Design and Preparation of Bi-Sb-Te Alloy Thermoelectric Power Generation from Motorcycle Exhaust

Abstract

This study was conducted on design and preparation of the variable compositions bismuth antimony telluride (BiSbTe) alloys by mechanically alloying and the powders sintering to form the thermoelectric alloy materials. The powder of thermoelectric material is coldpressed under 766.4Mpa to make square thermoelectric pairs with size 8.2mm×8.2mm and thicknesses 0.8mm and 1.5mm. The zone melting method was used to acquire P-type thermoelectric material Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 and N-type thermoelectric material Bi2Te2.55Se0.45. At temperature 381K, the measured Seebeck coefficient of Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 is 223μV/K, and its thermoelectric figure of merit ZT is 1.36. At temperature 400K, the measured Seebeck coefficient of Bi2Te2.55Se0.45 is 206μV/K, and its thermoelectric figure of merit ZT is 1.03. Solder paste Sn42Bi58 and copper electrode plate are in series connection with 16 pieces of P/N thermoelectric material to form thermoelectric modules. The generating performance of a thermoelectric module is evaluated in terms of its voltage, current and output power of the thermoelectric modules.