Study on the effects of guide fins structures on the flow and thermal uniformity of the motorcycle exhaust thermoelectric generator
Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures
ISSN: 1573-6105
Article publication date: 9 June 2022
Issue publication date: 16 June 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of different guide fins structures (i.e. single-layer and double-layer guide fins) on the exhaust flow and thermal uniformity of the motorcycle exhaust thermoelectric generator.
Design/methodology/approach
One single-layer guide fins structure and three double-layer guide fins structures are numerically investigated in terms of exhaust flow uniformity with different exhaust properties. Then, the double-layer guide fins structure achieving the highest flow uniformity is fabricated and experimentally investigated on a motorcycle at different engine speeds together with the single-layer guide fins structure to evaluate the thermal uniformity.
Findings
The double-layer guide fins structure obtains a better flow uniformity and thermal uniformity compared to the single-layer structure. Among surveyed structures, the double-layer structure with three closed V-shape guide fins achieves the highest flow uniformity. This structure also improves the thermal uniformity from 3.0 to 90.1% in comparison with the single-layer structure in experiments.
Originality/value
In this paper, the double-layer guide fins structures are derived from the improvement of the single-layer guide fins structure. The fluid flow uniformity index is applied as a measure for assessing the exhaust flow uniformity. The enhancement of thermal uniformity of the double-layer guide fins structure is expected to increase the longevity and performance of the motorcycle exhaust thermoelectric generator.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) for the support of time and facilities for this study.
Citation
Hong, T.D., Nghiem, Q.T.P., Nguyen, B.T. and Mai, T.V. (2022), "Study on the effects of guide fins structures on the flow and thermal uniformity of the motorcycle exhaust thermoelectric generator", Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 430-444. https://doi.org/10.1108/MMMS-02-2022-0027
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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