Prospects of Thermoelectric Generators with Nanofluid

A thermoelectric generator (TEG) is a device that can directly convert heat into electricity without any intermediate energy forms such as work in the conventional power generation cycles. Waste heat recovery (WHR) is looking to recover such energy and utilize it for useful applications. The heat transfer efficiency from a waste heat (WH) stream to TEG material, plays a determinant role in the TEG performance. Nanoparticle-based heat transfer fluids, i.e., nanofluids, have significantly improved the heat transfer process, enabling higher energy efficiency in TEG applications. In this respect, we discuss the unique utilization of nanofluids in TEG applications for WHR. The critical role of nanofluids in improving the performance of different TEG for WHR was discussed. Despite the proven improvement with the incorporation of nanofluids in TEG applications, further research is required on both the operational and material development sides to reach the full scale and commercialization of TEG systems.