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Applied Thermoelectric Solutions TEG Modeling Research Presented at the International Conference on Thermoelectrics

Alfred Piggott of Applied Thermoelectric Solutions with TEG modeling results and the official ICT 2018 oral presentation abstract

ORAL PRESENTATION · ICT 2018 · Caen, France

Originally published May 7, 2018 · Updated August 10, 2026

Applied Thermoelectric Solutions’ transient multiphysics thermoelectric generator modeling research was presented at the 37th Annual International and 16th European Conference on Thermoelectrics (ICT/ECT 2018) in Caen, France.

Alfred Piggott, founder and CTO of Applied Thermoelectric Solutions, delivered the work as an oral presentation. The official ICT 2018 conference program identifies Piggott as the speaker and Applied Thermoelectric Solutions LLC as his affiliation.

ICT 2018 Presentation

Conference: 37th Annual International and 16th European Conference on Thermoelectrics
Location: Caen, France
Conference dates: July 1–5, 2018
Presentation format: Oral Presentation
Presenter: Alfred Piggott
Affiliation: Applied Thermoelectric Solutions LLC
Presentation: Detailed Transient Multiphysics Model for Fast and Accurate Design, Simulation and Optimization of a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) or Thermal Energy Harvesting Device

View the Official ICT 2018 Conference Program

About the International Conference on Thermoelectrics

The International Conference on Thermoelectrics (ICT) is a long-running international conference focused specifically on thermoelectric science and technology and associated with the International Thermoelectric Society. Its technical scope spans thermoelectric materials, theory and modeling, devices, modules, energy harvesting, and applications.

ICT brings together researchers and engineers from across the international thermoelectrics community. The International Thermoelectric Society records 630 attendees and 105 published papers for ICT 2018. Past ICT meetings have also been described by independent research institutions as among the largest gatherings focused specifically on thermoelectrics.

What Applied Thermoelectric Solutions Presented

The ICT presentation described a transient multiphysics model developed for the design, simulation, and optimization of thermoelectric generators and thermal energy-harvesting systems.

The model used thermal-electrical analogies and SPICE to simulate transient TEG behavior while accounting for important physical effects including the Seebeck, Peltier, Thomson, and Joule effects, heat conduction, temperature-dependent properties, thermal and electrical resistance, interface resistance, and thermal mass.

The modeling approach was developed to combine detailed thermoelectric physics with computational speed and the ability to represent interactions with the broader electrical system, including controls such as maximum power point tracking.

The model was correlated with experimental measurements under simultaneously changing hot-side temperature, cold-side temperature, and electrical current. The ICT conference abstract reported close agreement with the experimental results and a computational time of approximately 2.5 seconds for a 4,000-second transient simulation.

From ICT Presentation to Peer-Reviewed Publication

Following the ICT 2018 presentation, the research was published in the Journal of Electronic Materials as:

“Detailed Transient Multiphysics Model for Fast and Accurate Design, Simulation and Optimization of a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) or Thermal Energy Harvesting Device.”

The peer-reviewed paper was published in 2019. The publication identifies Alfred Piggott’s affiliation as Applied Thermoelectric Solutions LLC and documents the detailed modeling approach presented at ICT.

The paper was subsequently recognized by the Journal of Electronic Materials as an Editor’s Choice article. The journal states that fewer than 5% of the articles it publishes each year receive the Editor’s Choice designation.

View the Published Paper

A Documented Example of Applied Thermoelectric Solutions’ Modeling Work

The work presented at ICT 2018 is a documented example of the modeling and simulation approach that continues to support Applied Thermoelectric Solutions’ thermoelectric engineering and system-development work.

Thermoelectric system performance depends on interactions among the thermoelectric device, heat transfer, electrical loading, materials, thermal and electrical interfaces, operating conditions, and system controls. Modeling these interactions can help evaluate feasibility, compare design alternatives, identify important performance drivers, and guide development before committing to extensive hardware iteration.

Applied Thermoelectric Solutions applies this system-level approach to thermoelectric cooling, power generation, thermal management, energy harvesting, and related R&D applications.

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Applied Thermoelectric Solutions provides thermoelectric modeling, simulation, design, engineering, and R&D support for organizations developing thermoelectric and thermal-management systems.

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