ABSTRACT

When a temperature difference exists, a potential for power production ensues: it is the principle of thermoelectricity. It could provide an unconventional energy source for a wide range of applications even if the ef„ciency of the thermoelements is rather low. Even if the basis and the principle of thermoelectric effects have been clearly and widely described these last centuries, a signi„cant part of research and development effort is still devoted to thermoelectricity in order to make it emerge as renewable energy and to promote an understanding of the role thermoelectric technology may play in environmental impact. Many signi„cant advances have been made concerning the discovery and the elaboration of thermoelectric materials with a high „gure of merit (the good candidates are among materials with low thermal conductivity but high electrical conductivity), but the need of thermal

CONTENTS

8.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 269 8.2 Modelling of a Thermoelectric LEG ........................................................ 272

8.2.1 Governing Equation ...................................................................... 272 8.2.2 Analytical Modelling .................................................................... 273 8.2.3 Numerical Modelling .................................................................... 274 8.2.4 Analogical Modelling with Thermal Capacitances

and Resistances .............................................................................. 275 8.2.5 Thermoelectric Quadrupole .........................................................280