An effective approach to increase the output power efficiency of thermoelectric devices is to increase the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends of thermoelectric devices. However

when the heat flux being imposed upon the hot end is non-uniform

the temperature distribution on the hot surface is uneven

which will influence the overall performance of the device. Based on this

a conjugate thermal to electric energy conversion mathematical model of thermoelectric devices was established to analyze the influences of thermoelectric material properties

non-uniform heat flux on the output power performance of thermoelectric device. Numerical simulation results indicated that the influence of temperature dependent material properties on the system output power cannot be neglected and the influence on the system maximum temperature difference will approach 4% when heat flux is about 4 W·cm-2. The non-uniform heat flux has significant influence on the output power of thermoelectric device. The less the uniformity of heat flux upon the hot end of thermoelectric device

the more uneven of temperature distribution on the hot end

the maximum temperature

the high temperature region and the open-circuit voltage will be.