Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 5434 |
| Journal | ENERGIES |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 14 |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Jul 2023 |
Abstract
Thermoelectric energy converters based on galvanic cells (TGC) offer the possibility of direct conversion of low-temperature waste heat into electrical energy and could therefore be a promising approach for an increase in the overall efficiency of energy conversion. Due to an externally applied heat source, a temperature gradient across the electrolyte is induced, leading to a gradient in the chemical potential of the species and an electrical potential difference between the electrodes. The aim of approaching an internal equilibrium state leads to various coupled molecular transport mechanisms taking place in the electrolyte, impacting the open circuit voltage (OCV) and the performance of the TGC. By applying the theory of non-equilibrium thermodynamics (NET) to describe these coupled processes, the interactions that occur can be characterized in more detail. In this work, a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)-based TGC with two H2/H2O electrodes of different temperatures and gas compositions is experimentally investigated. By controlling the gradients in temperature and concentration, different impacts on the resulting OCV can be identified. In addition, we present the measured coupling coefficient, representing the singular relation between the transport of the hydrogen ions inside the membrane and the electrical potential difference between the electrodes for a wide variety of working conditions.
Keywords
- coupled molecular transport mechanisms, energy conversion, non-equilibrium thermodynamics, polymer electrolyte membrane, thermogalvanic cell
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Energy(all)
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Energy(all)
- Fuel Technology
- Engineering(all)
- Engineering (miscellaneous)
- Energy(all)
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Energy(all)
- Energy (miscellaneous)
- Mathematics(all)
- Control and Optimization
- Engineering(all)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: ENERGIES, Vol. 16, No. 14, 5434, 17.07.2023.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Experimental Investigation of Coupled Transport Mechanisms in a PEM Based Thermoelectric Energy Converter
AU - Willke, Maike
AU - Rahm, Nils Eric
AU - Kabelac, Stephan
N1 - Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (project no. 449554201).
PY - 2023/7/17
Y1 - 2023/7/17
N2 - Thermoelectric energy converters based on galvanic cells (TGC) offer the possibility of direct conversion of low-temperature waste heat into electrical energy and could therefore be a promising approach for an increase in the overall efficiency of energy conversion. Due to an externally applied heat source, a temperature gradient across the electrolyte is induced, leading to a gradient in the chemical potential of the species and an electrical potential difference between the electrodes. The aim of approaching an internal equilibrium state leads to various coupled molecular transport mechanisms taking place in the electrolyte, impacting the open circuit voltage (OCV) and the performance of the TGC. By applying the theory of non-equilibrium thermodynamics (NET) to describe these coupled processes, the interactions that occur can be characterized in more detail. In this work, a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)-based TGC with two H2/H2O electrodes of different temperatures and gas compositions is experimentally investigated. By controlling the gradients in temperature and concentration, different impacts on the resulting OCV can be identified. In addition, we present the measured coupling coefficient, representing the singular relation between the transport of the hydrogen ions inside the membrane and the electrical potential difference between the electrodes for a wide variety of working conditions.
AB - Thermoelectric energy converters based on galvanic cells (TGC) offer the possibility of direct conversion of low-temperature waste heat into electrical energy and could therefore be a promising approach for an increase in the overall efficiency of energy conversion. Due to an externally applied heat source, a temperature gradient across the electrolyte is induced, leading to a gradient in the chemical potential of the species and an electrical potential difference between the electrodes. The aim of approaching an internal equilibrium state leads to various coupled molecular transport mechanisms taking place in the electrolyte, impacting the open circuit voltage (OCV) and the performance of the TGC. By applying the theory of non-equilibrium thermodynamics (NET) to describe these coupled processes, the interactions that occur can be characterized in more detail. In this work, a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)-based TGC with two H2/H2O electrodes of different temperatures and gas compositions is experimentally investigated. By controlling the gradients in temperature and concentration, different impacts on the resulting OCV can be identified. In addition, we present the measured coupling coefficient, representing the singular relation between the transport of the hydrogen ions inside the membrane and the electrical potential difference between the electrodes for a wide variety of working conditions.
KW - coupled molecular transport mechanisms
KW - energy conversion
KW - non-equilibrium thermodynamics
KW - polymer electrolyte membrane
KW - thermogalvanic cell
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85166172776&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/en16145434
DO - 10.3390/en16145434
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85166172776
VL - 16
JO - ENERGIES
JF - ENERGIES
SN - 1996-1073
IS - 14
M1 - 5434
ER -