2.5.3. Numerical Analysis

Optimum voltage at maximum power and efficiency exists for the given temperature difference condition. The current corresponding to the optimum voltage is called optimum current. Using the simulated optimum current value corresponding to the employed optimum voltage value, the maximum power based on the numerical approach was calculated using Equation (22) [13].

$$P\_{\text{numerical}, \text{max}} = V\_{\text{numerical}, \text{opt}} I\_{\text{numerical}, \text{opt}} \cdot \tag{22}$$

The maximum efficiency was calculated using the numerical maximum power and heat absorbed [13]. The heat absorbed by the thermoelectric module from the hot side was simulated:

$$m\_{\text{numerical}, \text{max}} = \frac{P\_{\text{numerical}, \text{opt}}}{H\_{\text{a}}} \tag{23}$$

Similarly, thermal stress in terms of the equivalent stress or von-Mises stress was simulated from the numerical analysis with the static structure solver of ANSYS under various temperature conditions.

The maximum power and maximum efficiency were taken into consideration with the thermal-electric solver under various boundary conditions for the hot side and cold side temperatures, as well as voltage loads of the low and high potential sides. The thermal stress analysis of various configurations of the thermoelectric module was carried out in the static structure solver using the same temperature boundary conditions as the thermal-electric solver.
