Supporter-inserted trapezoidal thermoelectric device with topology-optimized heat sink for internet of things applications

Abstract

To address the rise in industrial waste heat resulting from increasing global energy consumption, this study introduces a supporter-inserted trapezoidal thermoelectric device (SITTED) with a modified leg architecture. The SITTED features a trapezoidal leg incorporating a low-thermal-conductivity supporter, which increases the thermal resistance to more than twice that of conventional thermoelectric generators. This architecture delivers a 2.2-fold increase in the temperature difference between the hot and cold sides of the device and approximately doubles the power output relative to traditional designs. While prior research on Internet of Things (IoT)–integrated thermoelectric generators has predominantly focused on conceptual frameworks or small-scale laboratory evaluations, this study bridges the gap between laboratory prototypes and industrial applications through a complete systemization and full-scale field demonstration. The feasibility of the SITTED was verified by conducting a field experiment at a combined-cycle power plant, where the device, integrated with a topology-optimized heat sink that provided a 1.6-fold reduction in thermal resistance, could enable the operation of an IoT temperature sensing system without an external power supply for two weeks. These results underscore the potential of the proposed architecture for self-sustaining thermoelectric applications in industrial environments.