Hybrid thermoelectric generator system for enhanced waste heat recovery from diesel generators using HVAC condenser airflow
Interest in collecting waste heat from diesel generators, a substantial but underutilized energy source, has increased due to the growing demand for energy efficiency. By transforming heat gradients into electrical power, thermoelectric generators (TEGs) offer a clean alternative that improves fuel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Materials Science for Energy Technologies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589299125000060 |
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| author | Chadi Nohra Rassol Hamed Rasheed Ahmed Mohsin Alsayah Mohammed J. Alshukri Jalal Faraj Samer Ali Mahmoud Khaled |
| author_facet | Chadi Nohra Rassol Hamed Rasheed Ahmed Mohsin Alsayah Mohammed J. Alshukri Jalal Faraj Samer Ali Mahmoud Khaled |
| author_sort | Chadi Nohra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Interest in collecting waste heat from diesel generators, a substantial but underutilized energy source, has increased due to the growing demand for energy efficiency. By transforming heat gradients into electrical power, thermoelectric generators (TEGs) offer a clean alternative that improves fuel efficiency and lowers pollutants. In order to improve thermoelectric power generation, this work intends to construct and assess a hybrid system that combines Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) condenser airflow with waste heat from diesel generator exhaust gases. The suggested system presents a new architecture that makes simultaneous use of condenser air and diesel exhaust, two easily accessible but infrequently coupled thermal sources and sinks. Compared to conventional setups, this method greatly increases TEG efficiency by taking advantage of high temperature differentials and passive sink flow. To mimic the behavior of the system under various operating situations, we developed a comprehensive thermal model. The effect of TEG plate dimensions, duct heights, and the TEG thickness-to-thermal-conductivity ratio (t/k) on temperature gradients and power output were investigated parametrically. The findings indicate that while larger cooling loads from the HVAC system result in worse performance, increasing the generator load and t/k ratio increases power output. With duct height = 0.04 m and a 5 m × 0.2 m TEG plate, the optimized arrangement produced a peak output of 4745 W, which translates to a 2.37 % increase in fuel efficiency. This work provides a scalable model for sustainable energy integration in industrial applications and validates the potential of hybrid TEG systems for efficient waste heat recovery. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7b958928b2124369accae30ccffae2b4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2589-2991 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials Science for Energy Technologies |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b958928b2124369accae30ccffae2b42025-08-20T03:25:05ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Materials Science for Energy Technologies2589-29912025-01-01817818710.1016/j.mset.2025.06.002Hybrid thermoelectric generator system for enhanced waste heat recovery from diesel generators using HVAC condenser airflowChadi Nohra0Rassol Hamed Rasheed1Ahmed Mohsin Alsayah2Mohammed J. Alshukri3Jalal Faraj4Samer Ali5Mahmoud Khaled6Beirut Arab University, BAU, LebanonAir-conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Techniques Department, College of Engineering, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, IraqRefrigeration and Air-conditioning Department, Technical Engineering College, The Islamic University, Najaf, IraqRefrigeration and Air-conditioning Department, Technical Engineering College, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kufa University, 54002 Najaf, IraqEnergy and Thermo-Fluid Group, Lebanese International University LIU, Bekaa, Lebanon; Energy and Thermo-Fluid Group, The International University of Beirut BIU, Beirut, LebanonUniv. Lille, Institut Mines-Télécom, Univ. Artois, Junia, ULR 4515 – LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, FranceEnergy and Thermo-Fluid Group, Lebanese International University LIU, Bekaa, Lebanon; GUST Center for Sustainable Development, Gulf University for Science and Technology, Kuwait; Corresponding author at: Energy and Thermo-Fluid Group, Lebanese International University LIU, Bekaa, Lebanon.Interest in collecting waste heat from diesel generators, a substantial but underutilized energy source, has increased due to the growing demand for energy efficiency. By transforming heat gradients into electrical power, thermoelectric generators (TEGs) offer a clean alternative that improves fuel efficiency and lowers pollutants. In order to improve thermoelectric power generation, this work intends to construct and assess a hybrid system that combines Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) condenser airflow with waste heat from diesel generator exhaust gases. The suggested system presents a new architecture that makes simultaneous use of condenser air and diesel exhaust, two easily accessible but infrequently coupled thermal sources and sinks. Compared to conventional setups, this method greatly increases TEG efficiency by taking advantage of high temperature differentials and passive sink flow. To mimic the behavior of the system under various operating situations, we developed a comprehensive thermal model. The effect of TEG plate dimensions, duct heights, and the TEG thickness-to-thermal-conductivity ratio (t/k) on temperature gradients and power output were investigated parametrically. The findings indicate that while larger cooling loads from the HVAC system result in worse performance, increasing the generator load and t/k ratio increases power output. With duct height = 0.04 m and a 5 m × 0.2 m TEG plate, the optimized arrangement produced a peak output of 4745 W, which translates to a 2.37 % increase in fuel efficiency. This work provides a scalable model for sustainable energy integration in industrial applications and validates the potential of hybrid TEG systems for efficient waste heat recovery.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589299125000060Thermoelectric GeneratorWaste Heat RecoveryDiesel GeneratorHVAC CondenserEnergy EfficiencyThermal Modeling |
| spellingShingle | Chadi Nohra Rassol Hamed Rasheed Ahmed Mohsin Alsayah Mohammed J. Alshukri Jalal Faraj Samer Ali Mahmoud Khaled Hybrid thermoelectric generator system for enhanced waste heat recovery from diesel generators using HVAC condenser airflow Materials Science for Energy Technologies Thermoelectric Generator Waste Heat Recovery Diesel Generator HVAC Condenser Energy Efficiency Thermal Modeling |
| title | Hybrid thermoelectric generator system for enhanced waste heat recovery from diesel generators using HVAC condenser airflow |
| title_full | Hybrid thermoelectric generator system for enhanced waste heat recovery from diesel generators using HVAC condenser airflow |
| title_fullStr | Hybrid thermoelectric generator system for enhanced waste heat recovery from diesel generators using HVAC condenser airflow |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hybrid thermoelectric generator system for enhanced waste heat recovery from diesel generators using HVAC condenser airflow |
| title_short | Hybrid thermoelectric generator system for enhanced waste heat recovery from diesel generators using HVAC condenser airflow |
| title_sort | hybrid thermoelectric generator system for enhanced waste heat recovery from diesel generators using hvac condenser airflow |
| topic | Thermoelectric Generator Waste Heat Recovery Diesel Generator HVAC Condenser Energy Efficiency Thermal Modeling |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589299125000060 |
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