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Performance analysis and discussion on the thermoelectric element footprint for PV–TE maximum power generation

Li, Guiqiang; Zhao, Xudong; Jin, Yi; Chen, Xiao; Ji, Jie; Shittu, Samson

Authors

Guiqiang Li

Yi Jin

Xiao Chen

Jie Ji

Samson Shittu



Abstract

Geometrical optimisation is a valuable way to improve the efficiency of a thermoelectric element (TE). In a hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric (PV-TE) system, the photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) components have a relatively complex relationship; their individual effects mean that geometrical optimisation of the TE element alone may not be sufficient to optimize the entire PV–TE hybrid system. In this paper, we introduce a parametric optimisation of the geometry of the thermoelectric element footprint for a PV–TE system. A uni-couple TE model was built for the PV–TE using the finite element method and temperature-dependent thermoelectric material properties. Two types of PV cells were investigated in this paper and the performance of PV–TE with different lengths of TE elements and different footprint areas was analysed. The outcome showed that no matter the TE element's length and the footprint areas, the maximum power output occurs when An/Ap= 1. This finding is useful, as it provides a reference whenever PV–TE optimisation is investigated.

Citation

Li, G., Zhao, X., Jin, Y., Chen, X., Ji, J., & Shittu, S. (2018). Performance analysis and discussion on the thermoelectric element footprint for PV–TE maximum power generation. Journal of electronic materials, 47(9), 5344-5351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-018-6421-4

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 8, 2018
Online Publication Date Jun 12, 2018
Publication Date 2018-09
Deposit Date Jun 11, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Print ISSN 0361-5235
Electronic ISSN 1543-186X
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 47
Issue 9
Pages 5344-5351
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-018-6421-4
Keywords PV-TE; Footprint; Uni-couple; Geometry; Finite element method
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/871636
Publisher URL https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11664-018-6421-4

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