Abwärmerückgewinnung in Personenwagen durch thermoelektrische Module

Due to rising fuel prices, the depletion of oil resources, and increasing environmental awareness, the topic of energy efficiency in passenger cars is becoming increasingly important. In addition to efforts to optimize the internal combustion engine's efficiency, utilizing the significant waste heat losses seems sensible. Currently, only a small portion of the thermal energy not converted by the engine is used (heating, turbocharger, catalytic converter, etc.). One approach to better utilize waste heat, which has recently been researched with increased effort, is thermoelectrics. With the help of so-called thermoelectric generators, the direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy is possible. As part of this work, a prototype was developed that envisions the integration of a thermoelectric generator into the exhaust system's muffler.