中国物理B ›› 2018, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (7): 77304-077304.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/27/7/077304

• CONDENSED MATTER: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL, MAGNETIC, AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES • 上一篇    下一篇

Improving compatibility between thermoelectric components through current refraction

K Song(宋坤), H P Song(宋豪鹏), C F Gao(高存法)   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical Structures, Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
  • 收稿日期:2018-01-10 修回日期:2018-04-11 出版日期:2018-07-05 发布日期:2018-07-05
  • 通讯作者: H P Song E-mail:hpsong@nuaa.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    Project supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China (Grant No. NS2016008).

Improving compatibility between thermoelectric components through current refraction

K Song(宋坤), H P Song(宋豪鹏), C F Gao(高存法)   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical Structures, Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
  • Received:2018-01-10 Revised:2018-04-11 Online:2018-07-05 Published:2018-07-05
  • Contact: H P Song E-mail:hpsong@nuaa.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China (Grant No. NS2016008).

摘要: It is well known that components with dissimilar compatibility factors cannot be combined by segmentation into an efficient thermoelectric generator, since each component needs a unique optimal current density. Based on the complex variable method, the thermal-electric field within a bi-layered thermoelectric composite has been analyzed, and the field distributions have been obtained in closed-form. Our analysis shows that current refraction occurs at the interface, both the refraction angle and current density vary with the incidence angle. Further analysis proves that the current densities in two components can be adjusted independently by adjusting the incidence current density and incidence angle, thus the optimal current density can be matched in both components, and the conversion efficiency can be significantly increased. These results point to a new route for high efficiency thermoelectric composites.

关键词: thermoelectric material, current refraction, compatibility factor, conversion efficiency

Abstract: It is well known that components with dissimilar compatibility factors cannot be combined by segmentation into an efficient thermoelectric generator, since each component needs a unique optimal current density. Based on the complex variable method, the thermal-electric field within a bi-layered thermoelectric composite has been analyzed, and the field distributions have been obtained in closed-form. Our analysis shows that current refraction occurs at the interface, both the refraction angle and current density vary with the incidence angle. Further analysis proves that the current densities in two components can be adjusted independently by adjusting the incidence current density and incidence angle, thus the optimal current density can be matched in both components, and the conversion efficiency can be significantly increased. These results point to a new route for high efficiency thermoelectric composites.

Key words: thermoelectric material, current refraction, compatibility factor, conversion efficiency

中图分类号:  (Thermoelectric effects)

  • 73.50.Lw
84.60.Rb (Thermoelectric, electrogasdynamic and other direct energy conversion) 84.60.Bk (Performance characteristics of energy conversion systems; figure of merit) 46.25.Cc (Theoretical studies)