Thermoelectric Generator Design and Characterization for Industrial Pipe Waste Heat Recovery

Thermoelectric technology is an effective strategy to convert low–grade waste heat to electrical energy directly. Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have been extensively studied in various waste heat scenarios, such as vehicle exhaust, metal casting processes and more. However, industrial pipelines also possess high levels of heat and wide distribution, yet there is limited research on TEGs for use in these pipes. The challenge in designing a TEG lies in the heat collector, which is complicated by the distinct structural differences between pipe and plate–shaped TEMs. Ultimately, we propose an arch bridge–shaped heat collector for the pipe to recover wasted thermal energy. The effects of some key factors, such as topology of TEMs, heat source temperature, cooling water temperature and velocity, on the generating performance are studied. The TEG achieved a temperature difference of 65.98 °C across the two ends of the TEM, resulting in an output power of 17.89 W at an open–circuit voltage of 133.35 V. This provides evidence that the designed heat collector is a feasible solution for recovering waste heat from pipes using TEG technology. This work provides reliable experimental data and efficient design for the application of TEGs in industrial pipes.