This content is not included in your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.

Thermoelectric Exhaust Heat Recovery for Hybrid Vehicles

Journal Article
2009-01-1327
ISSN: 1946-3936, e-ISSN: 1946-3944
Published April 20, 2009 by SAE International in United States
Thermoelectric Exhaust Heat Recovery for Hybrid Vehicles
Sector:
Citation: Hussain, Q., Brigham, D., and Maranville, C., "Thermoelectric Exhaust Heat Recovery for Hybrid Vehicles," SAE Int. J. Engines 2(1):1132-1142, 2009, https://doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-1327.
Language: English

Abstract:

Only a part of the energy released from the fuel during combustion is converted to useful work in an engine. The remaining energy is wasted and the exhaust stream is a dominant source of the overall wasted energy. There is renewed interest in the conversion of this energy to increase the fuel efficiency of vehicles. There are several ways this can be accomplished. This work involves the utilization thermoelectric (TE) materials which have the capability to convert heat directly into electricity. A model was developed to study the feasibility of the concept. A Design of Experiment was performed to improve the design on the basis of higher power generation and less TE mass, backpressure, and response time. Results suggest that it is possible to construct a realistic device that can convert part of the wasted exhaust energy into electricity thereby improving the fuel economy of a gas-electric hybrid vehicle.