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Evaluation of energy recovery potential of solar thermoelectric generators using a three-dimensional transient numerical model

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  • Sun, Zeyu
  • Luo, Ding
  • Wang, Ruochen
  • Li, Ying
  • Yan, Yuying
  • Cheng, Ziming
  • Chen, Jie

Abstract

The solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) is regarded as a promising energy conversion technology to convert solar heat into electricity. Considering the real solar irradiance, impedance matching, and interface contacts, a comprehensive three-dimensional transient thermal-electric numerical model for the STEG is established to evaluate its dynamic response and energy recovery potential. The transient performance prediction of the STEG during the whole daytime is completed for the first time. Due to the temperature limitation of thermoelectric materials, the allowable concentration ratio for the Bi2Te3-based STEG is 150 suns, corresponding to the average daytime output power of 13.16 W and the average daytime conversion efficiency of 6.15%. Dynamic responses of output voltage and conversion efficiency present the same changing trend as solar irradiance. However, the steady-state numerical model underestimates the output power by 6.91% and overestimates the conversion efficiency by 1.85%, due to the ignorance of thermal inertia during thermal diffusion. The established transient model can predict more reasonable results and is well verified via transient experiments. It is obtained that the STEG can produce 491.4 kJ of electricity a day and 49.79 kW h a year, and the theoretical cost-recovery cycle for the cost of the thermoelectric generator module is 1.61 years.

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  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:256:y:2022:i:c:s0360544222015705
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.124667
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    4. Chen, Lingen & Lorenzini, Giulio, 2023. "Heating load, COP and exergetic efficiency optimizations for TEG-TEH combined thermoelectric device with Thomson effect and external heat transfer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).

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