Theoretical efficiency of hybrid solar thermoelectric-photovoltaic generators
This work analyses the potential of hybrid solar thermoelectric photovoltaic generators (HSTEPVGs) through evaluating their efficiency in converting solar power into electricity for a system consisting of a PV cell placed directly on top of a thermoelectric generator. A theoretical model for terrest...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AIP Publishing
2021
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129773 |
| _version_ | 1826203557784715264 |
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| author | Lorenzi, Bruno Chen, Gang |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering Lorenzi, Bruno Chen, Gang |
| author_sort | Lorenzi, Bruno |
| collection | MIT |
| description | This work analyses the potential of hybrid solar thermoelectric photovoltaic generators (HSTEPVGs) through evaluating their efficiency in converting solar power into electricity for a system consisting of a PV cell placed directly on top of a thermoelectric generator. A theoretical model for terrestrial application which includes the possibility of thermal and optical concentrations is reported. As in the case of pure solar thermoelectric generators, an optimal operation temperature also exists for HSTEPVGs determined by the temperature dependences of both the solar cells and the thermoelectric generators. The study reports an efficiency gain of 4%-5% with respect to the sole PV case, especially in the case of optical concentrations which mitigate the solar cell temperature sensitivity. In addition to these interesting results, the work also reveals the major constrains expected for this approach, along with technological challenges especially regarding the optical properties of the device encapsulation and the solar cell degradation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:38:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/129773 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:38:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | AIP Publishing |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1297732022-09-28T09:13:56Z Theoretical efficiency of hybrid solar thermoelectric-photovoltaic generators Lorenzi, Bruno Chen, Gang Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering This work analyses the potential of hybrid solar thermoelectric photovoltaic generators (HSTEPVGs) through evaluating their efficiency in converting solar power into electricity for a system consisting of a PV cell placed directly on top of a thermoelectric generator. A theoretical model for terrestrial application which includes the possibility of thermal and optical concentrations is reported. As in the case of pure solar thermoelectric generators, an optimal operation temperature also exists for HSTEPVGs determined by the temperature dependences of both the solar cells and the thermoelectric generators. The study reports an efficiency gain of 4%-5% with respect to the sole PV case, especially in the case of optical concentrations which mitigate the solar cell temperature sensitivity. In addition to these interesting results, the work also reveals the major constrains expected for this approach, along with technological challenges especially regarding the optical properties of the device encapsulation and the solar cell degradation. European Union's Horizon 2020 (Grant 745304) 2021-02-16T19:42:58Z 2021-02-16T19:42:58Z 2018-07 2019-09-20T11:44:09Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 0021-8979 1089-7550 https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129773 Lorenzi, Bruno and Gang Chen. "Theoretical efficiency of hybrid solar thermoelectric-photovoltaic generators." Journal of Applied Physics 124, 2 (July 2018): 024501 © 2018 Author(s) en http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5022569 Journal of Applied Physics Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ application/pdf AIP Publishing Other repository |
| spellingShingle | Lorenzi, Bruno Chen, Gang Theoretical efficiency of hybrid solar thermoelectric-photovoltaic generators |
| title | Theoretical efficiency of hybrid solar thermoelectric-photovoltaic generators |
| title_full | Theoretical efficiency of hybrid solar thermoelectric-photovoltaic generators |
| title_fullStr | Theoretical efficiency of hybrid solar thermoelectric-photovoltaic generators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theoretical efficiency of hybrid solar thermoelectric-photovoltaic generators |
| title_short | Theoretical efficiency of hybrid solar thermoelectric-photovoltaic generators |
| title_sort | theoretical efficiency of hybrid solar thermoelectric photovoltaic generators |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129773 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lorenzibruno theoreticalefficiencyofhybridsolarthermoelectricphotovoltaicgenerators AT chengang theoreticalefficiencyofhybridsolarthermoelectricphotovoltaicgenerators |