Thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method, system, and related devices

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of thermoelectric conversion technology and discloses a method, system, and related equipment for predicting the performance of thermoelectric conversion devices. The method includes: acquiring the initial characteristic parameters of the thermoelectric conversion device; sequentially calculating the flow distribution state, temperature distribution state, and initial output performance indicators of each thermoelectric conversion element within each unit based on preset initial temperature distribution conditions; then updating the initial physical property parameters of the working medium according to the temperature distribution state; iteratively recalculating the flow distribution state, temperature distribution state, and output performance indicators until the relative deviation of the output performance indicators before and after the update meets preset convergence conditions, and then outputting the final performance prediction result. This method can quickly obtain the output performance of each thermoelectric conversion element in a unit-by-unit iterative coupling manner with only initial characteristic parameters required, avoiding the huge computational resource consumption caused by complex three-dimensional simulation, and effectively balancing computational efficiency and prediction accuracy in the performance prediction of high-power thermoelectric conversion devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of thermoelectric conversion technology, and in particular to a method for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device, a system for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device, an electronic device, and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the calculation of thermoelectric conversion devices mainly employs two types of methods. One type is the thermoelectric coupling calculation method based on three-dimensional finite element simulation software such as ANSYS and COMSOL. This method has high calculation accuracy, but when the calculation object is a high-power thermoelectric generator, it suffers from high computational resource consumption, slow calculation speed, and even ineffective calculation. The other type is the lumped calculation model commonly used in engineering design, which applies the average temperature difference of the thermoelectric generator to individual thermoelectric components, calculates the performance of each component, and then extrapolates the overall performance based on the number of components. This method has high calculation efficiency, but the calculation deviation is large, and it cannot consider the influence of different electrical performance parameters on thermoelectric conversion efficiency, nor can it provide the performance of each thermoelectric component in a high-power thermoelectric generator. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in related technologies. Therefore, the first objective of this invention is to propose a method for predicting the performance of thermoelectric conversion devices. This method can rapidly obtain the output performance of each thermoelectric conversion element through a unit-by-unit iterative coupling approach, requiring only readily available engineering inputs such as initial characteristic parameters. This avoids the enormous computational resource consumption caused by complex three-dimensional simulations and overcomes the accuracy deficiency of traditional lumped parameter methods that ignore the non-uniform distribution within the device. This achieves an effective balance between computational efficiency and prediction accuracy in predicting the performance of high-power thermoelectric conversion devices.

[0004] The second objective of this invention is to provide a performance prediction system for thermoelectric conversion devices.

[0005] The third objective of this invention is to provide an electronic device.

[0006] The fourth objective of this invention is to provide a computer-readable storage medium.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, a first aspect of the present invention provides a method for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device, comprising: acquiring initial characteristic parameters of the thermoelectric conversion device; determining the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device based on preset initial temperature distribution conditions and the initial characteristic parameters; determining the temperature distribution state in each unit based on the flow state of the working medium in each unit and the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium via the thermoelectric conversion element; determining the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element based on the temperature difference between the two ends of each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial characteristic parameters; updating the initial physical property parameters of the working medium based on the temperature distribution state, re-determining the flow distribution state and temperature distribution state, and determining the updated output performance index based on the re-determined temperature distribution state; calculating the relative deviation value between the updated output performance index and the initial output performance index; and outputting the performance prediction result of the thermoelectric conversion device in response to the relative deviation value satisfying a preset convergence condition.

[0008] In addition, the thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method according to the above embodiments of the present invention may also have the following additional technical features: According to some embodiments of the present invention, the initial characteristic parameters include performance parameters for characterizing the performance of the thermoelectric conversion element, resistance parameters for characterizing the flow resistance of the working medium, and topology parameters for characterizing the topological relationship of the working medium channel.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, determining the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device includes: determining the initial physical property parameters of the working medium in each unit based on preset initial temperature distribution conditions; and calculating the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device based on the initial physical property parameters, topology parameters, and resistance parameters.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, determining the temperature distribution state within each unit includes: establishing a thermal resistance network model for each unit based on the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium via the thermoelectric conversion element; and calculating the temperature distribution state on the heat source side, both sides of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the cold source side within each unit based on the thermal resistance network model and in conjunction with energy conservation.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, determining the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element includes: determining the operating current configuration of each thermoelectric conversion element under the current operating condition based on the temperature difference between the two ends of each thermoelectric conversion element and in combination with performance parameters; calculating the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element based on the operating current configuration; wherein, the initial output performance index includes the output power and conversion efficiency of each thermoelectric conversion element.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes: calculating the relative deviation between the updated output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial output performance index; and determining that the preset convergence condition is met when the relative deviation values ​​of all thermoelectric conversion elements are less than a preset threshold.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes: in response to the relative deviation value not meeting the preset convergence condition, taking the updated output performance index as the new initial output performance index, taking the updated temperature distribution state as the new temperature distribution condition, and repeatedly performing iterative calculations of the flow distribution state, temperature distribution state, and output performance index until the relative deviation value meets the preset convergence condition.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device includes: acquiring initial characteristic parameters of the thermoelectric conversion device; determining the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device based on preset initial temperature distribution conditions and the initial characteristic parameters; determining the temperature distribution state in each unit based on the flow state of the working medium in each unit and the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium via the thermoelectric conversion element; determining the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element based on the temperature difference between the two ends of each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial characteristic parameters; updating the initial physical property parameters of the working medium based on the temperature distribution state, re-determining the flow distribution state and temperature distribution state, and determining the updated output performance index based on the re-determined temperature distribution state; calculating the relative deviation value between the updated output performance index and the initial output performance index; and outputting the performance prediction result of the thermoelectric conversion device in response to the relative deviation value satisfying a preset convergence condition. Therefore, this method can quickly obtain the output performance of each thermoelectric conversion element by unit-by-unit iterative coupling with only readily available engineering inputs such as initial characteristic parameters. This avoids the huge computational resource consumption caused by complex three-dimensional simulation and overcomes the accuracy defect of traditional lumped parameter method that ignores the non-uniform distribution inside the device. It achieves an effective balance between computational efficiency and prediction accuracy in the performance prediction of high-power thermoelectric conversion devices.

[0015] The second objective of this invention is to propose a performance prediction system for thermoelectric conversion devices. This system can quickly obtain the output performance of each thermoelectric conversion element by unit-by-unit iterative coupling, requiring only readily available engineering inputs such as initial characteristic parameters. This avoids the huge computational resource consumption caused by complex three-dimensional simulations and overcomes the accuracy defects of traditional lumped parameter methods that ignore the non-uniform distribution inside the device. This achieves an effective balance between computational efficiency and prediction accuracy in the performance prediction of high-power thermoelectric conversion devices.

[0016] To achieve the above objectives, a second aspect of the present invention provides a performance prediction system for a thermoelectric conversion device, comprising: an acquisition module configured to acquire initial characteristic parameters of the thermoelectric conversion device, and determine the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device based on preset initial temperature distribution conditions and the initial characteristic parameters; a first determination module configured to determine the temperature distribution state in each unit based on the flow state of the working medium in each unit and the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium via the thermoelectric conversion element; a second determination module configured to determine the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element based on the temperature difference between the two ends of each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial characteristic parameters; an update module configured to update the initial physical property parameters of the working medium based on the temperature distribution state, redetermine the flow distribution state and temperature distribution state, and determine the updated output performance index based on the redetermined temperature distribution state; a calculation module configured to calculate the relative deviation value between the updated output performance index and the initial output performance index; and a response module configured to output the performance prediction result of the thermoelectric conversion device in response to the relative deviation value satisfying a preset convergence condition.

[0017] A performance prediction system for a thermoelectric conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an acquisition module configured to acquire initial characteristic parameters of the thermoelectric conversion device, and determine the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device based on preset initial temperature distribution conditions and the initial characteristic parameters; a first determination module configured to determine the temperature distribution state in each unit based on the flow state of the working medium in each unit and the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium via the thermoelectric conversion element; a second determination module configured to determine the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element based on the temperature difference between the two ends of each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial characteristic parameters; an update module configured to update the initial physical property parameters of the working medium based on the temperature distribution state, redetermine the flow distribution state and temperature distribution state, and determine the updated output performance index based on the redetermined temperature distribution state; a calculation module configured to calculate the relative deviation value between the updated output performance index and the initial output performance index; and a response module configured to output the performance prediction result of the thermoelectric conversion device in response to the relative deviation value satisfying a preset convergence condition. Therefore, this system can quickly obtain the output performance of each thermoelectric conversion element by unit-by-unit iterative coupling with only readily available engineering inputs such as initial characteristic parameters. This avoids the huge computational resource consumption caused by complex three-dimensional simulation and overcomes the accuracy defects of traditional lumped parameter method that ignores the non-uniform distribution inside the device. It achieves an effective balance between computational efficiency and prediction accuracy in the performance prediction of high-power thermoelectric conversion devices.

[0018] To achieve the above objectives, a third aspect of the present invention provides an electronic device, comprising: a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a program or instructions executable on the processor, and when the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the steps of the above-described thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method are implemented.

[0019] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the electronic device, by executing the above-described thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method, can quickly obtain the output performance of each thermoelectric conversion element in a unit-by-unit iterative coupling manner with only easily obtainable engineering inputs such as initial characteristic parameters. This avoids the huge consumption of computing resources caused by complex three-dimensional simulation and overcomes the accuracy defect of the traditional lumped parameter method that ignores the non-uniform distribution inside the device, thus achieving an effective balance between computing efficiency and prediction accuracy in the performance prediction of high-power thermoelectric conversion devices.

[0020] To achieve the above objectives, a fourth aspect of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a program or instructions, which, when executed by a processor, implement the steps of the above-described thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method.

[0021] According to the computer-readable storage medium of the present invention, by executing the above-described thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method, the output performance of each thermoelectric conversion element can be quickly obtained in a unit-by-unit iterative coupling manner with only easily obtainable engineering inputs such as initial characteristic parameters. This avoids the huge consumption of computing resources caused by complex three-dimensional simulation and overcomes the accuracy defect of the traditional lumped parameter method that ignores the non-uniform distribution inside the device. It achieves an effective balance between computing efficiency and prediction accuracy in the performance prediction of high-power thermoelectric conversion devices.

[0022] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method according to some embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a block diagram of a thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction system according to some embodiments of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a block diagram of an electronic device according to some embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0025] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the embodiments of this invention should have the ordinary meaning understood by those skilled in the art. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in the embodiments of this invention do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word covers the element or object listed after the word and its equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are only used to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0026] As described in the background section, currently, the calculation of thermoelectric conversion devices mainly employs two types of methods. One type is the thermoelectric coupling calculation method based on three-dimensional finite element simulation software such as ANSYS and COMSOL. This method offers high calculation accuracy, but when calculating high-power thermoelectric generators, it suffers from high computational resource consumption, slow calculation speed, and even ineffective calculation. The other type is the lumped calculation model commonly used in engineering design. This method applies the average temperature difference of the thermoelectric generator to individual thermoelectric components, calculates the performance of each component, and then extrapolates the overall performance based on the number of components. This method has high calculation efficiency, but the calculation deviation is large, and it cannot consider the influence of different electrical performance parameters on the thermoelectric conversion efficiency, nor can it provide the performance of each thermoelectric component in a high-power thermoelectric generator.

[0027] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, outlines the thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method, thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction system, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium proposed in embodiments of the present invention.

[0028] refer to Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a method for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, the thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method of the present invention may include the following steps: S101, Obtain the initial characteristic parameters of the thermoelectric conversion device, and determine the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device based on the preset initial temperature distribution conditions and the initial characteristic parameters.

[0030] Specifically, the thermoelectric conversion device may include a high-power thermoelectric power generation device, and may be a "sandwich-type" power generation structure, comprising a hot-end heat exchanger, a thermoelectric conversion element, a cold-end heat exchanger, insulation material, a hot-end interface layer between the hot-end heat exchanger and the thermoelectric conversion element, and a cold-end interface layer between the thermoelectric conversion element and the cold-end heat exchanger. Based on the composition characteristics of the thermoelectric conversion device, the area differences between the hot-end heat exchanger, the cold-end heat exchanger, the thermoelectric conversion element, the hot-end interface layer between the hot-end heat exchanger and the thermoelectric conversion element, and the cold-end interface layer between the thermoelectric conversion element and the cold-end heat exchanger are ignored.

[0031] First, it is necessary to obtain the key performance data of the thermoelectric conversion elements in the thermoelectric conversion device, namely the material and structural parameters, the performance inputs of the thermoelectric conversion elements (such as the relationship curves between temperature difference, current and power generation efficiency and power), and the thermal resistance parameters (heat exchanger flow-resistance relationship) and pipeline parameters of each component of the thermoelectric conversion device, which are used as initial characteristic parameters. Based on this, assuming that the temperature distribution on the hot and cold sides inside the thermoelectric conversion device is uniform, and setting the initial physical property parameters of the working medium (such as density and viscosity) according to the preset initial temperature distribution conditions, and then combining the structural and resistance characteristics of the hot and cold side pipeline network (hot fluid pipeline network and cold fluid pipeline network) of the thermoelectric conversion device, the flow balance and pressure balance of each branch pipeline in the thermoelectric conversion device can be solved simultaneously using the classical fluid pipeline hydraulic calculation method, thereby initially determining the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device.

[0032] S102, based on the flow state of the working medium in each unit and the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium through the thermoelectric conversion element, determine the temperature distribution state in each unit.

[0033] Specifically, based on the flow state of the working medium in each unit and the complete heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium via the thermoelectric conversion element, a thermal resistance network model along the heat transfer path in each unit is established and solved based on the energy conservation relationship. This allows for the calculation of the temperature distribution of the hot-side working medium, both sides of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the cold-side working medium in each unit.

[0034] S103, based on the temperature difference across each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial characteristic parameters, determine the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element.

[0035] Specifically, after obtaining the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends of the thermoelectric conversion element in each unit, and combining the initial characteristic parameters (such as the performance spectrum or functional relationship of the output power and conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric conversion element under different temperature differences and current conditions, the performance data corresponding to the current temperature difference can be found or interpolated in the performance spectrum, and with the help of the preset current configuration strategy (such as maximum power point tracking or constant current, etc.), the output power and conversion efficiency of each thermoelectric conversion element under the current operating conditions can be determined, thereby obtaining the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element.

[0036] S104 updates the initial physical property parameters of the working medium based on the temperature distribution state, redetermines the flow distribution state and temperature distribution state, and determines the updated output performance index based on the redetermined temperature distribution state.

[0037] Specifically, after completing the initial temperature distribution state calculation, the initial physical property parameters of the working medium in each unit are updated based on the temperature distribution state. Then, the flow distribution state calculation is re-executed based on the updated initial physical property parameters to obtain the updated flow distribution results of each unit. The temperature distribution state of each unit is then recalculated based on the updated flow distribution results. Finally, the updated output performance indicators of each thermoelectric conversion element are determined again based on the re-determined temperature distribution state, thus completing a complete iterative update calculation.

[0038] S105, calculate the relative deviation between the updated output performance index and the initial output performance index.

[0039] Specifically, after obtaining the updated output performance indicators, for each thermoelectric conversion element, its updated output performance indicators are compared with the initial output performance indicators item by item. By calculating the percentage of the absolute value of the difference between the two to the initial value, the relative deviation value of the output performance indicators of each thermoelectric conversion element is obtained.

[0040] S106, in response to the relative deviation value satisfying the preset convergence condition, outputs the performance prediction result of the thermoelectric conversion device.

[0041] Specifically, when the relative deviation values ​​of all thermoelectric conversion elements meet the preset convergence conditions, it is determined that the current iterative calculation result has reached sufficient accuracy requirements. At this point, the iterative calculation is terminated, and the output performance indicators of each thermoelectric conversion element obtained in the current round, as well as the total output power and total conversion efficiency of the entire thermoelectric conversion device, are output as the final performance prediction results.

[0042] In some embodiments of the present invention, the initial characteristic parameters include performance parameters for characterizing the performance of the thermoelectric conversion element, resistance parameters for characterizing the flow resistance of the working medium, and topology parameters for characterizing the topological relationship of the working medium channel.

[0043] Specifically, the initial characteristic parameters include three categories: performance parameters, resistance parameters, and topology parameters. Performance parameters characterize the power generation performance of the thermoelectric conversion element under different operating conditions. These parameters can be performance graphs or functional relationships of the thermoelectric conversion element obtained through experimental testing or provided by the manufacturer. These performance parameters record the output power and conversion efficiency data of the thermoelectric conversion element under different hot and cold end temperature differences and different operating current conditions. Resistance parameters characterize the flow resistance characteristics of the working medium as it flows through the heat exchangers and connecting pipes in each unit. These parameters can be the pressure drop versus flow rate curves or resistance coefficients of the heat exchangers and pipes in each unit at different flow rates. These constitute the core input of the pressure balance equation in the flow distribution calculation. Topology parameters characterize the network topology of the working medium channels. These parameters can be the geometric structure information describing the series and parallel connection methods of the hot and cold side pipe networks between units within the entire thermoelectric conversion device, the length, diameter, elbows, and tees of each branch pipe, and other local element arrangements. This provides complete channel connection relationships and geometric boundary conditions for establishing the hydraulic calculation network model.

[0044] In some embodiments of the present invention, determining the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device includes: determining the initial physical property parameters of the working medium in each unit based on preset initial temperature distribution conditions; and calculating the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device based on the initial physical property parameters, topology parameters, and resistance parameters.

[0045] Specifically, firstly, based on the preset initial temperature distribution conditions (i.e., assuming uniform hot and cold side temperatures throughout the thermoelectric conversion device or providing an initial temperature field based on empirical values ​​in the initial calculation phase), and combined with the functional relationship between the initial physical properties of the working medium and temperature (such as the variation curves of density, viscosity, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity with temperature), the initial physical properties of the working medium in each unit are determined; then, based on the initial physical properties and the topological parameters characterizing the topological relationship of the working medium channels (including the series and parallel connection relationships between units, pipe length, pipe diameter, type of local resistance element, and...), the initial physical properties of the working medium in each unit are determined. Based on the pressure balance equations and flow continuity equations of each branch node as constraints, the initial physical property parameters can be substituted into the above hydraulic model for simultaneous solution, thereby calculating the distribution state of the cold-side working medium flow rate and the hot-side working medium flow rate of each unit in the thermoelectric conversion device under a given initial temperature distribution, that is, determining the specific flow rate values ​​of the cold and hot fluids in each unit.

[0046] In some embodiments of the present invention, determining the temperature distribution state within each unit includes: establishing a thermal resistance network model for each unit based on the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium via the thermoelectric conversion element; and calculating the temperature distribution state on the heat source side, both sides of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the cold source side within each unit based on the thermal resistance network model and in conjunction with energy conservation.

[0047] Specifically, firstly, for each basic unit, based on the complete heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium through the thermoelectric conversion element to the cold-side working medium, each heat transfer segment on this path is equivalent to a corresponding convective thermal resistance and conductive thermal resistance, thereby constructing a one-dimensional series thermal resistance network model covering the hot-side convective thermal resistance, the device body's conductive thermal resistance, and the cold-side convective thermal resistance. Then, based on this thermal resistance network model, the relationship between thermal resistance and temperature difference described by Fourier's law of thermal conduction and Newton's law of cooling can be combined, while simultaneously establishing the energy conservation equations for the hot-side fluid and the cold-side fluid within each unit. The equation (i.e., the heat released by the hot-side fluid equals the heat transferred through the device equals the heat absorbed by the cold-side fluid) is coupled and solved with the thermal resistance network equation and the energy conservation equation. The heat transfer effect between the sandwich structure of the thermoelectric conversion element can be ignored. Thus, the temperature distribution of the hot-side fluid along the flow direction, the wall temperature of the hot-side heat exchanger, the temperature of the hot and cold ends of the thermoelectric conversion element, the wall temperature of the cold-side heat exchanger, and the temperature distribution of the cold-side fluid along the flow direction in each unit are calculated. In other words, the temperature distribution state of the heat source side, both sides of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the cold source side in each unit is fully determined.

[0048] In some embodiments of the present invention, determining the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element includes: determining the operating current configuration of each thermoelectric conversion element under the current operating condition based on the temperature difference between the two ends of each thermoelectric conversion element and in combination with performance parameters; calculating the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element based on the operating current configuration; wherein, the initial output performance index includes the output power and conversion efficiency of each thermoelectric conversion element.

[0049] Specifically, after calculating the temperature distribution of each unit, the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends of each thermoelectric conversion element is obtained. Based on this temperature difference and the pre-input performance parameters of the thermoelectric conversion element—that is, the performance graph or functional relationship reflecting the output characteristics of the device under different temperature differences—the optimal operating current configuration for each thermoelectric conversion element under the current operating condition is first determined. This operating current configuration can be the current value that maximizes output power, the current value that maximizes conversion efficiency, or an intermediate current value determined under a specific control strategy. After determining the operating current configuration for each thermoelectric conversion element, based on this current value and the temperature difference between the two ends of the thermoelectric conversion element, the output power and conversion efficiency of each thermoelectric conversion element under the current operating condition are calculated by consulting the performance graph or substituting into the performance functional relationship. These serve as the initial output performance indicators for the element. The output power characterizes the power generation capacity of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the conversion efficiency characterizes the efficiency with which the thermoelectric conversion element converts heat energy into electrical energy.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes: calculating the relative deviation between the updated output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial output performance index; and determining that the preset convergence condition is met when the relative deviation values ​​of all thermoelectric conversion elements are less than a preset threshold.

[0051] Specifically, the relative deviation between the updated output performance indicators (such as output power and conversion efficiency) of each thermoelectric conversion element in this iteration and the initial output performance indicators in the previous iteration is calculated. This relative deviation is obtained by dividing the absolute value of the difference between the two by the initial value of the previous iteration and then multiplying by 100%. Subsequently, the relative deviation of each thermoelectric conversion element is compared with a preset threshold (for example, 1% commonly used in engineering). Only when the relative deviations of the output power and conversion efficiency of all thermoelectric conversion elements in the thermoelectric conversion device are simultaneously less than the preset threshold is it determined that the result of this iteration meets the preset convergence condition, that is, the performance prediction result of the entire thermoelectric conversion device has reached sufficient calculation accuracy. At this time, the iteration can be terminated and the final performance prediction result can be output.

[0052] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes: in response to the relative deviation value not meeting the preset convergence condition, taking the updated output performance index as the new initial output performance index, taking the updated temperature distribution state as the new temperature distribution condition, and repeatedly performing iterative calculations of the flow distribution state, temperature distribution state, and output performance index until the relative deviation value meets the preset convergence condition.

[0053] Specifically, when the relative deviation value does not meet the preset convergence condition, that is, if the relative deviation value of any performance index of any thermoelectric conversion element is greater than or equal to the preset threshold, it is determined that the preset convergence condition is not met. At this time, it is necessary to continue to execute the next round of iterative calculation, using the output performance index obtained from this iteration as the new initial output performance index, and using the temperature distribution state of each unit obtained from this iteration as the new temperature distribution condition. The entire process of flow distribution state calculation, temperature distribution state calculation, and output performance index calculation is repeated until all performance indexes of all thermoelectric conversion elements of the thermoelectric conversion device meet the preset convergence condition, thereby ensuring that the final output performance prediction result has comprehensive and reliable accuracy.

[0054] In summary, the performance prediction method for a thermoelectric conversion device according to embodiments of the present invention includes: acquiring initial characteristic parameters of the thermoelectric conversion device; determining the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device based on preset initial temperature distribution conditions and the initial characteristic parameters; determining the temperature distribution state in each unit based on the flow state of the working medium in each unit and the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium via the thermoelectric conversion element; determining the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element based on the temperature difference between the two ends of each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial characteristic parameters; updating the initial physical property parameters of the working medium based on the temperature distribution state, re-determining the flow distribution state and temperature distribution state, and determining the updated output performance index based on the re-determined temperature distribution state; calculating the relative deviation value between the updated output performance index and the initial output performance index; and outputting the performance prediction result of the thermoelectric conversion device in response to the relative deviation value satisfying a preset convergence condition. Therefore, this method can quickly obtain the output performance of each thermoelectric conversion element by unit-by-unit iterative coupling with only readily available engineering inputs such as initial characteristic parameters. This avoids the huge computational resource consumption caused by complex three-dimensional simulation and overcomes the accuracy defect of traditional lumped parameter method that ignores the non-uniform distribution inside the device. It achieves an effective balance between computational efficiency and prediction accuracy in the performance prediction of high-power thermoelectric conversion devices.

[0055] It should be noted that the method of this embodiment can be executed by a single device, such as a computer or server. The method of this embodiment can also be applied to a distributed scenario, where multiple devices cooperate to complete the task. In such a distributed scenario, one of these devices may execute only one or more steps of the method of this embodiment, and the multiple devices will interact with each other to complete the above method.

[0056] It should be noted that the above description describes some embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps described in the claims may be performed in a different order than that shown in the above embodiments and still achieve the desired results. Furthermore, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require a specific or sequential order to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0057] Corresponding to the above embodiments, the present invention also proposes a performance prediction system for thermoelectric conversion devices.

[0058] like Figure 2 As shown, the thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction system of this embodiment includes an acquisition module 210, a first determination module 220, a second determination module 230, an update module 240, a calculation module 250, and a response module 260.

[0059] The module 210 is configured to acquire the initial characteristic parameters of the thermoelectric conversion device and determine the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device based on the preset initial temperature distribution conditions and the initial characteristic parameters. The first determination module 220 is configured to determine the temperature distribution state in each unit based on the flow state of the working medium in each unit and the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium through the thermoelectric conversion element. The second determination module 230 is configured to determine the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element based on the temperature difference between the two ends of each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial characteristic parameters. The update module 240 is configured to update the initial physical property parameters of the working medium based on the temperature distribution state, redetermine the flow distribution state and temperature distribution state, and determine the updated output performance index based on the redetermined temperature distribution state. The calculation module 250 is configured to calculate the relative deviation value between the updated output performance index and the initial output performance index. The response module 260 is configured to output the performance prediction result of the thermoelectric conversion device in response to the relative deviation value satisfying the preset convergence condition.

[0060] In some embodiments of the present invention, the initial characteristic parameters include performance parameters for characterizing the performance of the thermoelectric conversion element, resistance parameters for characterizing the flow resistance of the working medium, and topology parameters for characterizing the topological relationship of the working medium channel.

[0061] In some embodiments of the present invention, the acquisition module 210 determines the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device, specifically for: determining the initial physical property parameters of the working medium in each unit based on preset initial temperature distribution conditions; and calculating the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device based on the initial physical property parameters, topology parameters, and resistance parameters.

[0062] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first determining module 220 determines the temperature distribution state within each unit, specifically for: establishing a thermal resistance network model for each unit based on the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium via the thermoelectric conversion element; and calculating the temperature distribution state on the heat source side, both sides of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the cold source side within each unit based on the thermal resistance network model and in conjunction with energy conservation.

[0063] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second determining module 230 determines the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element, specifically for: determining the operating current configuration of each thermoelectric conversion element under the current operating condition based on the temperature difference between the two ends of each thermoelectric conversion element and the performance parameters; calculating the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element based on the operating current configuration; wherein, the initial output performance index includes the output power and conversion efficiency of each thermoelectric conversion element.

[0064] In some embodiments of the present invention, the calculation module 250 is further configured to calculate the relative deviation between the updated output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial output performance index; when the relative deviation of all thermoelectric conversion elements is less than a preset threshold, it is determined that the preset convergence condition is met.

[0065] In some embodiments of the present invention, the response module 260 is further configured to, in response to the relative deviation value not meeting the preset convergence condition, take the updated output performance index as the new initial output performance index, take the updated temperature distribution state as the new temperature distribution condition, and repeatedly perform iterative calculations of the flow distribution state, temperature distribution state and output performance index until the relative deviation value meets the preset convergence condition.

[0066] It should be noted that for details not disclosed in the thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction system of this embodiment of the invention, please refer to the details disclosed in the thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method of this embodiment of the invention, which will not be repeated here.

[0067] In summary, the thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an acquisition module configured to acquire initial characteristic parameters of the thermoelectric conversion device, and determine the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device based on preset initial temperature distribution conditions and the initial characteristic parameters; a first determination module configured to determine the temperature distribution state in each unit based on the flow state of the working medium in each unit and the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium via the thermoelectric conversion element; a second determination module configured to determine the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element based on the temperature difference between the two ends of each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial characteristic parameters; an update module configured to update the initial physical property parameters of the working medium based on the temperature distribution state, redetermine the flow distribution state and temperature distribution state, and determine the updated output performance index based on the redetermined temperature distribution state; a calculation module configured to calculate the relative deviation value between the updated output performance index and the initial output performance index; and a response module configured to output the performance prediction result of the thermoelectric conversion device in response to the relative deviation value satisfying a preset convergence condition. Therefore, this system can quickly obtain the output performance of each thermoelectric conversion element by unit-by-unit iterative coupling with only readily available engineering inputs such as initial characteristic parameters. This avoids the huge computational resource consumption caused by complex three-dimensional simulation and overcomes the accuracy defects of traditional lumped parameter method that ignores the non-uniform distribution inside the device. It achieves an effective balance between computational efficiency and prediction accuracy in the performance prediction of high-power thermoelectric conversion devices.

[0068] For ease of description, the above system is described by dividing it into various modules based on their functions. Of course, in implementing this invention, the functions of each module can be implemented in one or more software and / or hardware components.

[0069] The system described in the above embodiments is used to implement the corresponding method in any of the foregoing embodiments and has the beneficial effects of the corresponding method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0070] Corresponding to the above embodiments, the present invention also proposes an electronic device.

[0071] refer to Figure 3 The diagram below is a block diagram of an electronic device according to some embodiments of the present invention. It illustrates a more specific hardware structure of the electronic device provided in this embodiment. The device may include: a processor 310, a memory 320, an input / output interface 330, a communication interface 340, and a bus 350. The processor 310, memory 320, input / output interface 330, and communication interface 340 are interconnected internally via the bus 350.

[0072] The processor 310 can be implemented using a general-purpose CPU (Central Processing Unit), microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits, and is used to execute relevant programs to implement the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this specification.

[0073] The memory 320 can be implemented in the form of ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), static storage device, dynamic storage device, etc. The memory 320 can store the operating system and other applications. When the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this specification are implemented by software or firmware, the relevant program code is stored in the memory 320 and is called and executed by the processor 310.

[0074] Input / output interface 330 is used to connect input / output modules to realize information input and output. Input / output modules can be configured as components in the device (not shown in the figure) or externally connected to the device to provide corresponding functions. Input devices may include keyboards, mice, touch screens, microphones, various sensors, etc., and output devices may include displays, speakers, vibrators, indicator lights, etc.

[0075] The communication interface 340 is used to connect a communication module (not shown in the figure) to enable communication between this device and other devices. The communication module can communicate via wired means (such as USB, Ethernet cable, etc.) or wireless means (such as mobile network, WIFI, Bluetooth, etc.).

[0076] Bus 350 includes a pathway for transmitting information between various components of the device, such as processor 310, memory 320, input / output interface 330, and communication interface 340.

[0077] It should be noted that although the above-described device only shows the processor 310, memory 320, input / output interface 330, communication interface 340, and bus 350, in specific implementations, the device may also include other components necessary for normal operation. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the above-described device may only include the components necessary for implementing the embodiments of this specification, and not necessarily all the components shown in the figures.

[0078] The electronic devices described above are used to implement the corresponding methods in any of the foregoing embodiments and have the beneficial effects of the corresponding method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0079] Based on the same inventive concept, corresponding to the methods of any of the above embodiments, the present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for causing a computer to perform the methods of any of the above embodiments.

[0080] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium or data storage device that a computer can access, including but not limited to magnetic storage (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, magneto-optical disks (MOs), etc.), optical storage (e.g., CDs, DVDs, BDs, HVDs, etc.), and semiconductor storage (e.g., ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, non-volatile memory (NAND flash), solid-state drives (SSDs)).

[0081] The computer instructions stored in the storage medium of the above embodiments are used to cause the computer to perform the methods of any of the above exemplary method sections, and have the beneficial effects of the corresponding method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0082] Furthermore, although the operations of the method of the present invention are described in a specific order in the accompanying drawings, this does not require or imply that these operations must be performed in that specific order, or that all of the operations shown must be performed to achieve the desired result. Rather, the steps depicted in the flowchart may be performed in a different order. Additionally or alternatively, certain steps may be omitted, multiple steps may be combined into one step, and / or one step may be broken down into multiple steps.

[0083] It should be understood that various parts of the present invention can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the above embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented in software or firmware stored in memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented in hardware, as in another embodiment, it can be implemented using any one or a combination of the following techniques known in the art: discrete logic circuits having logic gates for implementing logical functions on data signals, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) having suitable combinational logic gates, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

[0084] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the embodiments of this invention should have the ordinary meaning understood by those skilled in the art. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in the embodiments of this invention do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word covers the element or object listed after the word and its equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are only used to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0085] While the spirit and principles of the invention have been described with reference to several specific embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed specific embodiments, and the division of aspects does not imply that features in these aspects cannot be combined for benefit; such division is merely for ease of description. The invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the appended claims is to be interpreted in the broadest sense, thereby encompassing all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. A method for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device, characterized in that, include: The initial characteristic parameters of the thermoelectric conversion device are obtained, and based on the preset initial temperature distribution conditions, the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device is determined according to the initial characteristic parameters. The temperature distribution in each unit is determined based on the flow state of the working medium in each unit and the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium through the thermoelectric conversion element. Based on the temperature difference across each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial characteristic parameters, the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element is determined. The initial physical property parameters of the working medium are updated based on the temperature distribution state, the flow distribution state and the temperature distribution state are redefined, and the updated output performance index is determined based on the redefined temperature distribution state. Calculate the relative deviation between the updated output performance index and the initial output performance index; In response to the relative deviation value satisfying the preset convergence condition, the performance prediction result of the thermoelectric conversion device is output.

2. The method for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The initial characteristic parameters include performance parameters for characterizing the performance of the thermoelectric conversion element, resistance parameters for characterizing the flow resistance of the working medium, and topology parameters for characterizing the channel topology of the working medium.

3. The method for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, characterized in that, Determining the flow distribution status of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device includes: Based on the preset initial temperature distribution conditions, the initial physical property parameters of the working medium in each unit are determined. Based on the initial physical property parameters, the topology parameters, and the resistance parameters, the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device is calculated.

4. The method for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the temperature distribution within each unit includes: Based on the heat transfer path of the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium through the thermoelectric conversion element in each unit, a thermal resistance network model of each unit is established. Based on the thermal resistance network model and combined with energy conservation, the temperature distribution on the heat source side, both sides of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the cold source side within each unit is calculated.

5. The method for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, characterized in that, Determining the initial output performance indicators of each of the thermoelectric conversion elements includes: Based on the temperature difference across each thermoelectric conversion element and in conjunction with the aforementioned performance parameters, determine the operating current configuration of each thermoelectric conversion element under the current operating conditions. Based on the operating current configuration, the initial output performance indicators of each thermoelectric conversion element are calculated; wherein, the initial output performance indicators include the output power and conversion efficiency of each thermoelectric conversion element.

6. The method for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Calculate the relative deviation between the updated output performance indicators and the initial output performance indicators of each thermoelectric conversion element; When the relative deviation values ​​of all the thermoelectric conversion elements are less than a preset threshold, it is determined that the preset convergence condition is met.

7. The method for predicting the performance of a thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: In response to the relative deviation value not meeting the preset convergence condition, the updated output performance index is used as the new initial output performance index, and the updated temperature distribution state is used as the new temperature distribution condition. The iterative calculation of the flow distribution state, temperature distribution state, and output performance index is repeated until the relative deviation value meets the preset convergence condition.

8. A performance prediction system for a thermoelectric conversion device, characterized in that, include: The acquisition module is configured to acquire the initial characteristic parameters of the thermoelectric conversion device, and based on the preset initial temperature distribution conditions, determine the flow distribution state of the working medium in each unit of the thermoelectric conversion device according to the initial characteristic parameters. The first determining module is configured to determine the temperature distribution state within each unit based on the flow state of the working medium within each unit and the heat transfer path from the hot-side working medium to the cold-side working medium via the thermoelectric conversion element. The second determining module is configured to determine the initial output performance index of each thermoelectric conversion element based on the temperature difference across each thermoelectric conversion element and the initial characteristic parameters. The update module is configured to update the initial physical property parameters of the working medium based on the temperature distribution state, redetermine the flow distribution state and the temperature distribution state, and determine the updated output performance index according to the redetermined temperature distribution state. The calculation module is configured to calculate the relative deviation between the updated output performance metric and the initial output performance metric; The response module is configured to output the performance prediction result of the thermoelectric conversion device in response to the relative deviation value satisfying a preset convergence condition.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: A processor and a memory, the memory storing a program or instructions executable on the processor, the program or instructions, when executed by the processor, implementing the steps of the thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The readable storage medium stores a program or instructions that, when executed by a processor, implement the steps of the thermoelectric conversion device performance prediction method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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