Experimental Study on the Working Efficiency and Exergy Efficiency of the Vehicle-Mounted Thermoelectric Generator for Cold Chain Logistics Transportation Vehicle

Abstract

This paper investigates a vehicle-mounted thermoelectric generator system working efficiency and exergy efficiency in a cold chain logistics transport vehicle (CLVTEG). The study examines the impact of factors such as load resistance, temperature difference, and copper foam on the performance of CLVTEG. Results demonstrate that adding copper foam significantly improves the output power of CLVTEG, with 40 PPI copper foam showing a 1.8 times increase compared to no copper foam. Additionally, copper foam enhances working and exergy efficiency, with 10 PPI copper foam achieving the best overall efficiency. The study also explores the effect of temperature difference on CLVTEGs efficiency, observing an initial increase followed by a decrease. Overall, this research underscores the importance of considering work and exergy efficiency when evaluating thermoelectric generators. Adding copper foam in the CLVTEG central area enhances heat transfer, resulting in improved efficiency. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing the design and operation of thermoelectric generators in cold chain logistics transport vehicles.