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Concentrating solar thermoelectric generators with a peak efficiency of 7.4%

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel Kraemer

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Qing Jie

    (University of Houston)

  • Kenneth McEnaney

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Feng Cao

    (University of Houston)

  • Weishu Liu

    (University of Houston)

  • Lee A. Weinstein

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • James Loomis

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Zhifeng Ren

    (University of Houston)

  • Gang Chen

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Concentrating solar power normally employs mechanical heat engines and is thus only used in large-scale power plants; however, it is compatible with inexpensive thermal storage, enabling electricity dispatchability. Concentrating solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) have the advantage of replacing the mechanical power block with a solid-state heat engine based on the Seebeck effect, simplifying the system. The highest reported efficiency of STEGs so far is 5.2%. Here, we report experimental measurements of STEGs with a peak efficiency of 9.6% at an optically concentrated normal solar irradiance of 211 kW m−2, and a system efficiency of 7.4% after considering optical concentration losses. The performance improvement is achieved by the use of segmented thermoelectric legs, a high-temperature spectrally selective solar absorber enabling stable vacuum operation with absorber temperatures up to 600 ∘C, and combining optical and thermal concentration. Our work suggests that concentrating STEGs have the potential to become a promising alternative solar energy technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Kraemer & Qing Jie & Kenneth McEnaney & Feng Cao & Weishu Liu & Lee A. Weinstein & James Loomis & Zhifeng Ren & Gang Chen, 2016. "Concentrating solar thermoelectric generators with a peak efficiency of 7.4%," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(11), pages 1-8, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:1:y:2016:i:11:d:10.1038_nenergy.2016.153
    DOI: 10.1038/nenergy.2016.153
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    Cited by:

    1. 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).
    2. Caron, Simon & Garrido, Jorge & Ballestrín, Jesus & Sutter, Florian & Röger, Marc & Manzano-Agugliaro, Francisco, 2022. "A comparative analysis of opto-thermal figures of merit for high temperature solar thermal absorber coatings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    3. Liu, Xinxin & Wang, Ke & Shen, Zuguo, 2024. "A novel strategy of inserting radiation shields to enhance the performance of thermoelectric generator systems for industrial high-temperature heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    4. Gao, Datong & Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Dabwan, Yousef Naji & Hu, Maobin & Hao, Yong & Zhang, Tao & Pei, Gang, 2022. "Seasonal-regulatable energy systems design and optimization for solar energy year-round utilization☆," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    5. Guo, Lukai & Wang, Hao, 2022. "Non-intrusive movable energy harvesting devices: Materials, designs, and their prospective uses on transportation infrastructures," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    6. 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).
    7. Lv, Song & Zhang, Bolong & Ji, Yishuang & Ren, Juwen & Yang, Jiahao & Lai, Yin & Chang, Zhihao, 2023. "Comprehensive research on a high performance solar and radiative cooling driving thermoelectric generator system with concentration for passive power generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    8. Montero, Francisco J. & Kumar, Ramesh & Lamba, Ravita & Escobar, Rodrigo A. & Vashishtha, Manish & Upadhyaya, Sushant & Guzmán, Amador M., 2022. "Hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric system: Economic feasibility analysis in the Atacama Desert, Chile," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    9. Shi, Zijie & Zhang, Kai & Jiang, Kaiyu & Li, Haoran & Ye, Peiliang & Yang, Haibin & Mahian, Omid, 2023. "Maximizing energy generation: A study of radiative cooling-based thermoelectric power devices," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    10. 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).
    11. Yang, Wenlong & Zhu, WenChao & Du, Banghua & Wang, Han & Xu, Lamei & Xie, Changjun & Shi, Ying, 2023. "Power generation of annular thermoelectric generator with silicone polymer thermal conductive oil applied in automotive waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    12. Cotfas, D.T. & Enesca, A. & Cotfas, P.A., 2024. "Enhancing the performance of the solar thermoelectric generator in unconcentrated and concentrated light," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    13. Marenco-Porto, Carlos A. & Fierro, José J. & Nieto-Londoño, César & Lopera, Leonardo & Escudero-Atehortua, Ana & Giraldo, Mauricio & Jouhara, Hussam, 2023. "Potential savings in the cement industry using waste heat recovery technologies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    14. Wang, Cun-Hai & Chen, Hao & Jiang, Ze-Yi & Zhang, Xin-Xin, 2023. "Design and experimental validation of an all-day passive thermoelectric system via radiative cooling and greenhouse effects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    15. Yang, Jinwen & Han, Jitian & Duan, Lian & Zhu, Wanchao & Liang, Wenxing & Mou, Chaoyang, 2024. "Investigation on a novel hybrid system based on radiative sky cooling and split thermoelectric cooler driven by photovoltaic cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    16. Wang, Cun-Hai & Chen, Hao & Jiang, Ze-Yi & Zhang, Xin-Xin & Wang, Fu-Qiang, 2023. "Modelling and performance evaluation of a novel passive thermoelectric system based on radiative cooling and solar heating for 24-hour power-generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    17. Xuan, Zhiwei & Ge, Minghui & Zhao, Chenyang & Li, Yanzhe & Wang, Shixue & Zhao, Yulong, 2024. "Effect of nonuniform solar radiation on the performance of solar thermoelectric generators," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).

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