IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v263y2023ipas0360544222024902.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Thermal design of solar thermoelectric generator with phase change material for timely and efficient power generation

Author

Listed:
  • Jo, Hyeonmin
  • Joo, Younghwan
  • Kim, Duckjong

Abstract

Solar thermoelectric energy-generation technology is being developed to mitigate the limitations of solar cells. Thermal management is essential to creating highly efficient and stable solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs). Phase change materials (PCMs) can be used to improve the performance of STEGs. In this study, we numerically investigate the heat transfer, thermal energy storage, and thermoelectric energy conversion in an STEG with PCMs (STEG-PCM). Based on a parametric study, we present thermal design guidelines for the configurations of an STEG-PCM and the thermal properties of PCMs by considering both the thermoelectric generation performance and thermal stability of the STEG-PCM. We also show that the PCM-impregnated structure is the most crucial component of the STEG-PCM in the thermal design based on a sensitivity analysis. To find the optimal design of a PCM-impregnated structure, topology optimization is performed for the STEG-PCM focused on daytime thermoelectric generation performance. The topology-optimized PCM-impregnated structure shows a thermoelectric generation performance close to that of an STEG-PCM whose PCM-impregnated structure is assumed to be an ideal mixture of PCM and framework material. This study explains how PCMs affect thermal energy transport and conversion in an STEG and sheds light on a highly efficient and stable STEG system.

Suggested Citation

  • Jo, Hyeonmin & Joo, Younghwan & Kim, Duckjong, 2023. "Thermal design of solar thermoelectric generator with phase change material for timely and efficient power generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:263:y:2023:i:pa:s0360544222024902
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.125604
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544222024902
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2022.125604?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. Cui, Tengfei & Xuan, Yimin & Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Li, Dianhong, 2017. "Experimental investigation on potential of a concentrated photovoltaic-thermoelectric system with phase change materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 94-102.
    2. 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.
    3. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Wang, Chien-Chang & Hung, Chen-I. & Yang, Chang-Chung & Juang, Rei-Cheng, 2014. "Modeling and simulation for the design of thermal-concentrated solar thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 287-297.
    4. Lee, Gyusoup & Kim, Choong Sun & Kim, Seongho & Kim, Yong Jun & Choi, Hyeongdo & Cho, Byung Jin, 2019. "Flexible heatsink based on a phase-change material for a wearable thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 12-18.
    5. 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.
    6. Pereira, A. & Caroff, T. & Lorin, G. & Baffie, T. & Romanjek, K. & Vesin, S. & Kusiaku, K. & Duchemin, H. & Salvador, V. & Miloud-Ali, N. & Aixala, L. & Simon, J., 2015. "High temperature solar thermoelectric generator – Indoor characterization method and modeling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 485-492.
    7. Alzahrani, Mussad & Shanks, Katie & Mallick, Tapas K., 2021. "Advances and limitations of increasing solar irradiance for concentrating photovoltaics thermal system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    8. Shittu, Samson & Li, Guiqiang & Xuan, Qindong & Zhao, Xudong & Ma, Xiaoli & Cui, Yu, 2020. "Electrical and mechanical analysis of a segmented solar thermoelectric generator under non-uniform heat flux," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    9. Xiao, Jinsheng & Yang, Tianqi & Li, Peng & Zhai, Pengcheng & Zhang, Qingjie, 2012. "Thermal design and management for performance optimization of solar thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 33-38.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. Gupta, M.K. & Kaushik, S.C. & Ranjan, K.R. & Panwar, N.L. & Reddy, V. Siva & Tyagi, S.K., 2015. "Thermodynamic performance evaluation of solar and other thermal power generation systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 567-582.
    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. Yang, Huizhu & Li, Mingxuan & Wang, Zehui & Ren, Fengsheng & Yang, Yue & Ma, Bijian & Zhu, Yonggang, 2023. "Performance optimization for a novel two-stage thermoelectric generator with different PCMs embedding modes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).

    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. 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.
    3. Maduabuchi, Chika C. & Ejenakevwe, Kevwe A. & Mgbemene, Chigbo A., 2021. "Performance optimization and thermodynamic analysis of irreversibility in a contemporary solar thermoelectric generator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 1189-1206.
    4. 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.
    5. Li, Guiqiang & Shittu, Samson & Ma, Xiaoli & Zhao, Xudong, 2019. "Comparative analysis of thermoelectric elements optimum geometry between photovoltaic-thermoelectric and solar thermoelectric," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 599-610.
    6. Sripadmanabhan Indira, Sridhar & Aravind Vaithilingam, Chockalingam & Narasingamurthi, Kulasekharan & Sivasubramanian, Ramsundar & Chong, Kok-Keong & Saidur, R., 2022. "Mathematical modelling, performance evaluation and exergy analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal-solar thermoelectric system integrated with compound parabolic concentrator and parabolic trough con," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    7. 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).
    8. Sun, Zeyu & Luo, Ding & Wang, Ruochen & Li, Ying & Yan, Yuying & Cheng, Ziming & Chen, Jie, 2022. "Evaluation of energy recovery potential of solar thermoelectric generators using a three-dimensional transient numerical model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    9. Zhang, Jin & Xuan, Yimin, 2019. "The electric feature synergy in the photovoltaic - Thermoelectric hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 387-394.
    10. Meng, Jing-Hui & Gao, De-Yang & Liu, Yan & Zhang, Kai & Lu, Gui, 2022. "Heat transfer mechanism and structure design of phase change materials to improve thermoelectric device performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    11. Cui, Y.J. & Wang, B.L. & Wang, K.F. & Wang, G.G. & Zhang, A.B., 2022. "An analytical model to evaluate the fatigue crack effects on the hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric device," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 923-933.
    12. Liu, Junwei & Tang, Huajie & Zhang, Debao & Jiao, Shifei & Zhou, Zhihua & Zhang, Zhuofen & Ling, Jihong & Zuo, Jian, 2020. "Performance evaluation of the hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric system with light and heat management," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    13. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2020. "Feasibility analysis of a tandem photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system under solar concentration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1828-1841.
    14. Shen, Zu-Guo & Wu, Shuang-Ying & Xiao, Lan & Chen, Zu-Xiang, 2017. "Proposal and assessment of a solar thermoelectric generation system characterized by Fresnel lens, cavity receiver and heat pipe," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 215-238.
    15. Shen, Zu-Guo & Wu, Shuang-Ying & Xiao, Lan & Yin, Gang, 2016. "Theoretical modeling of thermoelectric generator with particular emphasis on the effect of side surface heat transfer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 367-379.
    16. 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.
    17. Feng, Mengqi & Lv, Song & Deng, Jingcai & Guo, Ying & Wu, Yangyang & Shi, Guoqing & Zhang, Mingming, 2023. "An overview of environmental energy harvesting by thermoelectric generators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    18. 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).
    19. Kossyvakis, D.N. & Vossou, C.G. & Provatidis, C.G. & Hristoforou, E.V., 2015. "Computational and experimental analysis of a commercially available Seebeck module," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 1-10.
    20. Ding, L.C. & Akbarzadeh, A. & Tan, L., 2018. "A review of power generation with thermoelectric system and its alternative with solar ponds," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 799-812.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:263:y:2023:i:pa:s0360544222024902. 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.