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Performance Characteristics of Thermoelectric Generator Modules For Parallel and Serial Electrical Circuits  

Kim, Yun-Ho (Department of Mechanical and Information Engineering, University of Seoul)
Kim, Myung-Kee (Division of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University)
Kim, Seo-Young (Energy Mechanics Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology)
Rhee, Gwang-Hoon (Department of Mechanical and Information Engineering, University of Seoul)
Um, Suk-Kee (Division of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering / v.22, no.5, 2010 , pp. 259-267 More about this Journal
Abstract
An experiment has been performed in order to investigate the characteristics of multiple thermoelectric modules (TEMs) with electrical circuits. The open circuit voltage of TEM connected parallel circuit is equal to the sum of individual TEMs. In contrast, the open circuit voltage is equal to the average of that individual TEM for a series circuit. The power output and conversion efficiency of TEM for both parallel and series circuits increase as the operating temperature conditions for individual TEMs becomes identical. Comparing parallel with series circuits, the power generation performance is more excellent for series circuit than parallel circuit. This result is attributed to the power loss from the TEM with better power generation performance.
Keywords
Thermoelectric generation; Thermoelectric module; Parallel circuit; Series circuit; Operating temperature;
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