A trial manufacture of a thermoelectric generator powered by high-temperature heat transfer medium oil

A thermoelectric generator has been manufactured and evaluated for the purpose that the behavior of heat conduction and power generating performance can be clarified when the thermoelectric generator is powered by a high-temperature heat transfer medium oil over 500 K. The thermoelectric generator needs a compression fitting mechanism which holds heat sinks and thermoelectric generating modules so tight that desirable heat conduction can be maintained for thousands of heat cycles. The pressure required for the compression fitting mechanism was experimentally investigated with a trial manufactured thermoelectric generator. As an experimental result the compression fitting mechanism of the modules requires 0.28 MPa compressive load, which is 80% less than the recommended value by one of the module manufacturers. Electricity obtained by the trially manufactured thermoelectric generator with bismuth telluride-based modules increases in proportion to the square of the logarithmic mean temperature difference between the heat transfer medium oil and cooling water and attains 165 W at the logarithmic temperature difference of 180 K. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.