New approach for highly accurate efficiency determination of thermoelectric generator modules

An experimental method was developed to determine the efficiency of thermoelectric generators with enhanced reliability and accuracy. In spite of previous experiments the crucial measurements of the heat flow into the module was replaced by the indirect method of measuring the heat production in the heater which is used to control the modules hot side. First measured results of a realized set-up were compared with those achieved by a conventional method and the measurements' accuracy was confirmed by the excellent agreement of both data.