A review on heat sink for thermo-electric power generation: Classifications and parameters affecting performance

• Published in: Energy conversion and management Vol. 134; pp. 260 - 277
• Main Authors: Elghool, Ali, Basrawi, Firdaus, Ibrahim, Thamir Khalil, Habib, Khairul, Ibrahim, Hassan, Idris, Daing Mohamad Nafiz Daing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15-02-2017; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Classification; Clean energy; Climate change; Electric generators; Electric power; Electric power generation; Electric power production; Fossil fuels; Generators; Global warming; Green development; Heat; Heat sinks; Parameters; Thermal energy; Thermo-electric generator; Waste heat; Thermo-electric generator; Waste heat; Heat sinks; Classification
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2016.12.046

•Coupling a thermoelectric power generation (TEG) to a heat sink is presented.•Review the classifications and parameters affecting performance of the TEG with heat sink.•Discuss different mathematical models of the heat sinks.•The passive heat sinks are most appropriate because of the inherent efficiency of TEG.•Medium temperature range below 300°C is found to be most suitable for HPHS.
In recent years, there have been growing interests in key areas related to global warming resulting from environmental emissions, and the diminishing sources of fossil fuel. The increased interest has led to significant research efforts towards finding novel technologies in clean energy production. Consequently, the merits of a thermo-electric generator (TEG) have promised a revival of alternative means of producing green energy. It is, however, impractical to account for the cost of thermal energy input to the TEG which is in the form of final waste heat. This is because the technology presents critical limitations in determining its cost efficiency nor its economic disadvantages. This paper reviews the principles of thermo-electric power production, as well the materials use, performance achieved, and application areas. The paper also takes a particular deliberation on TEG heat sinks geometries and categories. The review emphasizes more on the TEG performance while considering a number of heat sink parameters related to its performance.