Analysis of a novel thermoelectric generator in the built environment

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dc.contributor.advisorWebber, Michael E., 1971-en
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSchmidt, Philip S.en
dc.creatorLozano, Adolfoen
dc.date.accessioned2011-10-05T18:01:52Zen
dc.date.available2011-10-05T18:01:52Zen
dc.date.issued2011-08en
dc.date.submittedAugust 2011en
dc.date.updated2011-10-05T18:02:05Zen
dc.descriptiontexten
dc.description.abstractThis study centered on a novel thermoelectric generator (TEG) integrated into the built environment. Designed by Watts Thermoelectric LLC, the TEG is essentially a novel assembly of thermoelectric modules whose required temperature differential is supplied by hot and cold streams of water flowing through the TEG. Per its recommended operating conditions, the TEG nominally generates 83 Watts of electrical power. In its default configuration in the built environment, solar-thermal energy serves as the TEG’s hot stream source and geothermal energy serves as its cold stream source. Two systems-level, thermodynamic analyses were performed, which were based on the TEG’s upcoming characterization testing, scheduled to occur later in 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. The first analysis considered the TEG coupled with a solar collector system. A numerical model of the coupled system was constructed in order to estimate the system’s annual energetic performance. It was determined numerically that over the course of a sample year, the solar collector system could deliver 39.73 megawatt-hours (MWh) of thermal energy to the TEG. The TEG converted that thermal energy into a net of 266.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity in that year. The second analysis focused on the TEG itself during operation with the purpose of providing a preliminary thermodynamic characterization of the TEG. Using experimental data, this analysis found the TEG’s operating efficiency to be 1.72%. Next, the annual emissions that would be avoided by implementing the zero-emission TEG were considered. The emission factor of Michigan’s electric grid, RFCM, was calculated to be 0.830 tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) per MWh, and with the TEG’s annual energy output, it was concluded that 0.221 tons CO2e would be avoided each year with the TEG. It is important to note that the TEG can be linearly scaled up by including additional modules. Thus, these benefits can be multiplied through the incorporation of more TEG units. Finally, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of the TEG integrated into the built environment with the solar-thermal hot source and passive ground-based cold source was considered. The LCOE of the system was estimated to be approximately $8,404/MWh, which is substantially greater than current generation technologies. Note that this calculation was based on one particular configuration with a particular and narrow set of assumptions, and is not intended to be a general conclusion about TEG systems overall. It was concluded that while solar-thermal energy systems can sustain the TEG, they are capital-intensive and therefore not economically suitable for the TEG given the assumptions of this analysis. In the end, because of the large costs associated with the solar-thermal system, waste heat recovery is proposed as a potentially more cost-effective provider of the TEG’s hot stream source.en
dc.description.departmentMechanical Engineeringen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.slug2152/ETD-UT-2011-08-4131en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2152/ETD-UT-2011-08-4131en
dc.language.isoengen
dc.subjectThermoelectric generatoren
dc.subjectTEGen
dc.subjectNovel thermoelectric generatoren
dc.subjectThermoelectricsen
dc.subjectThermoelectric effecten
dc.subjectThermoelectric modulesen
dc.subjectThermoelectric deviceen
dc.subjectPatent applicationen
dc.subjectHot stream sourceen
dc.subjectCold stream sourceen
dc.subjectEIAen
dc.subjectEEREen
dc.subjectSystems-level analysisen
dc.subjectEnergy balanceen
dc.subjectControl volume analysisen
dc.subjectThermodynamic analysisen
dc.subjectInsolation dataen
dc.subjectInsolation incident on a tilted collectoren
dc.subjectInsolation incident on a panelen
dc.subjectIncident insolationen
dc.subjectExtraterrestrial insolationen
dc.subjectNRELen
dc.subjectAmbient temperature dataen
dc.subjectNOAAen
dc.subjectRenewable energy sourcesen
dc.subjectEnergy generation technologyen
dc.subjectElectricity generation technologyen
dc.subjectThermal energyen
dc.subjectCoupled systemen
dc.subjectEmissionsen
dc.subjectGreenhouse gasen
dc.subjectGHGen
dc.subjectEmissions analysisen
dc.subjectZero-emissionen
dc.subjectEmissions avoideden
dc.subjectEmission factoren
dc.subjectEFen
dc.subjectReliability First Corporationen
dc.subjectRFCen
dc.subjectBuilt environmenten
dc.subjectIntegrated into the built environmenten
dc.subjectSolar-thermal energyen
dc.subjectSolar collector systemen
dc.subjectPhotovoltaic thermalen
dc.subjectPVT panelen
dc.subjectThermal storage tanken
dc.subjectGeothermal energyen
dc.subjectGeothermal heat pumpen
dc.subjectGHPen
dc.subjectGround source heat pumpen
dc.subjectGSHPen
dc.subjectNumerical analysisen
dc.subjectNumerical modelen
dc.subjectMATLABen
dc.subjectFinite-differenceen
dc.subjectEuler expliciten
dc.subjectElectric griden
dc.subjectAnnual energetic performanceen
dc.subjectAnnual electricity generationen
dc.subjectOperating efficiencyen
dc.subjectSystem efficiencyen
dc.subjectThermodynamic characterizationen
dc.subjectEconomic analysisen
dc.subjectLevelized cost of energyen
dc.subjectLCOEen
dc.subjectWaste heat recoveryen
dc.subjectCarbon dioxide equivalenten
dc.subjectCO2een
dc.subjectCapital costsen
dc.subjectInstalled costsen
dc.subjectOperating and maintenance costsen
dc.titleAnalysis of a novel thermoelectric generator in the built environmenten
dc.type.genrethesisen
thesis.degree.departmentMechanical Engineeringen
thesis.degree.disciplineMechanical Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Texas at Austinen
thesis.degree.levelMastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science in Engineeringen

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