Experimental investigation of a thermoelectric generator assisted with heat pipe sinks for pickup car exhaust waste heat recovery
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Abstract
In internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV), about 40% of the heat is discharged into the environment as waste heat. This study proposed to develop an energy recovery device to utilize exhaust heat as electrical energy using a thermoelectric generator (TEG) assisted with a heat pipe sink. Six TEG units were installed on the stainless-steel heat block in an exhaust pipe where each TEG unit varied with one-stage TEG and two-stage TEG modules. The results showed that the maximum power generated and TEG efficiency of 1.4 W and 1.14% were obtained under 180oC of exhaust pipe temperature, with a two-stage TEG with a heat pipe sink under forced convection. The use of a heat pipe sink and under-forced convection improves the TEG system's performance by increasing the temperature difference between both sides of the TEG module, which impacts the electric power generated. This research provides some practical guidance for increasing the power and efficiency of TEGs by improving heat transfer performance through heat pipes.
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Sukarno, R., Indasyach Moreno, Z., Rio Budi Syaka, D., Gunawan, Y., Gama Yoga, N., Fariz Adzani, R., Putra Mustafit, A., & Kurniawati, D. (2025). Experimental investigation of a thermoelectric generator assisted with heat pipe sinks for pickup car exhaust waste heat recovery. Communications in Science and Technology, 10(1), 106-116. https://doi.org/10.21924/cst.10.1.2025.1661
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[35] R. Sukarno, N. Putra, I. I. Hakim, F. F. Rachman, and T. M. I. J. J. o. B. E. Mahlia, "Utilizing heat pipe heat exchanger to reduce the energy consumption of airborne infection isolation hospital room HVAC system," vol. 35, p. 102116, 2021.
[2] R. o. I. Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Handbook of Energy & Economic Statistics of Indonesia 2020. 2020.
[3] M. J. Ghomashi, "An Investigate on Power, Torque and Exhaust Gas Emission Variation: Effect of Hydroxy Gas Addition to Inlet Air of a SI Engine %J International Journal of Engineering," vol. 27, no. 11, pp. 1751-1756, 2014.
[4] Z.-G. Shen, L.-L. Tian, and X. Liu, "Automotive exhaust thermoelectric generators: Current status, challenges and future prospects," Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 195, pp. 1138-1173, 2019.
[5] D. Luo, Z. Sun, and R. Wang, "Performance investigation of a thermoelectric generator system applied in automobile exhaust waste heat recovery," Energy, vol. 238, p. 121816, 2022/01/01/ 2022.
[6] D. Luo, R. Wang, W. Yu, Z. Sun, and X. Meng, "Modelling and simulation study of a converging thermoelectric generator for engine waste heat recovery," Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 153, pp. 837-847, 2019/05/05/ 2019.
[7] J.-H. Meng, X.-D. Wang, and W.-H. Chen, "Performance investigation and design optimization of a thermoelectric generator applied in automobile exhaust waste heat recovery," Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 120, pp. 71-80, 2016/07/15/ 2016.
[8] C. Yu, K. J. E. C. Chau, and Management, "Thermoelectric automotive waste heat energy recovery using maximum power point tracking," vol. 50, no. 6, pp. 1506-1512, 2009.
[9] R. Sukarno, A. Maldini, R. Musyaffa, N. Yoga, and D. Syaka, "Preliminary study of the thermoelectric cooler and heat pipe application for the cooling system in cabin pickup car," in Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2024, vol. 2866, no. 1, p. 012090: IOP Publishing.
[10] H. Tian, L. Chang, Y. Gao, G. Shu, M. Zhao, and N. Yan, "Thermo-economic analysis of zeotropic mixtures based on siloxanes for engine waste heat recovery using a dual-loop organic Rankine cycle (DORC)," Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 136, pp. 11-26, 2017/03/15/ 2017.
[11] H. Boodaghi, M. M. Etghani, and K. Sedighi, "Advanced Exergy Scrutiny of a Dual-loop Organic Rankine Cycle for Waste Heat Recovery of a Heavy-duty Stationary Diesel Engine %J International Journal of Engineering," vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 644-656, 2022.
[12] P. Vanaei, B. Jalili, M. Hosseinzadeh, and P. Jalili, "Efficiency Optimization Thermal Analysis and Power Output of a Modified Incinerator Plant Using Organic Rankine Cycle %J International Journal of Engineering," vol. 36, no. 7, pp. 1300-1309, 2023.
[13] M. Ge et al., "Experimental study on thermoelectric power generation based on cryogenic liquid cold energy," Energy, vol. 220, p. 119746, 2021/04/01/ 2021.
[14] L. Huang, Y. Zheng, L. Xing, and B. Hou, "Recent progress of thermoelectric applications for cooling/heating, power generation, heat flux sensor and potential prospect of their integrated applications," Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, vol. 45, p. 102064, 2023/10/01/ 2023.
[15] R. Sukarno, "Pemanfaatan panas gas buang sepeda motor sebagai sumber energi alternatif menggunakan teknologi thermoelektrik," Jurnal Konversi Energi dan Manufaktur, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 149-156, 2016.
[16] D.-h. Kim et al., "Design and performance analyses of thermoelectric coolers and power generators for automobiles," Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, vol. 51, p. 101955, 2022/06/01/ 2022.
[17] W. N. Septiadi, G. A. Iswari, M. A. Rofiq, B. Gitawan, J. M. Gugundo, and C. A. D. Purba, "Output voltage characteristic of heat pipe sink thermoelectric generator with exhaust heat utilization of motorcycles," in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2018, vol. 105, no. 1, p. 012129: IOP Publishing.
[18] X. Liang, X. Sun, H. Tian, G. Shu, Y. Wang, and X. Wang, "Comparison and parameter optimization of a two-stage thermoelectric generator using high temperature exhaust of internal combustion engine," Applied Energy, vol. 130, pp. 190-199, 2014.
[19] R. Sukarno, A. Premono, Y. Gunawan, and A. Wiyono, "Experimental study of thermoelectric cooling system for a parked car with solar energy," Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 2596, no. 1, p. 012052, 2023/09/01 2023.
[20] R. Sukarno, A. Premono, Y. Gunawan, A. Wiyono, and A. J. A. E. Lubi, "Experimental Investigation of Using Thermoelectric Coolers under Different Cooling Methods as An Alternative Air Conditioning System for Car Cabin," vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 284-298, 2024.
[21] M. Asaduzzaman, M. H. Ali, N. A. Pratik, and N. Lubaba, "Exhaust heat harvesting of automotive engine using thermoelectric generation technology," Energy Conversion and Management: X, vol. 19, p. 100398, 2023/07/01/ 2023.
[22] A. Ramkumar and M. Ramakrishnan, "Performance improvement of thermoelectric generator by drooping the cool side temperature with thermacool 0.3M coating," Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, vol. 39, p. 102418, 2022/11/01/ 2022.
[23] H. N. Chaudhry, B. R. Hughes, and S. A. Ghani, "A review of heat pipe systems for heat recovery and renewable energy applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 2249-2259, 2012/05/01/ 2012.
[24] Y. H. Yau and M. Ahmadzadehtalatapeh, "A review on the application of horizontal heat pipe heat exchangers in air conditioning systems in the tropics," Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 77-84, 2010/02/01/ 2010.
[25] N. S. Putra, Wayan Nata Teori Pipa Kalor : Teori, Desain, dan Aplikasi. UI Press, 2014.
[26] D. Reay, R. McGlen, and P. Kew, Heat pipes: theory, design and applications. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013.
[27] R. Sukarno, N. Putra, I. I. Hakim, F. F. Rachman, and T. M. Indra Mahlia, "Utilizing heat pipe heat exchanger to reduce the energy consumption of airborne infection isolation hospital room HVAC system," Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 35, p. 102116, 2021/03/01/ 2021.
[28] I. Ibnu Hakim, R. Sukarno, and N. Putra, "Utilization of U-shaped finned heat pipe heat exchanger in energy-efficient HVAC systems," Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, vol. 25, p. 100984, 2021/10/01/ 2021.
[29] Y. Yat Huang and M. Ahmadzadehtalatapeh, "Energy Conservation Potential of the Heat Pipe Heat Exchangers: Experimental Study and Predictions %J International Journal of Engineering," vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 193-200, 2012.
[30] D. Astrain et al., "Enhanced behaviour of a passive thermoelectric generator with phase change heat exchangers and radiative cooling," Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 225, p. 120162, 2023/05/05/ 2023.
[31] Q. Cao, W. Luan, and T. Wang, "Performance enhancement of heat pipes assisted thermoelectric generator for automobile exhaust heat recovery," Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 130, pp. 1472-1479, 2018/02/05/ 2018.
[32] P. Fernández-Yáñez, V. Romero, O. Armas, and G. Cerretti, "Thermal management of thermoelectric generators for waste energy recovery," Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 196, p. 117291, 2021/09/01/ 2021.
[33] Y. Zhao et al., "Energy and exergy analysis of a thermoelectric generator system for automotive exhaust waste heat recovery," Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 239, p. 122180, 2024/02/15/ 2024.
[34] H. Jouhara and R. J. E. Meskimmon, "An investigation into the use of water as a working fluid in wraparound loop heat pipe heat exchanger for applications in energy efficient HVAC systems," vol. 156, pp. 597-605, 2018.
[35] R. Sukarno, N. Putra, I. I. Hakim, F. F. Rachman, and T. M. I. J. J. o. B. E. Mahlia, "Utilizing heat pipe heat exchanger to reduce the energy consumption of airborne infection isolation hospital room HVAC system," vol. 35, p. 102116, 2021.