A thermoelectric generator and water-cooling assisted high conversion efficiency polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic system

Abstract

Solar energy has been increasing its share in the global energy structure. However, the thermal radiation brought by sunlight will attenuate the efficiency of solar cells. To reduce the temperature of the photovoltaic (PV) cell and improve the utilization efficiency of solar energy, a hybrid system composed of the PV cell, a thermoelectric generator (TEG), and a water-cooled plate (WCP) was manufactured. The WCP cannot only cool the PV cell, but also effectively generate additional electric energy with the TEG using the waste heat of the PV cell. The changes in the efficiency and power density of the hybrid system were obtained by real time monitoring. The thermal and electrical tests were performed at different irradiations and the same experiment temperature of 22°C. At a light intensity of 1000 W/m², the steady-state temperature of the PV cell decreases from 86.8°C to 54.1°C, and the overall efficiency increases from 15.6% to 21.1%. At a light intensity of 800 W/m², the steady-state temperature of the PV cell decreases from 70°C to 45.8°C, and the overall efficiency increases from 9.28% to 12.59%. At a light intensity of 400 W/m², the steady-state temperature of the PV cell decreases from 38.5°C to 31.5°C, and the overall efficiency is approximately 3.8%, basically remain unchanged.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

photovoltaic (PV) / thermoelectric generator / conversion efficiency / hybrid energy systems / water-cooled plate (WCP)

References

[1] Dresselhaus M S, Chen G, Tang M Y, New directions for low-dimensional thermoelectric materials. Advanced Materials, 2007, 19(8): 1043–1053

[2] Roeb M, Müller-Steinhagen H. Concentrating on solar electricity and fuels. Science, 2010, 329(5993): 773–774

[3] Kraemer D, Poudel B, Feng H P, High-performance flat-panel solar thermoelectric generators with high thermal concentration. Nature Materials, 2011, 10(7): 532–538

[4] Ren21. Renewables 2019 Global Status Report. 2019

[5] Wild M, Gilgen H, Roesch A, From dimming to brightening: decadal changes in solar radiation at earth’s surface. Science, 2005, 308(5723): 847–850

[6] Wilhelm K, Curdt W, Marsch E, Sumer solar ultraviolet measurements of emitted radiation. Solar Physics, 1995, 162(1/2): 189–231

[7] Makki A, Omer S, Sabir H. Advancements in hybrid photovoltaic systems for enhanced solar cells performance. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, 41: 658–684

[8] Yoon S, Garboushian V. Reduced temperature dependence of high-concentration photovoltaic solar cell open-circuit voltage (V_oc) at high concentration levels. In: IEEE 1st World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion-WCPEC (A Joint Conference of PVSC, PVSEC and PSEC), Hawaii, USA, 1994

[9] Pässler R. Parameter sets due to fittings of the temperature dependencies of fundamental bandgaps in semiconductors. Physica Status Solidi, 1999, 216(2): 975–1007

[10] Raga S R, Fabregat-Santiago F. Temperature effects in dye-sensitized solar cells. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2013, 15(7): 2328–2336

[11] Ju X, Wang Z, Flamant G, Numerical analysis and optimization of a spectrum splitting concentration photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system. Solar Energy, 2012, 86(6): 1941–1954

[12] Deng Y, Luo B, Wang Y, Photoelectrode with light and heat synergy utilization based on CdTe/Bi₂Te₃ nanorod arrays/nanolayer film. Functional Materials Letters (Singapore), 2013, 6(5): 1340004

[13] Li D, Xuan Y, Yin E, et al. Conversion efficiency gain for concentrated triple-junction solar cell system through thermal management. Renewable Energy, 2018, 126: 960–968

[14] Kil T H, Kim S, Jeong D H, A highly-efficient, concentrating-photovoltaic/ thermoelectric hybrid generator. Nano Energy, 2017, 37: 242–247

[15] Wu Y Y, Wu S Y, Xiao L. Performance analysis of photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system with and without glass cover. Energy Conversion and Management, 2015, 93: 151–159

[16] Karami Lakeh H, Kaatuzian H, Hosseini R. A parametrical study on photo-electro-thermal performance of an integrated thermoelectric-photovoltaic cell. Renewable Energy, 2019, 138: 542–550

[17] Mahmoudinezhad S, Qing S, Rezaniakolaei A, Transient model of hybrid concentrated photovoltaic with thermoelectric generator. Energy Procedia, 2017, 142: 564–569

[18] Mahmoudinezhad S, Ahmadi Atouei S, Cotfas P A, Experimental and numerical study on the transient behavior of multijunction solar cell-thermoelectric generator hybrid system. Energy Conversion and Management, 2019, 184: 448–455

[19] Yin E, Li Q, Xuan Y. Optimal design method for concentrating photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system. Applied Energy, 2018, 226: 320–329

[20] Singh P, Ravindra N M. Temperature dependence of solar cell performance—an analysis. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2012, 101: 36–45

[21] Rowe D M, Min G. Evaluation of thermoelectric modules for power generation. Journal of Power Sources, 1998, 73(2): 193–198

[22] Andreas A, Stoffel T. NREL Solar Radiation Research Laboratory (SRRL): Baseline Measurement System (BMS); Golden, Colorado (Data). National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Report No. DA-5500–56488

[23] Yang D, Yin H. Energy conversion efficiency of a novel hybrid solar system for photovoltaic, thermoelectric, and heat utilization. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, 2011, 26(2): 662–670

[24] Nizetic S, Papadopoulos A. The role of exergy in energy and the environment. Springer International Publishing, 2018, 525–543

[25] Sopori B, Chen W, Madjdpour J, Calculation of emissivity of Si wafers. Journal of Electronic Materials, 1999, 28(12): 1385–1389

[26] Xu L, Xiong Y, Mei A, Efficient perovskite photovoltaic thermoelectric hybrid device. Advanced Energy Materials, 2018, 8(13): 1702937

[27] Motiei P, Yaghoubi M, Goshtashbirad E, Two-dimensional unsteady state performance analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric generator. Renewable Energy, 2018, 119: 551–565

[28] Wu S, Zhang Y, Xiao L, Performance comparison investigation on solar photovoltaic-thermoelectric generation and solar photovoltaic-thermoelectric cooling hybrid systems under different conditions. International Journal of Sustainable Energy, 2018, 37(6): 533–548

[29] Zhang J, Xuan Y, Yang L. Performance estimation of photovoltaic–thermoelectric hybrid systems. Energy, 2014, 78: 895–903

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press