Thermoelectric Energy Recovery from Exhaust Systems:Design, Simulation, and Performance Analysis of aWaste-Heat Recovery Prototype
Abstract
In today’s context, energy plays a vital role in environmental development. Unfortunately, most energy strategies that yield immediate benefits often contribute to long-term environmental degradation. The law of conservation of energy states that “Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change from one form to another.” This idea emphasizes the fact that no technological improvement can continue eternally without having negative effects. Every living thing on the world is greatly impacted by the total global impact of energy use. Energy conservation strategies are the focus of this study. An electromechanical device that transforms thermal energy into electrical energy is called a thermoelectric generator (TEG). TEG can be used in a variety of applications by collecting and reusing waste heat. In this study, waste heat is recovered for secondary uses, like powering a car or generator, by integrating a TEG into an exhaust system. UNIGRAPHICS NX was used to design the prototype, while ANSYS 16.2 was used for analysis. The simulation results were compiled using Fluent Workbench. Simulations were carried out with double precision after parameters were established. Aluminum was selected as the material for this study. The analysis was carried out based on temperature and heat transfer characteristics.