Exhaust Gas Routing Device for Thermoelectric Generator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermoelectric generators in internal combustion engines face performance issues due to varying temperature gradients along the exhaust gas routing device, leading to suboptimal electrical output and detuning of thermoelectric leg pairs.
Innovation Solution
The exhaust gas routing device guides exhaust gas along a surface with increasing flow velocity in the direction of flow, maintaining a consistent temperature difference across thermoelectric leg pairs by varying the annular gap space and using a frustoconical configuration to enhance heat transfer and electrical output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If exhaust gas flows through a conventional exhaust gas routing device with constant cross-section, then the device structure is simple, but the temperature gradient along the flow direction causes suboptimal electrical output and detuning of thermoelectric leg pairs
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust gas routing device incorporates varying annular gap spaces at different locations along the flow direction. The gap space is larger at the inlet side and smaller at the outlet side, creating locally optimized flow conditions that compensate for the temperature gradient and maintain uniform temperature difference across all thermoelectric leg pairs, thereby maximizing electrical power output throughout the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the exhaust gas routing device by varying the annular gap space along the flow direction. This parameter change modifies the flow velocity distribution, which in turn compensates for the temperature gradient effect and maintains optimal temperature difference across thermoelectric leg pairs, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and high productivity.
2Productivity
If the temperature difference between hot and cold sides of thermoelectric leg pairs is maintained constant along the flow direction, then uniform electrical output is achieved, but the device requires complex flow control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex active flow control mechanisms, the patent employs passive local geometric variations in the exhaust gas routing device. The varying annular gap spaces create local flow acceleration zones that naturally compensate for temperature gradient effects, achieving uniform temperature difference and electrical output without requiring external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust gas routing device uses its own geometric structure to automatically compensate for temperature gradient effects. The varying gap spaces create flow velocity variations that self-regulate the heat transfer process, maintaining optimal temperature difference across thermoelectric leg pairs without external intervention or complex control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures a uniform electrical output along the thermoelectric generator, increasing overall electrical power recovery by compensating for temperature gradients and improving heat transfer to the thermoelectric leg pairs.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric generator (6) having a plurality of pairs of thermoelectric legs (18) which are connected to a pipeline (19)
Implementation Method 2
the device (22) guides the exhaust gas along the first surface (21) at a flow rate increasing in the direction of flow
Implementation Method 3
a second surface (20) cooled by the coolant
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an exhaust gas routing device for an internal combustion engine (10) having a thermoelectrical generator, fluidically connected to an exhaust gas tract (2) and to a line (11') guiding a coolant, wherein the generator comprises a plurality of thermoelectrical yoke pairs (18) disposed between a first surface (21) heated by the exhaust gas and a second surface (20) cooled by the coolant, and the exhaust gas routing device comprises a device (22) guiding the exhaust gas along the first surface (21) at a flow speed increasing in the flow direction of the exhaust gas.