IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v131y2017icp230-238.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Efficiency enhancement of a-Si and CZTS solar cells using different thermoelectric hybridization strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Contento, Gaetano
  • Lorenzi, Bruno
  • Rizzo, Antonella
  • Narducci, Dario

Abstract

The performances of two hybrid thermoelectric photovoltaic systems are compared. In the first instance, a photovoltaic (PV) device and a thermoelectric generator (TEG) are optically coupled using a vacuum–sealed compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). As an alternative, PV and TEG devices are thermally coupled putting them directly in contact to each other. Single–junction a–Si and heterojunction Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) have been considered as PV systems. The two systems are studied by varying the heat transfer coefficient of the cooling system between the TEG cold side and the ambient, the TEG device fill factor, and the optical concentration. Hybridization, in both configurations, always enhances the efficiencies, up to ≈ 57% for single-junction a-Si and up to ≈ 35% for the heterojunction CZTS. It will be shown that while direct thermal contact enables larger efficiencies, optical coupling grants lower temperatures at the PV side, enhancing reliability and lifetime. Further advantages and limitations of both configurations will be discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Contento, Gaetano & Lorenzi, Bruno & Rizzo, Antonella & Narducci, Dario, 2017. "Efficiency enhancement of a-Si and CZTS solar cells using different thermoelectric hybridization strategies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 230-238.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:131:y:2017:i:c:p:230-238
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.05.028
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544217307843
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2017.05.028?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, Jin & Xuan, Yimin & Yang, Lili, 2014. "Performance estimation of photovoltaic–thermoelectric hybrid systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 895-903.
    2. Sarhaddi, F. & Farahat, S. & Ajam, H. & Behzadmehr, A. & Mahdavi Adeli, M., 2010. "An improved thermal and electrical model for a solar photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) air collector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(7), pages 2328-2339, July.
    3. Kuznetsov, I.A. & Greenfield, M.J. & Mehta, Y.U. & Merchan-Merchan, W. & Salkar, G. & Saveliev, A.V., 2011. "Increasing the solar cell power output by coating with transition metal-oxide nanorods," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(11), pages 4218-4221.
    4. Shou, Chunhui & Luo, Zhongyang & Wang, Tao & Shen, Weidong & Rosengarten, Gary & Wei, Wei & Wang, Cheng & Ni, Mingjiang & Cen, Kefa, 2012. "Investigation of a broadband TiO2/SiO2 optical thin-film filter for hybrid solar power systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 298-306.
    5. Höök, Mikael & Tang, Xu, 2013. "Depletion of fossil fuels and anthropogenic climate change—A review," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 797-809.
    6. Li, Ming & Ji, Xu & Li, Guoliang & Wei, Shengxian & Li, YingFeng & Shi, Feng, 2011. "Performance study of solar cell arrays based on a Trough Concentrating Photovoltaic/Thermal system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(9), pages 3218-3227.
    7. Luo, Yongqiang & Zhang, Ling & Liu, Zhongbing & Wang, Yingzi & Meng, Fangfang & Wu, Jing, 2016. "Thermal performance evaluation of an active building integrated photovoltaic thermoelectric wall system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 25-39.
    8. Huen, Priscilla & Daoud, Walid A., 2017. "Advances in hybrid solar photovoltaic and thermoelectric generators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1295-1302.
    9. Rezania, A. & Rosendahl, L.A., 2017. "Feasibility and parametric evaluation of hybrid concentrated photovoltaic-thermoelectric system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 380-389.
    10. Sark, W.G.J.H.M. van, 2011. "Feasibility of photovoltaic - Thermoelectric hybrid modules," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(8), pages 2785-2790, August.
    11. Chow, T.T., 2010. "A review on photovoltaic/thermal hybrid solar technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 365-379, February.
    12. Zhu, Wei & Deng, Yuan & Wang, Yao & Shen, Shengfei & Gulfam, Raza, 2016. "High-performance photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid power generation system with optimized thermal management," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 91-101.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lorenzi, Bruno & Mariani, Paolo & Reale, Andrea & Di Carlo, Aldo & Chen, Gang & Narducci, Dario, 2021. "Practical development of efficient thermoelectric – Photovoltaic hybrid systems based on wide-gap solar cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    2. Li, Guiqiang & Shittu, Samson & Diallo, Thierno M.O. & Yu, Min & Zhao, Xudong & Ji, Jie, 2018. "A review of solar photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system for electricity generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 41-58.
    3. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang, 2023. "High-efficiency dynamic lossless coupling of a spectrum splitting photovoltaic-thermoelectric system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    4. Contento, Gaetano & Lorenzi, Bruno & Rizzo, Antonella & Narducci, Dario, 2020. "Simultaneous materials and layout optimization of non-imaging optically concentrated solar thermoelectric generators," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    5. Shittu, Samson & Li, Guiqiang & Akhlaghi, Yousef Golizadeh & Ma, Xiaoli & Zhao, Xudong & Ayodele, Emmanuel, 2019. "Advancements in thermoelectric generators for enhanced hybrid photovoltaic system performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 24-54.
    6. Rodrigo, P.M. & Valera, A. & Fernández, E.F. & Almonacid, F.M., 2019. "Performance and economic limits of passively cooled hybrid thermoelectric generator-concentrator photovoltaic modules," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1150-1162.
    7. Zhang, Jin & Xuan, Yimin, 2019. "The electric feature synergy in the photovoltaic - Thermoelectric hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 387-394.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shittu, Samson & Li, Guiqiang & Akhlaghi, Yousef Golizadeh & Ma, Xiaoli & Zhao, Xudong & Ayodele, Emmanuel, 2019. "Advancements in thermoelectric generators for enhanced hybrid photovoltaic system performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 24-54.
    2. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2018. "Optimal design method for concentrating photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 320-329.
    3. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2018. "A novel optimal design method for concentration spectrum splitting photovoltaic–thermoelectric hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 519-532.
    4. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Li, Dianhong & Xuan, Yimin, 2019. "Experimental investigation on effects of thermal resistances on a photovoltaic-thermoelectric system integrated with phase change materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 172-185.
    5. He, Y. & Tao, Y.B. & Ye, H., 2023. "Periodic energy transmission and regulation of photovoltaic-phase change material-thermoelectric coupled system under space conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PC).
    6. He, Y. & Tao, Y.B. & Zhao, C.Y. & Yu, X.K., 2022. "Structure parameter analysis and optimization of photovoltaic-phase change material-thermoelectric coupling system under space conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 320-333.
    7. Rezania, A. & Rosendahl, L.A., 2017. "Feasibility and parametric evaluation of hybrid concentrated photovoltaic-thermoelectric system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 380-389.
    8. Li, Guiqiang & Shittu, Samson & zhou, Kai & Zhao, Xudong & Ma, Xiaoli, 2019. "Preliminary experiment on a novel photovoltaic-thermoelectric system in summer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    9. Shittu, Samson & Li, Guiqiang & Zhao, Xudong & Ma, Xiaoli, 2019. "Series of detail comparison and optimization of thermoelectric element geometry considering the PV effect," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 930-942.
    10. Cuce, Erdem & Cuce, Pinar Mert & Bali, Tulin, 2013. "An experimental analysis of illumination intensity and temperature dependency of photovoltaic cell parameters," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 374-382.
    11. Tomar, Vivek & Norton, Brian & Tiwari, G.N., 2019. "A novel approach towards investigating the performance of different PVT configurations integrated on test cells: An experimental study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 93-108.
    12. Giulio Mangherini & Valentina Diolaiti & Paolo Bernardoni & Alfredo Andreoli & Donato Vincenzi, 2023. "Review of Façade Photovoltaic Solutions for Less Energy-Hungry Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-35, September.
    13. Jia, Yuting & Alva, Guruprasad & Fang, Guiyin, 2019. "Development and applications of photovoltaic–thermal systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 249-265.
    14. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2019. "Feasibility analysis of a concentrating photovoltaic-thermoelectric-thermal cogeneration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 560-573.
    15. Nazri, Nurul Syakirah & Fudholi, Ahmad & Mustafa, Wan & Yen, Chan Hoy & Mohammad, Masita & Ruslan, Mohd Hafidz & Sopian, Kamaruzzaman, 2019. "Exergy and improvement potential of hybrid photovoltaic thermal/thermoelectric (PVT/TE) air collector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 132-144.
    16. An, Wei & Wu, Jinrui & Zhu, Tong & Zhu, Qunzhi, 2016. "Experimental investigation of a concentrating PV/T collector with Cu9S5 nanofluid spectral splitting filter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 197-206.
    17. Karami Lakeh, Hossein & Kaatuzian, Hassan & Hosseini, Reza, 2019. "A parametrical study on photo-electro-thermal performance of an integrated thermoelectric-photovoltaic cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 542-550.
    18. del Amo, Alejandro & Martínez-Gracia, Amaya & Bayod-Rújula, Angel A. & Antoñanzas, Javier, 2017. "An innovative urban energy system constituted by a photovoltaic/thermal hybrid solar installation: Design, simulation and monitoring," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(P2), pages 140-151.
    19. An, Wei & Zhang, Jie & Zhu, Tong & Gao, Naiping, 2016. "Investigation on a spectral splitting photovoltaic/thermal hybrid system based on polypyrrole nanofluid: Preliminary test," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 633-642.
    20. Yang, Tingting & Athienitis, Andreas K., 2016. "A review of research and developments of building-integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPV/T) systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 886-912.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:131:y:2017:i:c:p:230-238. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.