Development and validation of a new TRNSYS type for the simulationof thermoelectric generatorsE. Massaguer⇑ , A. Massaguer, L. Montoro, J.R. GonzalezDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, C. de Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 61, 17071 Girona, Spainh i g h l i g h t s? A new TRNSYS component for simulation of thermoelectric generators is developed.? A TEG model is proposed and validated under transient and steady-state conditions.? The results have approved the reasonability of the new component.a r t i c l e i n f oArticle history:Received 29 March 2014Received in revised form 28 May 2014Accepted 1 August 2014Available online 23 August 2014Keywords:Thermoelectric generatorTEGTRNSYSComputational modelPower generationa b s t r a c tThermoelectric generators (TEGs) make use of the Seebeck effect in semiconductors for the direct conver-sion of heat into electrical energy, being of particular interest for high reliability systems or for waste heatrecovery. Although several TEG models can be found in the literature, many of them not offer a theoret-ical solution because they are based on steady-state solutions or they are assuming fixed parameters asboundary conditions. Consequently, to assess and optimize thermoelectric generators in real applicationsa numerical transient simulation tool, which takes into account the whole energy system, is mandatory.For that purpose, a new TRNSYS type is developed. This TEG component, which can be used as a designtool, is presented in this paper and validated using experimental data.The results show that the proposed component is able to cope with both thermal and electrical dynam-ics. The comparison between theoretic and experimental results has approved the reasonability of thenew component. The normalized root mean square errors are 3.53% and 2.33% for temperature differencebetween hot and cold sides and electrical output power, respectively.? 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.1. IntroductionA thermoelectric power generator is a solid-state device thatprovides direct energy conversion from thermal energy, due to atemperature gradient, into electrical energy based on Seebeckeffect. Also, they can work in reverse and use electrical energy tocreate a temperature gradient for cooling or heating applications.The absence of moving parts, wide range of operating tempera-tures, scalability, and modular capabilities makes thermoelectricityattractive for a wide variety of applications, such as power forremote control and monitoring of oil or gas pipelines andproduction facilities, automotive waste heat recovery, power fornavigational aids, spacecraft radioisotope power supply, telecom-munications systems and cathodic protection, and other energyrecovery processes [1–6]. Thermoelectric devices have relativelylow efficiencies but there have been recent advances in thermo-electric materials potentially opening the door to new powerapplications [7,8]. As material advancements continue and a widerrange of power generation applications will be considered, moduleand system level modelling becomes critical for the design of thenext generation of thermoelectric systems.Although several models for TEG modules can be found in theliterature [9–16], many of them not offer a theoretical solutionbecause their governing equations are based on steady-statesolutions or they are assuming fixed temperatures as boundaryconditions at both sides of the TEG. Moreover, almost none of themhave studied the transient effects of load resistance. Completetransient analyses are seldom presented and just a few havealready provided a complete mathematical solution of the heatconduction equation for TEG devices [13–15].This study attempts to fill the existing gap in the simulation ofthermoelectric generation through the development of a newcomponent that can be used in TRNSYS software. TRNSYS [17],http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.08.0100306-2619/? 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 972 418 489; fax: +34 972 418 098.E-mail address: Eduard.massaguer@udg.edu (E. Massaguer).Applied Energy 134 (2014) 65–74Contents lists available at ScienceDirectApplied Energyjournal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apenergy
