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Performance of a Thermoelectric Generator Partially Illuminated with Highly Concentrated Light

Author

Listed:
  • Abdelrahman Lashin

    (Physics Department, College of Applied Science, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
    Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt)

  • Mohammad Al Turkestani

    (Physics Department, College of Applied Science, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohamed Sabry

    (Physics Department, College of Applied Science, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
    Solar Physics Lab, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Cairo 11421, Egypt)

Abstract

In order to maximize the output of concentrator Photovoltaic cells and maintain their efficiencies, the operating temperature of concentrator photovoltaic cells must be reduced. A way that could reduce such photovoltaic temperature is by thermally attaching them on top of a thermoelectric generator. A thermoelectric generator in such coupling will act as a low-cost passive-cooling subsystem, as well as a power generator for producing additional energy from the rejected photovoltaic heat. Increasing the area of the proposed photovoltaic cells relative to the thermoelectric generator’s hot-side area will result in an increase in the thermoelectric generator’s electrical output, but may also result in overheating the photovoltaic cells, hence reducing their performance. Optimization has to be performed for the photovoltaic covering percentage relative to the hot-side area in order to maximize the output of the whole coupled system. This work investigates the electrical and thermal performance of thermoelectric generators in the case of partial illumination of their hot side. Experiments have been carried out using three thermoelectric generator modules with different areas, and under two levels of concentrated illumination. The thermoelectric generator output voltage, current, and temperature have been measured, and the figure-of-merit and maximum power of the thermoelectric generator (TEG) has been calculated and demonstrated.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdelrahman Lashin & Mohammad Al Turkestani & Mohamed Sabry, 2020. "Performance of a Thermoelectric Generator Partially Illuminated with Highly Concentrated Light," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:14:p:3627-:d:384257
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhou, Yi-Peng & He, Ya-Ling & Qiu, Yu & Ren, Qinlong & Xie, Tao, 2017. "Multi-scale investigation on the absorbed irradiance distribution of the nanostructured front surface of the concentrated PV-TE device by a MC-FDTD coupled method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 18-26.
    2. Wang, Chien-Chang & Hung, Chen-I & Chen, Wei-Hsin, 2012. "Design of heat sink for improving the performance of thermoelectric generator using two-stage optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 236-245.
    3. John F. Geisz & Ryan M. France & Kevin L. Schulte & Myles A. Steiner & Andrew G. Norman & Harvey L. Guthrey & Matthew R. Young & Tao Song & Thomas Moriarty, 2020. "Six-junction III–V solar cells with 47.1% conversion efficiency under 143 Suns concentration," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(4), pages 326-335, April.
    4. Abdelrahman Lashin & Mohammad Al Turkestani & Mohamed Sabry, 2019. "Concentrated Photovoltaic/Thermal Hybrid System Coupled with a Thermoelectric Generator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-12, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel Sanin-Villa & Oscar D. Monsalve-Cifuentes & Elkin E. Henao-Bravo, 2021. "Evaluation of Thermoelectric Generators under Mismatching Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Maleki, Yaser & Pourfayaz, Fathollah & Mehrpooya, Mehdi, 2022. "Experimental study of a novel hybrid photovoltaic/thermal and thermoelectric generators system with dual phase change materials," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P2), pages 202-215.

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