Analysis of car waste heat recovery system utilizing thermoelectric generator

Abstract

This paper presents a calculation algorithm for a thermoelectric generator fitted in the exhaust system of a combustion engine. The viability of the presented calculation method was verified on an actual combustion engine. The calculations were performed for a BMW engine, and the generator design was based on a prototype from the same manufacturer. The paper includes calculations of the thermal cycle and of the parameters of exhaust gases from the engine. Subsequent calculations cover heat transfer from exhaust gases to the thermoelectric module and the amount of electric energy obtained from a series of modules. In the last part, the focus is on the influence of engine speed on the performance of the thermoelectric generator.