SIMULATion of STATIONARY PROCESS OF THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR MODULES OF RING GEOMETRY
A comparative analysis of the operational characteristics of thermoelectric generator modules with a given geometry of ring thermopiles using a universal mathematical model. Thermoelectric modules consisting of commercially available and experimental generator thermal batteries were used as an object of simulation. As the materials for the thermoelement legs, we used serial alloys produced by RIF Corporation with n-type conductivity (Bi<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>2,4</sub>Se<sub>0,6</sub> with the addition of 0.2% (mass.) Hg<sub>2</sub>Cl<sub>2</sub>) and p-type conductivity (Bi<sub>0,5</sub>Sb<sub>1.5</sub>Te<sub>3</sub> with an addition of 0.2% (mass.) Pb) obtained by cold pressing and subsequent hot pressing, as well as experimental ones with improved quality factor. For all thermoelectric materials, the temperature dependences of the thermoelectric power, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity were known. The influence of the geometric characteristics of thermopiles on the operating parameters of the module was studied, as well as the analysis of the effectiveness of experimental materials compared to serial ones. The results of mathematical modeling are presented graphically in the form of dependences of the efficiency, electric power and the required heat flux along the hot side of the generator modules from the electrical resistance of the external load, and also the current-voltage characteristics and the dependences of the electric power of the generator modules on the operating current are obtained. The calculation results show that the new geometry of the battery allows one to increase the efficiency of the generator module by 20%. In turn, the use of new thermoelectric materials gives an additional increase in efficiency by 14.3%, and also increases the working range of economical operation. It is recommended to use new thermal batteries in conjunction with new materials for the development of autonomous current sources of a new generation