An annular thermoelectric couple analytical model by considering temperature-dependent material properties and Thomson effect

In this paper, an annular thermoelectric couple (ATEC) analytical model is proposed with simultaneous consideration of temperature-dependent thermoelectric (TE) material properties and Thomson effect. To obtain a more precise analytical solution, this model is analyzed with two different approximate assumptions and then applied in skutterudites (SKU) and half-Heusler TE materials. The reliability and accuracy of this model are validated by comparing with numerical results. The results show that the proposed analytical model with a parabolic assumption is especially appropriate to be applied in the obvious temperature-dependent TE materials, such as SKU. When this analytical model is applied in SKU material, the calculated relative errors of temperature, derivative of temperature, output power, and conversion efficiency are less than 0.14%, 0.9%, 0.6% and 1.52%, respectively. Besides, it is emphasized that the Thomson effect and temperature-dependent material properties should be taken into account simultaneously for precise performance analyses of an ATEC. The proposed analytical model could be applied for convenient calculation of the output power and conversion efficiency of ATECs. It also could be an approach of investigation and determination for the best parameter estimation if this model is applied for optimal design of ATECs.