Power generation modeling for a wearable thermoelectric energy harvester with practical limitations
Power generation modeling for a wearable thermoelectric energy harvester with practical limitations
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DOI：
10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.08.186
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发表时间：
2016-12
期刊：
影响因子：
11.2
通讯作者：
Kyle Pietrzyk;J. Soares;Brandon Ohara;Hohyun Lee
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Kyle Pietrzyk;J. Soares;Brandon Ohara;Hohyun Lee
最近关于提高热电品质因数（ZT）的研究已经推进了使用热电发电机的自供电、可穿戴技术的研究。然而，以前的设计方法没有考虑结构上实际的散热器和模块几何形状，升压转换器的使用，或由于美观而导致的发电机尺寸限制，所有这些都降低了总功率输出。此外，使用升压转换器的效率降低改变了最大功率的电和热负载匹配条件。在这项研究中，实用性的局限性被认为是一个可穿戴的热电发电机，利用最先进的升压转换器和优化的散热器。研究了散热片几何形状和热电模块几何形状，以在42.0 cm2面积和1.0 cm总高度内最大化功率输出，从而证明能量采集器的耐磨性。通过优化鳍片和模块高度，该系统设计为在3.0 V的升压输出电压下产生0.48 mW的电力，足以为小型心率监测器供电。
Recent studies on improving the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) have advanced research into self-powered, wearable technologies using thermoelectric generators. However, previous design approaches do not consider structurally practical heat sink and module geometries, the use of a boost converter, or the size constraint of the generator due to aesthetic appeal, all of which lower the overall power output. Additionally, the reduced efficiency in using a boost converter changes the electrical and thermal load matching conditions for maximum power. In this study, the limitations of practicality were considered for a wearable thermoelectric generator that utilizes a state-of-the-art boost converter and an optimized heat sink. Heat sink fin geometries and thermoelectric module geometries were explored to maximize the power output within a 42.0 cm2area and a 1.0 cm total height, in order to justify the wearability of the energy harvester. With optimized values of fin and module heights, the system was designed to produce 0.48 mW of electrical power at a boosted output voltage of 3.0 V, enough to power a small heart-rate monitor.