Numerical Analysis of Potential Energy Recovery via a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) for the Next-Generation Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft

The thermal management of next-generation hybrid electric regional aircrafts poses critical challenges due to extreme heat loads, which could reach more than 2 MW and must be dissipated. This rejected heat can be used in a passive system such as Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs), which can directly c...

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Main Authors: Safa Sabet, Werner Gumprich, Michael Moeller, Andrés Felgueroso, Iván González Nieves, Miguel Díaz, Simone Mancin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Engineering Proceedings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/64
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author Safa Sabet
Werner Gumprich
Michael Moeller
Andrés Felgueroso
Iván González Nieves
Miguel Díaz
Simone Mancin
author_facet Safa Sabet
Werner Gumprich
Michael Moeller
Andrés Felgueroso
Iván González Nieves
Miguel Díaz
Simone Mancin
author_sort Safa Sabet
collection DOAJ
description The thermal management of next-generation hybrid electric regional aircrafts poses critical challenges due to extreme heat loads, which could reach more than 2 MW and must be dissipated. This rejected heat can be used in a passive system such as Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs), which can directly convert thermal energy into electrical energy. This work is carried out in the framework of the EU Clean Aviation-funded project TheMa4HERA and it numerically explores the possibility of integrating thermoelectric (TE) technology in the next generation of regional aircrafts. Two case studies are considered: energy recovery from the outflow valve originally used to control the pressure of the cabin and the integration of TEG modules in skin heat exchangers used to partially dissipate heat coming from the fuel cells and/or from the power electronics. The results will permit us to understand the feasibility of implementing TEG technology into these specific conditions in terms of overall power generation. The findings indicate that while TEG integration in the outflow valve offers limited power density, the skin heat exchanger shows significantly higher potential for effective energy recovery.
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issn 2673-4591
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Engineering Proceedings
spelling doaj-art-538b44dc0bde4b29bc7f6fc91a7a645f2025-08-20T03:27:32ZengMDPI AGEngineering Proceedings2673-45912025-03-019016410.3390/engproc2025090064Numerical Analysis of Potential Energy Recovery via a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) for the Next-Generation Hybrid-Electric Regional AircraftSafa Sabet0Werner Gumprich1Michael Moeller2Andrés Felgueroso3Iván González Nieves4Miguel Díaz5Simone Mancin6Department of Management and Engineering, Università degli Studi di Padova, 35122 Vicenza, ItalyNord-Micro GmbH & Co. OHG, 60388 Frankfurt, GermanyNord-Micro GmbH & Co. OHG, 60388 Frankfurt, GermanyAirbus Defence and Space, 28906 Getafe, Madrid, SpainAirbus Defence and Space, 28906 Getafe, Madrid, SpainAirbus Defence and Space, 28906 Getafe, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Management and Engineering, Università degli Studi di Padova, 35122 Vicenza, ItalyThe thermal management of next-generation hybrid electric regional aircrafts poses critical challenges due to extreme heat loads, which could reach more than 2 MW and must be dissipated. This rejected heat can be used in a passive system such as Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs), which can directly convert thermal energy into electrical energy. This work is carried out in the framework of the EU Clean Aviation-funded project TheMa4HERA and it numerically explores the possibility of integrating thermoelectric (TE) technology in the next generation of regional aircrafts. Two case studies are considered: energy recovery from the outflow valve originally used to control the pressure of the cabin and the integration of TEG modules in skin heat exchangers used to partially dissipate heat coming from the fuel cells and/or from the power electronics. The results will permit us to understand the feasibility of implementing TEG technology into these specific conditions in terms of overall power generation. The findings indicate that while TEG integration in the outflow valve offers limited power density, the skin heat exchanger shows significantly higher potential for effective energy recovery.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/64numerical methodsTEGskin heat exchangeroutflow valvehybrid electric regional aircraft
spellingShingle Safa Sabet
Werner Gumprich
Michael Moeller
Andrés Felgueroso
Iván González Nieves
Miguel Díaz
Simone Mancin
Numerical Analysis of Potential Energy Recovery via a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) for the Next-Generation Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft
Engineering Proceedings
numerical methods
TEG
skin heat exchanger
outflow valve
hybrid electric regional aircraft
title Numerical Analysis of Potential Energy Recovery via a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) for the Next-Generation Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft
title_full Numerical Analysis of Potential Energy Recovery via a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) for the Next-Generation Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft
title_fullStr Numerical Analysis of Potential Energy Recovery via a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) for the Next-Generation Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft
title_full_unstemmed Numerical Analysis of Potential Energy Recovery via a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) for the Next-Generation Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft
title_short Numerical Analysis of Potential Energy Recovery via a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) for the Next-Generation Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft
title_sort numerical analysis of potential energy recovery via a thermoelectric generator teg for the next generation hybrid electric regional aircraft
topic numerical methods
TEG
skin heat exchanger
outflow valve
hybrid electric regional aircraft
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/64
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