IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v13y2020i13p3407-d379409.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Electrical Generation of a Ground-Level Solar Thermoelectric Generator: Experimental Tests and One-Year Cycle Simulation

Author

Listed:
  • Eduard Massaguer

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, Spain)

  • Albert Massaguer

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, Spain)

  • Eudald Balló

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, Spain)

  • Ivan Ruiz Cózar

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, Spain)

  • Toni Pujol

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, Spain)

  • Lino Montoro

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, Spain)

  • Martí Comamala

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, c/Universitat de Girona 4, 17003 Girona, Spain)

Abstract

Solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) are a promising technology to harvest energy for off-grid applications. A wide variety of STEG designs have been proposed with the aim of providing non-intermittent electrical generation. Here, we designed and tested a STEG 0.5 m long formed by nine commercial thermoelectric generator modules and located at ground level. Data were used to validate a numerical model that was employed to simulate a one-year cycle. Results confirmed the very high variability of energy generation during daylight time due to weather conditions. By contrast, energy generation during night was almost independent of atmospheric conditions. Annual variations of nighttime energy generation followed the trend of the daily averaged soil temperature at the bottom of the device. Nighttime electrical energy generation was 5.4 times smaller than the diurnal one in yearly averaged values. Mean energy generation values per day were 587 J d −1 (daylight time) and 110 J d −1 (nighttime). Total annual energy generation was 255 kJ. Mean electrical output power values during daylight and nighttime were 13.4 mW and 2.5 mW, respectively. Annual mean output power was 7.9 mW with a peak value of 79.8 mW.

Suggested Citation

  • Eduard Massaguer & Albert Massaguer & Eudald Balló & Ivan Ruiz Cózar & Toni Pujol & Lino Montoro & Martí Comamala, 2020. "Electrical Generation of a Ground-Level Solar Thermoelectric Generator: Experimental Tests and One-Year Cycle Simulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:13:p:3407-:d:379409
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/13/3407/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/13/3407/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Qingtao Li & Jianxue Wang & Yao Zhang & Yue Fan & Guojun Bao & Xuebin Wang, 2020. "Multi-Period Generation Expansion Planning for Sustainable Power Systems to Maximize the Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, February.
    2. 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).
    3. Zhe Zhang & Yafeng Wu & Wenbin Li & Daochun Xu, 2020. "Performance of a Solar Thermoelectric Power-Harvesting Device Based on an All-Glass Solar Heat Transfer Pipe and Gravity-Assisted Heat Pipe with Recycling Air Cooling and Water Cooling Circuits," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Abdin, Z. & Alim, M.A. & Saidur, R. & Islam, M.R. & Rashmi, W. & Mekhilef, S. & Wadi, A., 2013. "Solar energy harvesting with the application of nanotechnology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 837-852.
    5. Flávio Morais & Pedro Carvalhaes-Dias & Luís Duarte & Anderson Spengler & Kleber de Paiva & Thiago Martins & Andreu Cabot & José Siqueira Dias, 2020. "Optimization of the TEGs Configuration (Series/Parallel) in Energy Harvesting Systems with Low-Voltage Thermoelectric Generators Connected to Ultra-Low Voltage DC–DC Converters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, May.
    6. Martí Comamala & Toni Pujol & Ivan Ruiz Cózar & Eduard Massaguer & Albert Massaguer, 2018. "Power and Fuel Economy of a Radial Automotive Thermoelectric Generator: Experimental and Numerical Studies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-21, October.
    7. Wei, Jingdong & Zhang, Yao & Wang, Jianxue & Cao, Xiaoyu & Khan, Muhammad Armoghan, 2020. "Multi-period planning of multi-energy microgrid with multi-type uncertainties using chance constrained information gap decision method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    8. Cózar, I.R. & Pujol, T. & Lehocky, M., 2018. "Numerical analysis of the effects of electrical and thermal configurations of thermoelectric modules in large-scale thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 264-280.
    9. Jiang, Wei & Yuan, Dongdong & Xu, Shudong & Hu, Huitao & Xiao, Jingjing & Sha, Aimin & Huang, Yue, 2017. "Energy harvesting from asphalt pavement using thermoelectric technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 941-950.
    10. Daniela Charris & Diego Gomez & Angie Rincon Ortega & Mauricio Carmona & Mauricio Pardo, 2020. "A Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting Scheme with Passive Cooling for Outdoor IoT Sensors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-25, June.
    11. Martí Comamala & Ivan Ruiz Cózar & Albert Massaguer & Eduard Massaguer & Toni Pujol, 2018. "Effects of Design Parameters on Fuel Economy and Output Power in an Automotive Thermoelectric Generator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-28, November.
    12. Massaguer, E. & Massaguer, A. & Pujol, T. & Comamala, M. & Montoro, L. & Gonzalez, J.R., 2019. "Fuel economy analysis under a WLTP cycle on a mid-size vehicle equipped with a thermoelectric energy recovery system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 306-314.
    13. Hyland, Melissa & Hunter, Haywood & Liu, Jie & Veety, Elena & Vashaee, Daryoosh, 2016. "Wearable thermoelectric generators for human body heat harvesting," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 518-524.
    14. Nelson Calderón-Henao & Osvaldo José Venturini & Emerson Henrique Medina Franco & Electo Eduardo Silva Lora & Helton Fernando Scherer & Diego Mauricio Yepes Maya & Oswaldo Hideo Ando Junior, 2020. "Numerical–Experimental Performance Assessment of a Non-Concentrating Solar Thermoelectric Generator (STEG) Operating in the Southern Hemisphere," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-23, May.
    15. Nayeem Chowdhury & Fabrizio Pilo & Giuditta Pisano, 2020. "Optimal Energy Storage System Positioning and Sizing with Robust Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-20, January.
    16. Meysam Karami Rad & Mahmoud Omid & Ali Rajabipour & Fariba Tajabadi & Lasse Aistrup Rosendahl & Alireza Rezaniakolaei, 2018. "Optimum Thermal Concentration of Solar Thermoelectric Generators (STEG) in Realistic Meteorological Condition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-16, September.
    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. Massaguer, Albert & Massaguer, Eduard, 2021. "Faster and more accurate simulations of thermoelectric generators through the prediction of the optimum load resistance for maximum power and efficiency points," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(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. Massaguer, Albert & Massaguer, Eduard, 2021. "Faster and more accurate simulations of thermoelectric generators through the prediction of the optimum load resistance for maximum power and efficiency points," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    2. Ivan Ruiz Cózar & Toni Pujol & Eduard Massaguer & Albert Massaguer & Lino Montoro & Jose Ramon González & Martí Comamala & Samir Ezzitouni, 2021. "Effects of Module Spatial Distribution on the Energy Efficiency and Electrical Output of Automotive Thermoelectric Generators," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-16, April.
    3. Handriyanti Diah Puspitarini & Baptiste François & Marco Baratieri & Casey Brown & Mattia Zaramella & Marco Borga, 2020. "Complementarity between Combined Heat and Power Systems, Solar PV and Hydropower at a District Level: Sensitivity to Climate Characteristics along an Alpine Transect," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Fahad Alismail & Mohamed A. Abdulgalil & Muhammad Khalid, 2021. "Optimal Coordinated Planning of Energy Storage and Tie-Lines to Boost Flexibility with High Wind Power Integration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-17, February.
    5. Samir Ezzitouni & Pablo Fernández-Yáñez & Luis Sánchez Rodríguez & Octavio Armas & Javier de las Morenas & Eduard Massaguer & Albert Massaguer, 2021. "Electrical Modelling and Mismatch Effects of Thermoelectric Modules on Performance of a Thermoelectric Generator for Energy Recovery in Diesel Exhaust Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-15, May.
    6. Adarsh Vaderobli & Dev Parikh & Urmila Diwekar, 2020. "Optimization under Uncertainty to Reduce the Cost of Energy for Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plants for Different Weather Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    7. Ezzitouni, S. & Fernández-Yáñez, P. & Sánchez, L. & Armas, O., 2020. "Global energy balance in a diesel engine with a thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    8. Martí Comamala & Ivan Ruiz Cózar & Albert Massaguer & Eduard Massaguer & Toni Pujol, 2018. "Effects of Design Parameters on Fuel Economy and Output Power in an Automotive Thermoelectric Generator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-28, November.
    9. Zdenek Machacek & Wojciech Walendziuk & Vojtech Sotola & Zdenek Slanina & Radek Petras & Miroslav Schneider & Zdenek Masny & Adam Idzkowski & Jiri Koziorek, 2021. "An Investigation of Thermoelectric Generators Used as Energy Harvesters in a Water Consumption Meter Application," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-22, June.
    10. Siyavash Filom & Soheil Radfar & Roozbeh Panahi & Erfan Amini & Mehdi Neshat, 2021. "Exploring Wind Energy Potential as a Driver of Sustainable Development in the Southern Coasts of Iran: The Importance of Wind Speed Statistical Distribution Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-24, July.
    11. Sherif S. M. Ghoneim & Mohamed F. Kotb & Hany M. Hasanien & Mosleh M. Alharthi & Attia A. El-Fergany, 2021. "Cost Minimizations and Performance Enhancements of Power Systems Using Spherical Prune Differential Evolution Algorithm Including Modal Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-15, July.
    12. Jing-Hui Meng & Hao-Chi Wu & Tian-Hu Wang, 2019. "Optimization of Two-Stage Combined Thermoelectric Devices by a Three-Dimensional Multi-Physics Model and Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-24, July.
    13. He, Min & Wang, Enhua & Zhang, Yuanyin & Zhang, Wen & Zhang, Fujun & Zhao, Changlu, 2020. "Performance analysis of a multilayer thermoelectric generator for exhaust heat recovery of a heavy-duty diesel engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    14. Zhang, Ran & Zhang, Hui & Wang, Xu, 2021. "Lateral comparison of the coupling parameters on the novel hexagonal shaped cross flow thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(PB).
    15. Abdulrahman Alassi & Khaled Ahmed & Agustí Egea-Àlvarez & Omar Ellabban, 2021. "Innovative Energy Management System for MVDC Networks with Black-Start Capabilities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-21, April.
    16. Kim, Sunwoo & Choi, Yechan & Park, Joungho & Adams, Derrick & Heo, Seongmin & Lee, Jay H., 2024. "Multi-period, multi-timescale stochastic optimization model for simultaneous capacity investment and energy management decisions for hybrid Micro-Grids with green hydrogen production under uncertainty," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 190(PA).
    17. Flávio Morais & Pedro Carvalhaes-Dias & Luís Duarte & Anderson Spengler & Kleber de Paiva & Thiago Martins & Andreu Cabot & José Siqueira Dias, 2020. "Optimization of the TEGs Configuration (Series/Parallel) in Energy Harvesting Systems with Low-Voltage Thermoelectric Generators Connected to Ultra-Low Voltage DC–DC Converters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, May.
    18. Reyes García-Contreras & Andrés Agudelo & Arántzazu Gómez & Pablo Fernández-Yáñez & Octavio Armas & Ángel Ramos, 2019. "Thermoelectric Energy Recovery in a Light-Duty Diesel Vehicle under Real-World Driving Conditions at Different Altitudes with Diesel, Biodiesel and GTL Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-18, March.
    19. Sijing Zhu & Zheng Fan & Baoquan Feng & Runze Shi & Zexin Jiang & Ying Peng & Jie Gao & Lei Miao & Kunihito Koumoto, 2022. "Review on Wearable Thermoelectric Generators: From Devices to Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-27, May.
    20. Mustafa S. Al-Tekreeti & Salwa M. Beheiry & Vian Ahmed, 2022. "Commitment Indicators for Tracking Sustainable Design Decisions in Construction Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, May.

    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:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:13:p:3407-:d:379409. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.