THE INFLUENCE OF THOMSON EFFECT ON THE MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT AND MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY OF A THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR

Considering a thermoelectric generator as a heat engine cycle, the gen eral differential equations of the temperature field inside thermoelec tric elements are established by means of nonequilibrium thermodynamic s. These equations are used to study the influence of heat leak, Joule 's heat, and Thomson heat on the performance of the thermoelectric gen erator. New expressions are derived for the power output and the effic iency of the thermoelectric generator. The maximum power output is cal culated and the optimal matching condition of load is determined. The maximum efficiency is discussed by a representative numerical example. The aim of this research is to provide some novel conclusions and red ress some errors existing in a related investigation. (C) 1996 America n Institute of Physics.