General Figures of Merit ZQ for Thermoelectric Generators Under Constant Heat-In Flux Boundary

Li, Huan1; Wang, Yupeng1; Zhu, Kang1; Han, Zhijia1; Wu, Xinzhi1; Wang, Shuaihua1; Zhang, Wenqing1; Liu, Weishu1,2

2023-09-01

10.1002/advs.202303695

ADVANCED SCIENCE   Impact Factor & Quartile

2198-3844

The thermoelectric figure of merit ZT bridges the efficiency and material parameters for a thermoelectric device operating under constant temperature of the hot- and cold-source thermal boundary (Type-I TB). However, many application scenarios fall under the constant heat-in flux (qh) and constant cold-source temperature (T-c) thermal boundary (Type-II TB), for which a figure of merit is absent for more than half a century. This study aims to fill this gap and propose a figure of merit ZQ(D) for the thermoelectric devices under the Type-II TB condition, defined as ZQ(D) = (ZT(c)/ZT(c)+1)(h/x)(q(h)/T-c), where Z, h, and kappa are the traditional figure of merit, leg height, and thermal conductivity, respectively. The effectiveness of ZQ(D) is verified through both numerical calculations and experiments, which are more accurate and practical than ZT. Furthermore, a system-level figure of merit ZQ(S) is suggested after considering the external thermal resistance. Finally, optimization strategies for thermoelectric systems based on ZQ(S) are proposed, showing a 30% enhancement in the efficiency. ZQ(D) and ZQ(S) are expected to be widely used in the thermoelectric field.

constant heat-in flux figures of merit optimization strategies thermoelectric generators thermoelectric materials

SCI

English

First ; Corresponding

This work was supported by the Shenzhen Key Projects of Long-Term Support Plan no. 20200925164021002. The authors acknowledge the support from the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory Program (no. 2021B1212040001) and, in part, from the Center for Mechanica[20200925164021002] ; Shenzhen Key Projects of Long-Term Support Plan[2021B1212040001]

Chemistry ; Science & Technology - Other Topics ; Materials Science

Chemistry, Multidisciplinary ; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology ; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

WOS:001071714400001

WILEY

Web of Science

1.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Mat Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, Peoples R China
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Guangdong Prov Key Lab Funct Oxide Mat & Devices, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, Peoples R China

Li, Huan,Wang, Yupeng,Zhu, Kang,et al. General Figures of Merit ZQ for Thermoelectric Generators Under Constant Heat-In Flux Boundary[J]. ADVANCED SCIENCE,2023.

Li, Huan.,Wang, Yupeng.,Zhu, Kang.,Han, Zhijia.,Wu, Xinzhi.,...&Liu, Weishu.(2023).General Figures of Merit ZQ for Thermoelectric Generators Under Constant Heat-In Flux Boundary.ADVANCED SCIENCE.

Li, Huan,et al."General Figures of Merit ZQ for Thermoelectric Generators Under Constant Heat-In Flux Boundary".ADVANCED SCIENCE (2023).