Thermoelectric-Generator-Based DC-DC Conversion Networks for Automotive Applications

摘要

Maximizing electrical energy generation through waste heat recovery is one of the modern research questions within automotive applications of thermoelectric (TE) technologies. This paper proposes a novel concept of distributed multisection multilevel DC-DC conversion networks based on thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for automotive applications. The concept incorporates a bottom-up design approach to collect, convert, and manage vehicle waste heat efficiently. Several state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials are analyzed for the purpose of power generation at each waste heat harvesting location on a vehicle. Optimal materials and TE couple configurations are suggested. Moreover, a comparison of prevailing DC-DC conversion techniques was made with respect to applications at each conversion level within the network. Furthermore, higher-level design considerations are discussed according to system specifications. Finally, a case study is performed to compare the performance of the proposed network and a traditional single-stage system. The results show that the proposed network enhances the system conversion efficiency by up to 400percent.