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Cylindrical thermoelectric generator with water heating system for high solar energy conversion efficiency

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  • Hazama, Hirofumi
  • Masuoka, Yumi
  • Suzumura, Akitoshi
  • Matsubara, Masato
  • Tajima, Shin
  • Asahi, Ryoji

Abstract

Thermoelectric generator (TEG) with water heating system, which utilizes solar energy with a high total energy conversion efficiency, is promising environmental technology for eco-housing and factories to reduce their carbon footprints. In this study, a newly developed cylindrical TEG consisting of ring-disk thermoelectric material is proposed showing that the total energy conversion efficiency is higher than that of a conventional pillar-type TEG. The cylindrical TEG is implemented using high-performance CoSb3-based filled skutterudite thermoelectric materials and a unique 45Ni-55Fe electrode as the hot-side junction. The solar TEG performance is demonstrated under the real sunlight, which is concentrated by a Fresnel lens. The maximum thermoelectric efficiency of the presented solar TEG is 1.8%, with a water heating efficiency of 59% when the temperature difference across the TEG is 428 °C. Further improvement should be achieved by lowering the internal resistance of the TEG and increasing the average dimensionless figure of merit of the thermoelectric materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Hazama, Hirofumi & Masuoka, Yumi & Suzumura, Akitoshi & Matsubara, Masato & Tajima, Shin & Asahi, Ryoji, 2018. "Cylindrical thermoelectric generator with water heating system for high solar energy conversion efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 381-388.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:226:y:2018:i:c:p:381-388
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.06.015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Wang, Guangyao & Ha, Dong Sam & Wang, Kevin G., 2019. "A scalable environmental thermal energy harvester based on solid/liquid phase-change materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 1468-1480.
    4. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Carrera Uribe, Manuel & Kwon, Eilhann E. & Lin, Kun-Yi Andrew & Park, Young-Kwon & Ding, Lu & Saw, Lip Huat, 2022. "A comprehensive review of thermoelectric generation optimization by statistical approach: Taguchi method, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and response surface methodology (RSM)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    5. Mahmoudan, Alireza & Esmaeilion, Farbod & Hoseinzadeh, Siamak & Soltani, Madjid & Ahmadi, Pouria & Rosen, Marc, 2022. "A geothermal and solar-based multigeneration system integrated with a TEG unit: Development, 3E analyses, and multi-objective optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    6. Ge, Minghui & Li, Zhenhua & Zhao, Yuntong & Xuan, Zhiwei & Li, Yanzhe & Zhao, Yulong, 2022. "Experimental study of thermoelectric generator with different numbers of modules for waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).

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