model is V open = 53.17 × Δ T [mV] in series with an internal resistance of R int = 3.88 ± 0.13 Ω. ► The load re...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Measurement : journal of the International Measurement Confederation 2011-12, Vol.44 (10), p.2194-2199 |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | ► This paper is to present a methodology to characterize thermoelectric (TE) generators. ► The measurements were done on a TE module TEC1-12707 and a SPICE model was obtained. ► The SPICE model is
V
open
=
53.17
×
Δ
T [mV] in series with an internal resistance of
R
int
=
3.88
±
0.13
Ω. ► The load resistance of 3.92
Ω given by
V
out
/
I
out
is also in accordance with the measurements. ►
V
out
/
I
out
=
3.92
Ω is within the range [
μ
−
σ,
μ
+
σ] Ω, where
μ
=
R
0
=
3.88
Ω and
σ
=
Δ
R
int
=
0.13
Ω.
Solid-state thermoelectric generators (TEGs) based on the Seebeck effect to convert temperature gradients, Δ
T [K], into electrical energy are being used in an increased number of stand-alone microsystems applications. These generators are composed by at least one pair of
p- and
n-type thermoelectric elements with high figures-of-merit,
ZT, to perform such a conversion. The exact behavior knowledge of generators is mandatory in order to decide the most suitable for the target application. The focus of this paper is to present a methodology to characterize thermoelectric generators, by measuring their behavior for different types of loads. The measurements were done with the help of commercial thermoelectric generators (thermoelectric modules TEC1-12707) and a measurement setup composed by a controlled hot-plate, a controlled cooling fan (above an heat dissipator), a set of two thermistors for measuring the temperature, a personal computer with the data acquisition board model NI USB-6009 and the LabView software from National Instruments for acquiring the measures and for controlling both the hot-plate and the cooling fan. The thermoelectric modules TEC1-12707 was selected due to its compact size (e.g., 40
mm
×
40
mm) and because it can withstand temperatures up to 450
K without degrading the quality of measurements. A SPICE model for thermoelectric modules TEC1-12707 was also obtained: an open-circuit voltage of
V
open
=
53.17
×
Δ
T [mV] and an internal resistance of
R
0
=
3.88
Ω with a tolerance of Δ
R
int
=
0.13
Ω such that
R
int
=
R
0
±
Δ
R
int
=
3.88
±
0.13
Ω. The measurements done under the maximum output power delivery condition (for the maximum temperature gradient of Δ
T
=
51
°C) resulted in the maximum output power of
P
out
=
500
mW, as well as in the output current and voltage of
I
out
=
357
mA and
V
out
=
1.40
V, respectively. The load resistance of 3.92
Ω (
V
out
/
I
out
) is also in accordance with the measurements because it is located in the range [ |
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ISSN: | 0263-2241 1873-412X |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.measurement.2011.07.015 |