Study on the performance of thermoelectric generator with topology-optimized heat sinks

IF 4.9 2区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL International Journal of Thermal Sciences Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-22 DOI:10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2025.110621

Liyao Xie , Zhaowei He , Aleksi Mankonen , Wei Wang , Yulong Zhao

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Abstract

This study proposes a three-dimensional topology optimization strategy for the structural design of passive cooling heat sinks in thermoelectric generator (TEG)-based waste heat recovery systems. The optimization objective focuses on minimizing the average temperature on the cold side of the TEG, thereby enhancing natural convection cooling and improving the power output and conversion efficiency of the system. The results demonstrate that the topology-optimized heat sink enhances natural convection by promoting interaction between the fins and airflow, significantly reducing the average temperature on the cold side of the TEG and improving the system's thermoelectric performance. Quantitatively, the 3D topology-optimized heat sink outperforms conventional straight-fin designs, increasing output power by 27.9 % and thermoelectric conversion efficiency by 14.5 %. Furthermore, flow field analysis using the Q-criterion reveals enhanced vortex structures and airflow mixing, contributing to superior convective heat dissipation. These findings confirm the effectiveness of 3D topology optimization in improving both the cooling performance and energy conversion efficiency of TEG-based waste heat recovery systems.

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具有拓扑优化散热器的热电发电机性能研究

本研究提出了一种基于热电发电机（TEG）的废热回收系统被动冷却散热器结构设计的三维拓扑优化策略。优化目标是使TEG冷侧平均温度最小，从而增强自然对流冷却，提高系统的功率输出和转换效率。结果表明，拓扑优化后的散热片通过促进散热片与气流的相互作用增强了自然对流，显著降低了散热片冷侧的平均温度，提高了系统的热电性能。在数量上，3D拓扑优化的散热器优于传统的直鳍设计，输出功率提高27.9%，热电转换效率提高14.5%。此外，使用q准则的流场分析表明，涡流结构和气流混合增强，有助于更好的对流散热。这些发现证实了三维拓扑优化在提高基于teg的余热回收系统的冷却性能和能量转换效率方面的有效性。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Thermal Sciences 工程技术-工程：机械

CiteScore

8.10

自引率

11.10%

发文量

531

审稿时长

55 days

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Thermal Sciences is a journal devoted to the publication of fundamental studies on the physics of transfer processes in general, with an emphasis on thermal aspects and also applied research on various processes, energy systems and the environment. Articles are published in English and French, and are subject to peer review. The fundamental subjects considered within the scope of the journal are: * Heat and relevant mass transfer at all scales (nano, micro and macro) and in all types of material (heterogeneous, composites, biological,...) and fluid flow * Forced, natural or mixed convection in reactive or non-reactive media * Single or multi–phase fluid flow with or without phase change * Near–and far–field radiative heat transfer * Combined modes of heat transfer in complex systems (for example, plasmas, biological, geological,...) * Multiscale modelling The applied research topics include: * Heat exchangers, heat pipes, cooling processes * Transport phenomena taking place in industrial processes (chemical, food and agricultural, metallurgical, space and aeronautical, automobile industries) * Nano–and micro–technology for energy, space, biosystems and devices * Heat transport analysis in advanced systems * Impact of energy–related processes on environment, and emerging energy systems The study of thermophysical properties of materials and fluids, thermal measurement techniques, inverse methods, and the developments of experimental methods are within the scope of the International Journal of Thermal Sciences which also covers the modelling, and numerical methods applied to thermal transfer.