关键词: 热电发电系统, 热应力, 数值模拟, 高热通量

Abstract: Thermoelectric generator is a device taking advantage of the temperature difference in thermoelectric material to generate electric power, where the higher the temperature difference of the hot-cold ends, the higher the efficiency will be. However intensive thermal stress level in solar thermoelectric generator (TEG) model provoked by high heat flux is responsible for structure failure of the device, which negatively influences the expected lifecycle of thermoelectric module. Based on the fact, three-dimensional TEG models with different geometries are employed to examine the effect of the conducting strip, ceramic plate and tin soldering geometry configuration on the module's stress level. The simulation results indicate that decreasing ceramic plate thickness, shortening thermo-pins distance, reducing copper strip thickness will effectively alleviate thermal stress intensity in the module.

Key words: thermoelectric generator, thermal stress, numerical simulation, high heat flux