The Modelling and Simulation of Bi2Te3 Thermoelectric Generators in Synopsys TCAD

This paper demonstrates the modelling and simulation of thermoelectric generators using Synopsys Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) semiconductor design and simulation software. A single Bi2Te3 thermoelectric couple, and a seven couple Bi2Te3 thermoelectric module, have been modelled in Synopsys TCAD and simulated for thermoelectric power generation. The simulation results correctly demonstrate that when a thermoelectric couple or module is subjected to a temperature gradient, electrical power is generated at the load, with higher power levels output as the temperature gradient increases, or as the number of thermoelectric couples contained within the device increases. The simulation results obtained in TCAD, which uses in-built semiconductor physics equations, have been compared to results obtained through numerical calculation using a different set of thermoelectric equations, and the two results are in close agreement. The Synopsys TCAD models can be developed further to investigate novel device structures, and will enable new thermoelectric materials to be investigated within the framework of the simulation environment in an attempt to improve the performance, efficiency, and cost of thermoelectric devices