Improvement of piston engine operation efficiency by direct conversion of the heat of exhaust gases into electric energy

Abstract

A promising new way of direct conversion of the heat of piston engine exhaust gases into electric energy is investigated. An original design of a thermoelectric converter with various surface reliefs (smooth, spherical peaks, spherical dimples) is developed. The engine operation and the flow in the heat-exchanger of the thermoelectric generator are modeled. Based on the results of 3D modeling of convective heat transfer, it has been determined that the surface with heat transfer intensifiers in the form of spherical dimples is the most efficient.