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Entropy
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Thermodynamics of Thermoelectric Devices and Applications
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Thermodynamics of Thermoelectric Devices and Applications

A special issue of Entropy (ISSN 1099-4300). This special issue belongs to the section "Thermodynamics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2020) | Viewed by 15859

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Roop L. Mahajan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Blacksburg, VA, USA
Interests: thermal sciences; energy engineering; nanomaterials; artificial neural networks; interdisciplinary research and innovation
Dr. Ravi Anant Kishore

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Building Energy Science Group, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO 80401, USA
Interests: thermal-fluid sciences; energy conversion; energy storage; building energy management; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thermoelectric effects and devices have been analyzed and investigated using classical heat transfer methods and equations of thermoelectricity for several decades. Although extensively explored, commercial thermoelectric devices still have a poor thermal-to-electrical conversion efficiency. Evaluating thermoelectric phenomena using thermodynamic arguments can provide new insights and lead thermoelectric research towards enhancing the figure-of-merit, ZT, and potential for achieving the Carnot efficiency.

In this Special Issue of Entropy, we cordially invite you to submit review, perspective, and original papers on thermoelectric effects, devices, and applications, with a particular focus on the thermodynamics of thermoelectricity.

Prof. Roop Mahajan
Dr. Ravi Anant Kishore
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Entropy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Thermoelectric
  • TEG
  • TEC
  • Thermodynamics
  • Entropy
  • Carnot
  • Optimization
  • Heat recovery
  • Thermal energy harvesting

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3993 KiB  
Article
New Concept of Power Generation Using TEGs: Thermal Modeling, Parametric Analysis, and Case Study
by Ahmad Faraj, Hassan Jaber, Khaled Chahine, Jalal Faraj, Mohamad Ramadan, Hicham El Hage and Mahmoud Khaled
Entropy 2020, 22(5), 503; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/e22050503 - 27 Apr 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2642
Abstract
In this manuscript, an innovative concept of producing power from a thermoelectric generator (TEG) is evaluated. This concept takes advantage of using the exhaust airflow of all-air heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and sun irradiation. For the first step, a parametric analysis [...] Read more.
In this manuscript, an innovative concept of producing power from a thermoelectric generator (TEG) is evaluated. This concept takes advantage of using the exhaust airflow of all-air heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and sun irradiation. For the first step, a parametric analysis of power generation from TEGs for different practical configurations is performed. Based on the results of the parametric analysis, recommendations associated with practical applications are presented. Therefore, a one-dimensional steady-state solution for the heat diffusion equation is considered with various boundary conditions (representing applied configurations). It is revealed that the most promising configuration corresponds to the TEG module exposed to a hot fluid at one face and a cold fluid at the other face. Then, based on the parametric analysis, the innovative concept is recognized and analyzed using appropriate thermal modeling. It is shown that for solar radiation of 2000 W/m2 and a space cooling load of 20 kW, a 40 × 40 cm2 flat plate is capable of generating 3.8 W of electrical power. Finally, an economic study shows that this system saves about $6 monthly with a 3-year payback period at 2000 W/m2 solar radiation. Environmentally, the system is also capable of reducing about 1 ton of CO2 emissions yearly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermodynamics of Thermoelectric Devices and Applications)
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9 pages, 537 KiB  
Article
Role of Heat Expansion with a Series of Ionic Liquids: The Case for Isochoric Thermoelectric Generators and Minimal Steric Repulsion
by Marcus Jackson, Robert R. Engel and Luat T. Vuong
Entropy 2019, 21(11), 1086; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/e21111086 - 06 Nov 2019
Viewed by 2784
Abstract
The role of convection in liquid thermoelectric cells may be difficult to predict because the inter- and intramolecular interactions are not currently incorporated into thermodynamic models. Here, we study the thermoelectric response of a series of five anhydrous 1-methyl-3- alkylimidazolium halide ionic liquids [...] Read more.
The role of convection in liquid thermoelectric cells may be difficult to predict because the inter- and intramolecular interactions are not currently incorporated into thermodynamic models. Here, we study the thermoelectric response of a series of five anhydrous 1-methyl-3- alkylimidazolium halide ionic liquids with varied chain length and counterion in a high-aspect-ratio, horizontal-temperature-gradient geometry, where convection is minimal. While a canonical constant-volume thermodynamic model predicts that the longer aliphatic groups exhibit larger Seebeck coefficients, we instead measure the opposite: Longer aliphatic chains correlate with lower densities and greater heat expansion, stronger intermolecular associations, stronger steric repulsion, and lower Seebeck coefficients. As evidence of the critical role of thermal expansion, we measure that the Seebeck effect is nonlinear: Values of −2.8 mV/K with a 10 K temperature difference and −1.8 mV/K with a 50 K difference are measured with ether ion. Our results indicate that steric repulsion and heat expansion are important considerations in ionic liquid design; with large temperature differences, the Seebeck coefficient correlates negatively with heat expansion. Our results suggest that Seebeck values will improve if thermal expansion is limited in a pressurized, isochoric, convection-free design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermodynamics of Thermoelectric Devices and Applications)
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Review

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32 pages, 3608 KiB  
Review
High Power Factor vs. High zT—A Review of Thermoelectric Materials for High-Temperature Application
by Mario Wolf, Richard Hinterding and Armin Feldhoff
Entropy 2019, 21(11), 1058; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/e21111058 - 29 Oct 2019
Cited by 104 | Viewed by 9807
Abstract
Energy harvesting with thermoelectric materials has been investigated with increasing attention over recent decades. However, the vast number of various material classes makes it difficult to maintain an overview of the best candidates. Thus, we revitalize Ioffe plots as a useful tool for [...] Read more.
Energy harvesting with thermoelectric materials has been investigated with increasing attention over recent decades. However, the vast number of various material classes makes it difficult to maintain an overview of the best candidates. Thus, we revitalize Ioffe plots as a useful tool for making the thermoelectric properties of a material obvious and easily comparable. These plots enable us to consider not only the efficiency of the material by the figure of merit zT but also the power factor and entropy conductivity as separate parameters. This is especially important for high-temperature applications, where a critical look at the impact of the power factor and thermal conductivity is mandatory. Thus, this review focuses on material classes for high-temperature applications and emphasizes the best candidates within the material classes of oxides, oxyselenides, Zintl phases, half-Heusler compounds, and SiGe alloys. An overall comparison between these material classes with respect to either a high efficiency or a high power output is discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermodynamics of Thermoelectric Devices and Applications)
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