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Electrical Characteristics of a Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermoelectric Generator System
Author(s) -
Pang Wei,
Yu Hongwen,
Zhang Yongzhe,
Yan Hui
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.201700801
Subject(s) - photovoltaic system , thermoelectric generator , materials science , monocrystalline silicon , bismuth telluride , thermoelectric effect , energy conversion efficiency , optoelectronics , photovoltaics , heat sink , photovoltaic thermal hybrid solar collector , engineering physics , automotive engineering , thermoelectric materials , electrical engineering , silicon , engineering , thermal conductivity , composite material , thermodynamics , physics
The electrical performance evolution of a system combining photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric generator (TE) is evaluated using thermal resistance calculations. The hybrid system combines a commercial monocrystalline silicon PV and a commercial bismuth telluride TE that is integrated with heat sinks. Here, photovoltaic modules could be cooled using thermoelectric components, leading to an increase in its output power. Additionally, extra thermal electricity is generated from the temperature difference between the backside of photovoltaic modules and heat sinks. Compared with the PV, the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the PV/TE integrated system is increased by 3.9 % and the total system efficiency is up to 5.9 %.