An approach for estimating thermoelectric module equivalent properties by thermal resistance and numerical modeling

Thermoelectric material properties are crucial for simulating thermoelectric modules (TEMs); yet, determining them requires complex and costly experiments due to temperature-dependent behavior and parasitic losses. This work proposes an approach for estimating TEM's equivalent properties from its output characteristics using thermal resistance (TRM) and numerical simulation modeling (NSM) accessibly, cost-effectively, and time-efficiently. Sensitivity analysis and cross-module validation confirm the method's reliability. The obtained equivalent property sets enable accurate prediction of TEM's output characteristics for the TRM and NSM compared with manufacturer data, with deviations of open-circuit voltage, maximum power, and conversion rate of 0.87%, 2.53%, and 3.07% for TRM, and 0.91%, 2.51%, and 3.24% for NSM, respectively. This finding implies that a TRM of TEMs can replace NSM in large-scale simulations, saving resources while ensuring accuracy. The proposed approach makes determining TEM properties less challenging; also, the equivalent properties reduce computational efforts required for simulating the thermoelectric generator system characteristics.