A design method and device for a thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials

Abstract

The present application provides a method and device for designing a thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials. The method provided in the present application includes: determining the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm according to the target longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module; determining the longitudinal division material layer of the thermoelectric material arm, the material to be selected for the material layer, and the corresponding height of the material layer according to the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm and the preset temperature range and material correspondence, and multiple layers of the material layer are longitudinally superimposed to form the thermoelectric material arm, and different temperature ranges correspond to materials of different materials; designing the corresponding thermoelectric material arm according to the material of each material layer and the corresponding height of the material layer. The method and device for designing a thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials provided in the present application are used to achieve precise design of the thermoelectric power generation module and optimize the structural layout of the module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of thermoelectric generators, and in particular to a design method and device for a thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials. Background Art

[0002] Traditional thermoelectric power generation modules typically consist of thermoelectric arms constructed from a single thermoelectric material. Their material selection and geometric parameter design often assume a fixed temperature gradient, making them difficult to adapt to the complex and changing real-world operating environment. Furthermore, as the module's operating environment changes, the difference between high and low temperatures often increases, causing the operating temperature to exceed the thermoelectric arm material's tolerance range, making the module susceptible to damage during operation. Therefore, thermoelectric power generation modules designed based on the assumption of a static temperature distribution suffer from poor operational stability, making them unsuitable for real-world operating environments.

[0003] Currently, simulation and numerical methods are usually used in the design of thermoelectric power generation module structures. However, simulation methods mostly rely on simplified models, which makes it difficult to accurately reflect complex actual working conditions and have poor adaptability to environmental changes, resulting in large deviations between the performance of the designed modules and expectations in actual applications. Although numerical methods are relatively accurate, they mainly consider a single thermoelectric material. At the same time, in order to simplify calculations, the temperature changes of the thermoelectric power generation module are usually simplified to obtain simplified physical and chemical parameters. The designed thermoelectric power generation module is difficult to adapt to actual working conditions. At the same time, when designing a thermoelectric power generation module with multiple thermoelectric materials, it is impossible to achieve accurate design of the thermoelectric power generation module. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present application provides a design method and device for a thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials, which is used to accurately consider the operating temperature changes of the thermoelectric power generation module. When the thermoelectric power generation module contains multiple thermoelectric materials, the performance changes of the thermoelectric materials under actual working conditions are considered to achieve precise design of the thermoelectric power generation module.

[0005] Specifically, this application is implemented through the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a design method for a thermoelectric power generation module based on a hybrid material, wherein the thermoelectric power generation module includes a thermoelectric material arm, and the method includes:

[0007] determining a longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm according to a target longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module;

[0008] According to the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm and the correspondence between the preset temperature range and the material, the longitudinal material layer of the thermoelectric material arm, the material to be selected for the layer and the corresponding height of the material layer are determined. Multiple layers of the material layer are longitudinally stacked to form the thermoelectric material arm, and different temperature ranges correspond to different materials;

[0009] According to the material of each material layer and the corresponding height of the material layer, the corresponding thermoelectric material arm is designed.

[0010] The second aspect of the present application provides a device for designing a thermoelectric power generation module based on a hybrid material, the device comprising a determination module, a calculation module and a design module; wherein,

[0011] The determining module is configured to determine the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm according to the target longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module;

[0012] The calculation module is used to determine the longitudinal material layers of the thermoelectric material arm, the material to be selected for the layer, and the corresponding height of the material layer based on the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm and the preset temperature range and material correspondence relationship. Multiple material layers are longitudinally stacked to form the thermoelectric material arm, and different temperature ranges correspond to different materials.

[0013] The design module is used to design corresponding thermoelectric material arms according to the material of each material layer and the corresponding height of the material layer.

[0014] The present application provides a design method and device for a thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials. The thermoelectric power generation module mainly generates electricity through a thermoelectric material arm. In view of the actual situation that there is a temperature gradient change inside the thermoelectric power generation module, the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm is determined according to the target longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module, and subsequent design work is carried out based on this. On the one hand, the longitudinal division of material layers, selected materials and material layer heights are determined according to the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm and the corresponding relationship between the preset temperature range and the material, so that different temperature ranges can be accurately matched with the most suitable material, thereby improving the efficiency of the material performance and effectively reducing the energy consumption in the thermoelectric The loss during the conversion process can significantly improve the thermoelectric conversion efficiency. In this way, the advantages of different materials in their respective suitable temperature ranges can be fully utilized, so that the thermoelectric material arm can maintain a good working condition in the entire temperature range. On the other hand, the corresponding thermoelectric material arm is designed according to the material and height of each material layer. Different material layers are stacked vertically in an orderly manner according to the temperature distribution, realizing a refined design of the thermoelectric material arm structure, making the structure of the constructed thermoelectric material arm more reasonable. The reasonable structure is not only conducive to the transfer and conversion of heat, but also can better cooperate with other components during module integration, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the entire temperature difference power generation module. The method provided by the present invention can effectively improve its thermoelectric conversion efficiency and overall performance, optimize the structural layout of the thermoelectric material arm, and meet the needs of different application scenarios. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 This is a flow chart of Example 1 of the design method for a thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials provided in this application;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of a thermoelectric power generation module exemplified in this application;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a flow chart of Example 2 of the design method for a thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials provided in this application;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of Example 1 of the thermoelectric power generation module design device based on hybrid materials provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Exemplary embodiments are described in detail herein, with examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, identical numerals in different drawings represent identical or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments are not intended to represent all embodiments consistent with this application.

[0020] The terms used in this application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit this application. The singular forms "a," "the," and "the" used in this application are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0021] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used in this application to describe various information, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from each other. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "at the time of" or "when" or "in response to determining".

[0022] Specific embodiments are given below to introduce the technical solutions of the present application in detail.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a flow chart of the first embodiment of the design method of the thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials provided by this application. Figure 1 The method provided in this embodiment may include:

[0024] S101 , determining the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm according to the target longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module.

[0025] Specifically, in actual application scenarios, the thermoelectric power generation module will have an expected longitudinal temperature distribution, which is the target longitudinal temperature distribution. The target longitudinal temperature distribution can be determined based on the use environment and design purpose of the thermoelectric power generation module.

[0026] Furthermore, the thermoelectric material arm is a key component of the thermoelectric power generation module, and its longitudinal temperature distribution must be compatible with the target longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module. Therefore, the target longitudinal temperature distribution can be directly used as the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm, or the temperature distribution trend of the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm can be determined based on the temperature distribution trend of the target longitudinal temperature distribution, thereby determining the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm.

[0027] Specifically, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the thermoelectric power generation module exemplified in this application, please refer to Figure 2The thermoelectric power generation module includes a cold end, a hot end, a copper sheet, and multiple thermoelectric material arms. The multiple thermoelectric material arms are arranged in multiple rows and columns on the module, and each thermoelectric material arm is stacked with multiple material layers in the longitudinal direction. The cold end and hot end are relative to each other's temperature; that is, the operating temperature of the cold end is lower than that of the hot end. Copper sheets are provided at each cold end and hot end, respectively, and only some of the thermoelectric material arms are identical between horizontally adjacent copper sheets at the cold and hot ends. During the design of the thermoelectric power generation module, the optimal dimensions of the module are first determined based on process requirements. Based on these optimal dimensions, the dimensions of the substrate and copper sheet are designed. The height of the thermoelectric material arm is calculated by subtracting the dimensions of the substrate and copper sheet from the optimal dimensions. This height serves as a design constraint for the subsequent thermoelectric material arms. In the thermoelectric power generation module, there are multiple thermoelectric material arms, and the total height of all thermoelectric material arms is the same, equal to the height. Due to the different temperatures at different locations, the material performance requirements also vary. This is to better adapt to temperature changes and optimize thermoelectric conversion efficiency. In a thermoelectric power generation module, the longitudinal temperature distribution gradually increases from bottom to top. The longitudinal temperature distribution within the thermoelectric power generation module's operating environment can be used to determine the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm. Furthermore, the material and height of each material layer in the thermoelectric material arm can be determined based on the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm. For example, in one embodiment, the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module ranges from 100K to 800K. This temperature variation exceeds the temperature that a single thermoelectric material can adapt to, and in this temperature environment, the thermoelectric material cannot operate efficiently. In this case, the thermoelectric material can be selected to operate within the temperature range in which the thermoelectric material can operate, for example, 100K to 500K. In the temperature range of 500-800K, another high-temperature-resistant thermoelectric material can be used. Thus, by combining different materials to form a thermoelectric material arm, it is possible to operate in a wide range of temperature environments. Therefore, by determining the temperature distribution within the thermoelectric material arm, the appropriate thermoelectric material can be used in the appropriate temperature variation range. Based on the characteristics of the longitudinal temperature distribution, the height of each material layer can be reasonably determined, allowing the thermoelectric material arm to operate efficiently even under large temperature variations.

[0028] Furthermore, in one possible implementation, the temperature distribution of all regions of the thermoelectric power generation module is the same, and the longitudinal temperature distribution of the multiple thermoelectric material arms included in all regions is also the same. That is to say, by designing one of the thermoelectric material arms, the material and material height of the material layer of all the thermoelectric material arms in the entire thermoelectric power generation module can be designed.

[0029] Furthermore, in another possible implementation, the temperature distribution corresponding to different regions of the thermoelectric power generation module is different, so the material and material height of the material layer in the longitudinal direction of the thermoelectric material arm in different regions will also be different. First, determine the temperature change trend of the thermoelectric power generation module at each vertical position in the horizontal direction. For example, with the lower left end of the thermoelectric power generation module as the center of the circle and the plane where the cold end substrate of the thermoelectric power generation module is located as a reference, establish a spatial coordinate system, determine multiple planes under the same z-axis coordinate, each plane is parallel to the substrate corresponding to the cold end, determine the temperature change trend on each of the multiple planes, obtain the temperature dividing point on each plane under the condition that the temperature change rate is greater than a preset value, connect the temperature dividing points, and construct the boundary plane of the temperature partition with the connecting line to generate the temperature partition. For thermoelectric material arms in different areas, the material selection and height of the material layer of the thermoelectric material arms in the area are determined according to the longitudinal temperature distribution corresponding to the area according to the method provided by the present invention. Specifically, the temperature change difference in each area is small. Therefore, only one design is required for one area. By determining the composition of the thermoelectric material arms in multiple areas, the material and material height of the material layer of the thermoelectric material arms in all areas of the thermoelectric power generation module can be obtained.

[0030] S102. Determine the longitudinal material layers of the thermoelectric material arm, the material to be selected for the material layer, and the height corresponding to the material layer based on the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm and the correspondence between the preset temperature ranges and the materials. Multiple material layers are longitudinally stacked to form the thermoelectric material arm, and different temperature ranges correspond to materials of different materials.

[0031] Specifically, different thermoelectric materials have different performances in different temperature ranges. In order to give full play to the performance advantages of the materials and improve the thermoelectric conversion efficiency, the thermoelectric material arms need to be divided and arranged according to the temperature range. The preset correspondence between temperature ranges and materials is based on a large amount of experimental research and theoretical analysis, which clarifies which material can achieve the best thermoelectric conversion effect in different temperature ranges.

[0032] Furthermore, based on the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm and a preset correspondence, it is divided into multiple longitudinal material layers. Each material layer corresponds to a specific temperature range, and the material to be selected for that layer is then determined. At the same time, the height of the material layer also needs to be determined based on the proportion of the temperature range in the longitudinal temperature distribution of the entire thermoelectric material arm and the actual thermoelectric performance requirements. For example, if the temperature changes more drastically in a certain temperature range, which has a greater impact on thermoelectric conversion, the height of the corresponding material layer can be appropriately increased to enhance the thermoelectric conversion capacity of the temperature range; conversely, if the temperature range changes more gradually, the height of the material layer can be appropriately reduced.

[0033] Optionally, determining the longitudinally divided material layer of the thermoelectric material arm, the material to be selected for the material layer, and the height corresponding to the material layer may include:

[0034] (1) determining the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm;

[0035] Specifically, in the thermoelectric material arm, the thermoelectric material arm will have different temperatures from bottom to top along the longitudinal direction (from the cold end to the hot end). The temperature values of the thermoelectric material arm at various positions in the longitudinal direction can be calculated through experimental measurement or numerical simulation, thereby determining the longitudinal temperature distribution.

[0036] Furthermore, as an optional embodiment, when measuring the temperature of the thermoelectric material arm through an experiment, it is first necessary to set up multiple measurement points in the longitudinal direction of the corresponding area in the working environment where the thermoelectric material arm is located, install a thermocouple or temperature sensor at each measurement point, and obtain the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm by collecting data from the thermocouple or temperature sensor. As another optional embodiment, when using simulation to obtain the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm, a three-dimensional model of the working environment space of the thermoelectric power generation module is constructed in the modeling software, and the constructed model is meshed. Further, calculation methods such as the finite element method and the finite difference method are used to run calculations in the simulation software to simulate the spatial environment changes in the working environment. During the calculation process, the software will iteratively solve the heat conduction equation according to the set parameters and boundary conditions, thereby obtaining the temperature values of each position in the working space of the thermoelectric power generation module. Finally, through the post-processing function of the simulation software, the calculated temperature data is presented in intuitive forms such as cloud maps and temperature distribution curves to facilitate the analysis of the longitudinal temperature distribution.

[0037] (2) dividing the longitudinal temperature distribution into a plurality of longitudinal temperature intervals based on the temperature tolerance distribution of the candidate materials; wherein the number of the candidate materials is greater than the number of materials required in one of the thermoelectric material arms;

[0038] Specifically, there are usually a variety of candidate materials that can be used to make thermoelectric material arms, but each material has its own temperature range in which it can work normally, that is, its tolerant temperature distribution. For example, in one possible implementation, there are three candidate materials: candidate material A, candidate material B, and candidate material C. Among them, candidate material A has the best performance in the temperature range of 100-300K, candidate material B has the best performance in the temperature range of 300-500K, and candidate material C has the best performance in the temperature range of 500-600K. Based on the tolerant temperature ranges of these candidate materials and the determined longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm, the longitudinal temperature range is divided into multiple intervals, so that the most suitable material can be selected in different temperature intervals to give full play to the performance advantages of the material. For example, in one embodiment, the longitudinal temperature range of the thermoelectric material arm is 100-600K. Based on the tolerant temperature of the candidate materials, the temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm can be divided into 100-300K, 300-500K, and 500-600K intervals.

[0039] Optionally, in a possible implementation, the longitudinal temperature distribution is divided into a plurality of longitudinal temperature intervals based on the temperature tolerance distribution of the candidate material, including:

[0040] 2.1. Determine the temperature tolerance distribution of the candidate materials and classify the candidate materials. One or more candidate materials in different categories have different temperature tolerance ranges.

[0041] Specifically, each candidate material has a temperature range within which it can function normally (i.e., a temperature tolerance distribution). Candidate materials are categorized based on these different temperature tolerance ranges. Candidate materials can be categorized based on the degree of overlap, similarity, and other factors. For example, in one embodiment, categorization is performed based on the degree of overlap in their temperature tolerance ranges. Candidate material D and candidate material E have overlapping temperature tolerance ranges, both falling within the 400-500K range. Therefore, candidate material D and candidate material E are categorized into one category. Candidate material F, however, is categorized into another category because its temperature tolerance range differs significantly from that of D and E. This results in the categorization of temperature tolerance ranges for one or more candidate materials into different categories. For example, in one embodiment, when categorizing candidate materials, the degree of overlap in temperature tolerance ranges among all candidate materials is calculated, and candidate materials with a degree of overlap greater than a first threshold are categorized into the same category. It should be noted that the first threshold is set based on actual needs and is not limited in this embodiment.

[0042] 2.2. Calculate the representative temperature tolerance range for each category based on the temperature tolerance ranges of one or more candidate materials in the same category;

[0043] Specifically, for one or more candidate materials in the same category, the intersection of the temperature tolerance ranges of the one or more candidate materials in the category is used as the representative temperature tolerance range of the category.

[0044] 2.3. Divide the longitudinal temperature distribution into a plurality of longitudinal temperature intervals according to the representative tolerance temperature interval.

[0045] Specifically, after obtaining the representative tolerance temperature intervals for each category, the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm is divided based on these intervals. Specifically, the maximum and minimum values of the longitudinal temperature are determined, and based on the maximum and minimum values, candidate representative tolerance temperatures are screened from the representative tolerance temperature interval, and the longitudinal temperature is segmented based on the candidate representative tolerance temperatures. For example, the maximum and minimum values of the longitudinal temperature are 100K and 1000K respectively, and the representative tolerance temperature intervals include: A[0,50], B[50,100], C[100,500], D[400-600], E[600-1000]. At this time, the intervals between the maximum and minimum values are screened from the representative tolerance temperature interval, namely C, D, and E, and the candidate representative tolerance temperatures are obtained. Then, the longitudinal temperature is partitioned according to the interval values of CDE, and the endpoint values are finally obtained as 100K, 500K, 600K, and 1000K, thereby realizing the segmentation of the longitudinal temperature.

[0046] (3) determining the target material corresponding to each of the longitudinal temperature intervals based on the temperature tolerance of the candidate material;

[0047] Specifically, for each defined longitudinal temperature range, a candidate material is selected as the target material, one that exhibits stable performance within that temperature range and meets the requirements for thermoelectric conversion. For example, in one possible implementation, candidate material C has a high Seebeck coefficient and low thermal conductivity within the 100-300K temperature range, making it more suitable for thermoelectric conversion. Therefore, candidate material C is selected as the target material for that temperature range. In this way, the optimal material is matched to each temperature range, optimizing the performance of the thermoelectric arm.

[0048] (4) Determine the material height of each target material based on the vertical height of the longitudinal temperature range.

[0049] Specifically, the vertical height of a longitudinal temperature interval refers to the position and range of the longitudinal temperature interval in the entire thermoelectric material arm. When determining the vertical height of the longitudinal temperature interval, first find the position point on the thermoelectric material arm with the same temperature as the minimum and maximum temperature values based on the minimum and maximum temperature values in the longitudinal temperature interval. The x and y coordinates of the points corresponding to the minimum and maximum temperature values may be the same or different. In this case, only the coordinate difference in the z direction is calculated. The lowest end of the thermoelectric material arm close to the cold end is used as the vertical coordinate origin. The vertical coordinates corresponding to the minimum and maximum temperature values are calculated respectively. By calculating the vertical coordinate difference between the minimum and maximum temperature values, the vertical height of the longitudinal temperature interval can be obtained. The material height of the corresponding target material in the thermoelectric material arm is then determined based on this vertical height. For example, if the vertical height of a temperature interval accounts for 30% of the total height of the thermoelectric material arm, then the height of the corresponding target material in the thermoelectric material arm also accounts for approximately 30%.

[0050] S103: Design the corresponding thermoelectric material arm according to the material of each material layer and the corresponding height of the material layer.

[0051] Specifically, after the material and height of each layer of the thermoelectric material arm are determined, multiple material layers are stacked longitudinally within their corresponding height intervals to form the corresponding thermoelectric material arm.

[0052] The method provided in this embodiment determines the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm based on the target longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module. It then determines the material layer, candidate material, and material height based on the preset temperature range and material correspondence. Ultimately, the corresponding thermoelectric material arm is designed, fully accounting for temperature differences between different regions of the thermoelectric power generation module and the performance characteristics of the thermoelectric material at different temperatures. On the one hand, this method enables precise selection and layout of thermoelectric materials, enabling different materials to achieve optimal performance within their respective appropriate temperature ranges, significantly improving thermoelectric conversion efficiency and effectively reducing energy loss. On the other hand, by rationally determining the material layer height, the structure of the thermoelectric material arm is optimized, enhancing its adaptability and stability in temperature-varying environments. This improves the overall performance and reliability of the thermoelectric power generation module, better meeting the needs of thermoelectric power generation in different application scenarios, and providing strong support for the widespread application and development of thermoelectric power generation technology.

[0053] Further, Figure 3 This is a flow chart of the second embodiment of the design method of the thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials provided by this application. Figure 3 The method provided in this embodiment may further include:

[0054] S301: Determine the temperature characteristics of the real-time working environment of the thermoelectric power generation module.

[0055] Specifically, the temperature sensor can be used to obtain the real-time operating environment temperature of the thermoelectric power generation module. The actual operating temperature conditions of the thermoelectric power generation module, including the high and low ambient temperature and the range of temperature variation, can be used to obtain the temperature characteristics based on the temperature changes in the real-time operating environment of the thermoelectric power generation module.

[0056] Furthermore, the size of the area where the thermoelectric power generation module is located in the working environment is first determined based on the shape of the module. By setting multiple temperature measurement points in the horizontal and vertical directions of the area, and using temperature sensors to record the temperature data of these measurement points, the uniformity or change trend of the temperature in the horizontal and vertical directions can be analyzed. By analyzing the temperature data in the vertical direction, the temperature conditions faced by the thermoelectric power generation module at different heights can be clarified. By combining the temperature change measurement results in the horizontal and vertical directions, the temperature characteristics of the area related to the thermoelectric power generation module in the actual usage scenario can be fully understood.

[0057] S302. Traverse multiple calculation points in the thermoelectric material arm in order from bottom to top. For any target calculation point, obtain the real-time physical property parameters corresponding to the target calculation point based on the measured temperature corresponding to the target calculation point, and the real-time physical property parameters change with the change of temperature.

[0058] Specifically, multiple calculation points along the thermoelectric material arm are traversed sequentially from bottom to top. For each target calculation point, the corresponding real-time physical property parameters are obtained based on the measured temperature at that point. For a material within a thermoelectric material arm, the operating environment temperature varies with location, rather than being fixed. This means that the physical property parameters at different locations within a material layer within a thermoelectric material arm vary. Because thermoelectric material physical properties (such as thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and resistivity) vary with temperature, these parameters have different values at different temperatures. For example, the Seebeck coefficient varies at different temperatures. By measuring the temperature at a calculation point and combining it with a material property versus temperature curve or formula, real-time physical properties such as the Seebeck coefficient at that temperature can be obtained. It should be noted that the material property versus temperature curve is pre-simulated using a theoretical model. For detailed steps in simulating this curve, please refer to the relevant literature and will not be repeated here.

[0059] Furthermore, the specific implementation steps for determining the calculation point of the thermoelectric material arm include:

[0060] (1) Determining the boundary conditions of the thermoelectric material arm;

[0061] Specifically, the boundary conditions of the thermoelectric material arm include temperature boundary conditions, heat flux boundary conditions and potential boundary conditions. The temperature boundary condition refers to setting one end of the thermoelectric material arm as the hot end, maintaining a constant high temperature, and the other end as the cold end, maintaining a constant low temperature. The heat flux boundary condition refers to giving a heat flux value on the boundary of the thermoelectric material arm. The potential boundary condition refers to setting the potential of one end of the thermoelectric material arm to V1 and the potential of the other end to V2.

[0062] (2) determining a grid type according to the temperature characteristics of the thermoelectric material arm, wherein the grid type includes a structured grid, an unstructured grid, and a hybrid grid;

[0063] Specifically, due to the temperature gradient in the thermoelectric material arm, the temperature distribution is uneven. If the temperature changes relatively slowly, the structured grid can better meet the calculation requirements; if the temperature changes drastically in certain areas, such as near the heat source or heat exchange boundary, the grid needs to be denser in these areas. The unstructured grid has obvious advantages in this case. It can increase the grid density in areas with large temperature changes in a targeted manner, improve the ability to capture temperature changes, and thus simulate the temperature distribution more accurately. In some cases, the thermoelectric material arm may have both regular and irregular parts, or the temperature characteristics may have different manifestations in different areas. In this case, a hybrid grid can be used, that is, combining the advantages of structured and unstructured grids. Use structured grids in regular areas to ensure calculation efficiency; use unstructured grids in irregular areas or areas with complex temperature changes to ensure calculation accuracy.

[0064] (3) Dividing the thermoelectric material arm in combination with the grid type and the boundary condition to obtain a plurality of computational grids, and selecting representative points of each of the computational grids to obtain a plurality of computational points.

[0065] Specifically, the thermoelectric material arm is divided into multiple small computational grids based on the selected grid type. During the division process, boundary conditions must be fully considered, and the density of the grid should be appropriately adjusted near the boundary based on changes in temperature, heat flux, or electric potential. For example, in one embodiment, if the temperature gradient near the hot end and the cold end is large under temperature boundary conditions, the grid needs to be denser to accurately calculate the temperature change.

[0066] Furthermore, each computational grid has one or more representative points, which are used to calculate the values of physical quantities. For structured grids, the center of the grid is usually selected as the representative point; for unstructured grids, the choice of representative point can be determined based on the specific calculation method and accuracy requirements, and may be the center of gravity of the grid or other specific locations. By selecting these representative points, the continuous thermoelectric material arm is converted into discrete computational points, facilitating numerical calculations and solving the governing equations. The values of physical quantities such as temperature and electric potential at each computational point are obtained, thereby analyzing the performance of the thermoelectric material arm.

[0067] Alternatively, in one possible implementation, the calculation points may be divided based on the temperature-dependent variation of the physical property parameters of each material layer in the thermoelectric material arm. If the temperature-dependent variation of the physical property parameters of a material layer is significant, the density of the calculation points in that material layer may be increased; otherwise, the density may be decreased. Alternatively, in another possible implementation, each material layer in the thermoelectric material arm may be divided using a pre-set number of calculation points, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0068] Specifically, the real-time physical property parameters include thermal conductivity, resistivity and Seebeck coefficient, and the voltage of the material layer where the target calculation point is located is calculated using the acquired real-time physical property parameters. According to the Seebeck effect, the voltage across the material layer is related to the Seebeck coefficient and the temperature difference. After calculating the voltage of each material layer, the stacking of the material layers is regarded as a series connection of components, and the voltages of all material layers on a thermoelectric material arm are added together. The sum obtained is the open circuit voltage of the thermoelectric material arm. This open circuit voltage is an important indicator for evaluating the performance of the thermoelectric material arm, reflecting the ability of the thermoelectric material arm to convert thermal energy into electrical energy under the current temperature distribution and material properties.

[0069] Furthermore, the steps of obtaining the real-time physical property parameters corresponding to the target calculation point according to the measured temperature include:

[0070] (1) Determine the longitudinal coordinate of the target calculation point in the vertical direction;

[0071] Specifically, the longitudinal coordinates of the target calculation point are measured vertically upward, starting from the cold end of the thermoelectric material arm. By determining the longitudinal coordinates, the calculation point can be accurately associated with the physical location of the thermoelectric material arm, providing a spatial positioning basis for subsequent analysis.

[0072] Furthermore, the cold end of the thermoelectric material arm refers to the end of the thermoelectric material arm with the lowest temperature when working, that is, the bottom end of the hot material arm, and the cold end of the thermoelectric material arm refers to the end of the thermoelectric material arm with the highest temperature when working.

[0073] (2) determining the measured temperature corresponding to the target calculation point based on the longitudinal coordinate and the temperature characteristics of the working environment of the thermoelectric power generation module;

[0074] Specifically, once the longitudinal coordinates of the target calculation point are known, the temperature can be determined by combining the temperature characteristics of the thermoelectric power generation module's operating environment. If the operating environment temperature is stable and the temperature of the thermoelectric material arm is linearly distributed along the longitudinal direction, the measured temperature of the target calculation point can be calculated using a linear interpolation formula. If the operating environment temperature distribution is complex, with local hot spots or nonlinear changes, a temperature sensor can be installed in the area where the thermoelectric material arm's operating environment is located. The temperature sensor can be used to measure the temperature at each point, and the corresponding measured temperature can be found based on the longitudinal coordinates of the target calculation point.

[0075] (3) Determine the real-time physical property parameters of the material corresponding to the target calculation point at the measured temperature.

[0076] Specifically, after the measured temperature of the target calculation point is determined, a physical property parameter and temperature relationship chart or database of the material layer where the target calculation point is located is searched to obtain the real-time physical property parameter corresponding to the real-time temperature in the relationship.

[0077] Furthermore, since the transition section between adjacent material layers is easily affected by the two material layers and undergoes temperature-specific changes, the physical properties of the transition section are jointly affected by the temperatures of the two material layers. If the corresponding physical properties are obtained through theoretically calculated temperatures, the changes under the dual influence of the transition section temperature will be ignored, reducing the accuracy of the calculation. The measured physical properties can be obtained by obtaining the measured temperature of the target calculation point, which can improve the calculation accuracy.

[0078] S303 , calculating the voltage of the material layer where the target calculation point is located based on the real-time physical property parameters, and determining the sum of the voltages of all material layers on one thermoelectric material arm as the open-circuit voltage of the thermoelectric material arm.

[0079] Specifically, calculating the voltage of the material layer where the target calculation point is located based on the real-time physical property parameters includes:

[0080] (1) determining the Seebeck coefficient of the material layer;

[0081] Specifically, the Seebeck coefficient of a material layer reflects the material's ability to convert thermal energy into electrical energy. Different thermoelectric materials have different Seebeck coefficients, and the Seebeck coefficient varies with temperature. The Seebeck coefficient corresponding to the material layer can be obtained through experimental measurement or by consulting relevant material manuals, academic literature, or databases.

[0082] (2) Calculating the temperature difference between the two ends of the material layer;

[0083] Specifically, a temperature measuring instrument, such as a thermocouple, a thermistor, etc., may be used to directly measure the temperatures at both ends of the material layer in the longitudinal direction to obtain the temperature difference.

[0084] (3) The product of the Seebeck coefficient and the temperature difference is determined as the voltage of the material layer.

[0085] Specifically, the voltage can be calculated according to the following formula:

[0086] ;

[0087] in, is the Seebeck coefficient;

[0088] is the temperature difference.

[0089] Furthermore, the voltages of all material layers in the thermoelectric material arm are summed to obtain the open circuit voltage.

[0090] S304: Calculate the duty cycle of the thermoelectric material arm and the distance between adjacent thermoelectric material arms in the plurality of thermoelectric material arms according to the open circuit voltage, and complete the design of the thermoelectric power generation module.

[0091] Specifically, the cross-sectional area and duty cycle of the thermoelectric material arm are calculated based on the obtained open-circuit voltage. The cross-sectional area and duty cycle affect the electrical and thermal performance of the thermoelectric material arm. For example, a larger cross-sectional area can reduce resistance and improve current transmission capacity, but it also increases material cost and heat conduction losses. The duty cycle affects the arrangement density and overall structure of the thermoelectric material arm. Using the relationship between open-circuit voltage, cross-sectional area, and duty cycle (these formulas are derived based on thermoelectric principles and related theories), the cross-sectional area and duty cycle that meet specific performance requirements are calculated. Once these geometric parameters are calculated, the design of the thermoelectric material arm is determined, and the design of the entire thermoelectric power generation module is completed.

[0092] Furthermore, the step of calculating the duty cycle of the thermoelectric material arm and the distance between adjacent thermoelectric material arms in the plurality of thermoelectric material arms according to the open circuit voltage includes:

[0093] (1) calculating a comprehensive current of the mixed material based on the open circuit voltage and the comprehensive resistance of the mixed material;

[0094] (2) calculating the cross-sectional area based on the integrated current;

[0095] Specifically, the steps of calculating the cross-sectional area according to the comprehensive current include:

[0096] 1.1. Determine the interfacial resistance between each material layer in the mixed material;

[0097] Specifically, in a thermoelectric material arm, interfaces exist between different layers of thermoelectric material, which generate electrical resistance, known as interface resistance. This interface resistance can be calculated through experimental measurements or model simulations.

[0098] 1.2. Calculating the comprehensive resistance based on the sum of the interface resistance and the resistance of each material layer;

[0099] Specifically, the comprehensive resistance can be calculated according to the following formula:

[0100] ;

[0101] in, is the resistance of the i-th material layer;

[0102] is the interface resistance between the i-th material layer and the next material layer.

[0103] 1.3. Calculate the ratio of the open circuit voltage to the comprehensive resistance to obtain the comprehensive current of the thermoelectric material arm;

[0104] Specifically, the comprehensive current can be calculated according to the following formula:

[0105] ;

[0106] in, is the open circuit voltage;

[0107] is the comprehensive resistance.

[0108] 1.4. Calculate the cross-sectional area of the thermoelectric material arm based on the comprehensive current and control energy equation.

[0109] Specifically, the control energy equation can be expressed by the following formula:

[0110] ;

[0111] in, is the thermal conductivity of the material layer;

[0112] is the second-order derivative of temperature along the longitudinal direction of the thermoelectric material arm;

[0113] is the integrated current passing through;

[0114] is the resistivity of the material layer;

[0115] is the cross-sectional area of the material layer;

[0116] is the Seebeck coefficient of the material layer.

[0117] Specifically, the governing energy equation describes the energy conversion and transmission relationship within the thermoelectric material arm. It is related to multiple physical quantities such as current, temperature, thermal conductivity, and the Seebeck coefficient. Within the thermoelectric arm, the current generates Joule heating, with processes such as heat conduction and thermoelectric conversion occurring simultaneously. Based on the governing energy equation and the associated boundary conditions, an equation for cross-sectional area can be established. Substituting the previously calculated current and other known material properties and temperature parameters into this expression, the cross-sectional area of the thermoelectric arm can be calculated.

[0118] (2) Calculating the duty cycle based on the cross-sectional area.

[0119] Specifically, the steps of calculating the duty cycle according to the cross-sectional area include:

[0120] 2.1. Obtaining the combined cross-sectional area of the plurality of thermoelectric material arms;

[0121] Specifically, combined with the previous description, after calculating the cross-sectional area of a single thermoelectric material arm, the cross-sectional area of the remaining thermoelectric material arms in the thermoelectric power generation module can be calculated using the same method, and the cross-sectional areas of all thermoelectric material arms can be added together to obtain the comprehensive cross-sectional area.

[0122] 2.2. Calculate the ratio of the comprehensive cross-sectional area to the area of the thermoelectric power generation module to obtain the duty cycle of the thermoelectric power generation module;

[0123] Specifically, the duty cycle refers to the ratio of the combined cross-sectional area of the thermoelectric material arm to the area of the thermoelectric power generation module. The duty cycle can be calculated using the following formula:

[0124] ;

[0125] in, is the comprehensive cross-sectional area;

[0126] is the area of the thermoelectric power generation module.

[0127] 2.3. Calculate the distance between adjacent thermoelectric material arms in the plurality of thermoelectric material arms based on the cross-sectional area of the thermoelectric material arm and the duty cycle.

[0128] Specifically, the spacing can be calculated using the following formula:

[0129] ;

[0130] in, is the duty cycle;

[0131] is the cross-sectional area of a single thermoelectric material arm;

[0132] is the width of a single thermoelectric material arm.

[0133] The hybrid material-based thermoelectric power generation module design method provided in this embodiment determines the material and height of each material layer of the thermoelectric material arm based on the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module. The method then selects suitable target materials by dividing the longitudinal temperature ranges. Through hybrid materials and dynamic adjustments, the material properties of each temperature range are optimized to reduce energy loss. Furthermore, by determining the temperature characteristics of the thermoelectric power generation module's real-time operating environment and obtaining real-time physical property parameters at the calculation point based on the measured temperature, the calculation results are more accurately aligned with actual conditions. The real-time physical property parameters vary with temperature, ensuring that the dynamic changes in material properties are fully considered when calculating the material layer voltage, open-circuit voltage, and subsequent geometric parameters, thereby improving design accuracy.

[0134] Corresponding to the aforementioned embodiment of a method for designing a thermoelectric power generation module based on a hybrid material, the present application also provides an embodiment of a device for designing a thermoelectric power generation module based on a hybrid material.

[0135] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the first embodiment of the thermoelectric power generation module design device based on hybrid materials provided by this application. Figure 4 , the apparatus provided in this embodiment includes a determination module 410, a calculation module 420 and a design module 430;

[0136] The determining module 410 is configured to determine the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm according to the target longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module;

[0137] The calculation module 420 is used to determine the longitudinal material layers of the thermoelectric material arm, the material to be selected for the layer, and the corresponding height of the material layer based on the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm and the preset temperature range and material correspondence relationship. Multiple material layers are longitudinally stacked to form the thermoelectric material arm, and different temperature ranges correspond to different materials.

[0138] The design module 430 is used to design corresponding thermoelectric material arms according to the material of each material layer and the corresponding height of the material layer.

[0139] The device of this embodiment can be used to perform Figure 1 The steps, specific implementation principles and implementation processes of the method embodiment shown are similar and will not be repeated here.

[0140] The implementation process of the functions and effects of each unit in the above-mentioned device is specifically described in the implementation process of the corresponding steps in the above-mentioned method, and will not be repeated here.

[0141] For the device embodiments, since they basically correspond to the method embodiments, the relevant parts can be referred to the partial description of the method embodiments. The device embodiments described above are merely schematic, wherein the units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or they may be distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present application scheme. A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand and implement it without paying any creative work.

[0142] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A design method for a thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials, characterized in that: The thermoelectric power generation module includes a thermoelectric material arm, and the method includes: determining a longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm according to a target longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module; According to the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm and the correspondence between the preset temperature range and the material, the longitudinal material layer of the thermoelectric material arm, the material to be selected for the layer and the corresponding height of the material layer are determined. Multiple layers of the material layer are longitudinally stacked to form the thermoelectric material arm, and different temperature ranges correspond to different materials; Design the corresponding thermoelectric material arm according to the material of each material layer and the corresponding height of the material layer; Wherein, after the material of each material layer and the height corresponding to the material layer, the method further includes: Determining the temperature characteristics of the real-time working environment of the thermoelectric power generation module; Traversing multiple calculation points in the thermoelectric material arm in order from bottom to top, for any target calculation point, obtaining a real-time physical property parameter corresponding to the target calculation point based on the measured temperature corresponding to the target calculation point, wherein the real-time physical property parameter changes with temperature; Calculating the voltage of the material layer where the target calculation point is located based on the real-time physical property parameters, and determining the sum of the voltages of all material layers on one thermoelectric material arm as the open-circuit voltage of the thermoelectric material arm; The duty cycle of the thermoelectric material arm and the distance between adjacent thermoelectric material arms in the plurality of thermoelectric material arms are calculated according to the open circuit voltage to complete the design of the thermoelectric power generation module.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method of determining the longitudinal divided material layer of the thermoelectric material arm, the material to be selected for the material layer, and the height corresponding to the material layer according to the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm and the preset temperature range and material correspondence relationship includes: determining a longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm; Dividing the longitudinal temperature distribution into a plurality of longitudinal temperature intervals based on the temperature tolerance distribution of candidate materials; wherein the number of the candidate materials is greater than the number of materials required in one thermoelectric material arm; Determining target materials corresponding to each of the longitudinal temperature intervals according to the tolerance temperature of the candidate materials; The material height of each target material is determined according to the vertical height of the longitudinal temperature interval.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The method of dividing the longitudinal temperature distribution into a plurality of longitudinal temperature intervals based on the tolerance temperature distribution of the candidate material includes: Determining a temperature tolerance distribution of the candidate materials and classifying the candidate materials, wherein one or more candidate materials in different classes have different temperature tolerance ranges; Calculate the representative temperature tolerance range corresponding to each category based on the temperature tolerance range of one or more candidate materials under the same category; The longitudinal temperature distribution is divided into a plurality of longitudinal temperature intervals according to the representative tolerance temperature interval.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The traversing of the target calculation points of each material layer in the thermoelectric material arm comprises: determining boundary conditions of the thermoelectric material arm; determining a grid type according to the temperature characteristics of the thermoelectric material arm, wherein the grid type includes a structured grid, an unstructured grid, and a hybrid grid; The thermoelectric material arm is divided in combination with the grid type and the boundary condition to obtain a plurality of calculation grids, and a representative point of each of the calculation grids is selected to obtain a plurality of calculation points.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein The real-time physical property parameters include thermal conductivity, resistivity, and Seebeck coefficient; and obtaining the real-time physical property parameters corresponding to the target calculation point according to the measured temperature includes: Determining the longitudinal coordinate of the target calculation point in the vertical direction; Determining the measured temperature corresponding to the target calculation point based on the longitudinal coordinate and the temperature characteristics of the working environment of the thermoelectric power generation module; Determine the real-time physical property parameters of the material corresponding to the target calculation point at the measured temperature.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The step of calculating the voltage of the material layer where the target calculation point is located based on the real-time physical property parameters comprises: determining the Seebeck coefficient of the material layer; Calculating the temperature difference between the two ends of the material layer; The product of the Seebeck coefficient and the temperature difference is determined as the voltage of the material layer.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The step of calculating the geometric parameters of the thermoelectric material arm according to the open circuit voltage comprises: calculating a comprehensive current of the mixed material based on the open circuit voltage and the comprehensive resistance of the mixed material; calculating a cross-sectional area based on the integrated current; The duty cycle is calculated based on the cross-sectional area.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The method further comprises: calculating a combined cross-sectional area of a plurality of the thermoelectric material arms; Calculating a ratio of the comprehensive cross-sectional area to the area of the thermoelectric power generation module to obtain a duty cycle of the thermoelectric power generation module; The distance between adjacent thermoelectric material arms in the plurality of thermoelectric material arms is calculated according to the cross-sectional area of the thermoelectric material arm and the duty cycle.

9. A design device for thermoelectric power generation module based on hybrid materials, characterized in that: The device includes a determination module, a calculation module and a design module; wherein, The determining module is configured to determine the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm according to the target longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric power generation module; The calculation module is used to determine the longitudinal material layers of the thermoelectric material arm, the material to be selected for the layer, and the corresponding height of the material layer based on the longitudinal temperature distribution of the thermoelectric material arm and the preset temperature range and material correspondence relationship. Multiple material layers are longitudinally stacked to form the thermoelectric material arm, and different temperature ranges correspond to different materials. The design module is used to design the corresponding thermoelectric material arm according to the material of each material layer and the corresponding height of the material layer; Wherein, after the material of each material layer and the height corresponding to the material layer, the method further includes: Determining the temperature characteristics of the real-time working environment of the thermoelectric power generation module; Traversing multiple calculation points in the thermoelectric material arm in order from bottom to top, for any target calculation point, obtaining a real-time physical property parameter corresponding to the target calculation point based on the measured temperature corresponding to the target calculation point, wherein the real-time physical property parameter changes with temperature; Calculating the voltage of the material layer where the target calculation point is located based on the real-time physical property parameters, and determining the sum of the voltages of all material layers on one thermoelectric material arm as the open-circuit voltage of the thermoelectric material arm; The duty cycle of the thermoelectric material arm and the distance between adjacent thermoelectric material arms in the plurality of thermoelectric material arms are calculated according to the open circuit voltage to complete the design of the thermoelectric power generation module.

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