Iranian Journal of Mechanical Engineering Transactions of ISME

Iranian Journal of Mechanical Engineering Transactions of ISME

Numerical investigation of heat transfer and power generation of combined thermoelectric generators and Photovoltaic-Thermoelectric hybrid system embedded in the solar cavity

Authors
Mohammad Ameri 1
omid Farhangian Marandi 2
1 Professor & Energy Conversion chair, Mechanical & Energy Eng. Department, Shahid Beheshti University
2 Mechanical engineering and Energy department, Shahid Beheshti university
Abstract
In this study, a novel model of thermoelectric-photovoltaic hybrid system installed in cubical solar cavity receiver is presented and the heat transfer equations included radiant heat transfer inside the cavity, conduction heat transfer from photovoltaic modules and thermoelectric generators, and the electric power generation equations are solved numerically. In this cavity structure the re-radiation from the photovoltaic modules is absorbed in different directions and by reducing re-radiation loss, the power generation efficiency increases. The radiation heat transfer analysis depicts the re-radiation in solar cavity receiver is lower than 8%, while the re-radiation from flat plate photovoltaic module is near 60%. The results show that generated power in this cavity hybrid system is two times more than generated power by flat plate hybrid system under different irradiation levels. Heat transfer analysis of cavity hybrid system shows the maximum irradiation is on downside surface of the cavity, and so the downside surface is the more efficient surface for installing the photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system. Consequently, the cost of produced energy by applying Photovoltaic-Thermoelectric hybrid module in one side and thermoelectric generators in other sides is 40% less than all side hybrid cavity. The results show that increasing the heat convection coefficient from 5 to 10, increase the generated power 114.8 mW to 352.5 mW.
Keywords
Photovoltaic-Thermoelectric hybrid
Solar cavity receiver
Radiation heat transfer
Electrical power
 [1] International Energy Outlook 2016, Available: http://www.eia.gov/ieo
 
 [2]  World Energy Consumption. Available:
       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_consumption.
 
 [3] Sundarraj, P., Maity, D., Roy, S., and Taylor, R. A., “Recent Advances in Thermoelectric Materials and Solar Thermoelectric Generators–a Critical Review”, RSC Advances., Vol. 4, pp. 46860-46874, (2014).
 
 [4] Zare, M., Ramin, H., and Hosseini, R., “Optimization of Segmented Thermoelectric Generator and Calculation of Performance”, Amirkabir Journal of Science and Research (Mechanical Engineering)  Vol. 45, pp. 27-29, (2013).
 
 [5] Cha´vez-Urbiola, E. A., Vorobiev, Yu. V., and Bulat,  L.P., ”Solar Hybrid Systems with Thermoelectric Generators”, Solar Energy, Vol. 86, pp. 369–378, (2012).
 
[6] Miljkovic, N., and Wan, E. N., “Modeling and Optimization of Hybrid Solar Thermoelectric Systems with Thermosiphons”, Solar Energy, Vol. 85 pp. 2843–2855, (2011).
 
[7] Hassasnniadoon, M., AbbasNejad, A., and Moazemigoudarzi, A., “Experimental Investigation of Fresnel Lens Application in a Solar Water Heater with the Electricity Generation via Thermoelectric Module”, Journal of Solid and Fluid Mechanic, Vol. 4, pp. 159-169, (2014).
 
[8] Deng, Y., Zhu, W., Wang, Y., and Shi, Y., “Enhanced Performance of Solar-driven Photovoltaic Thermoelectric Hybrid System in an Integrated Design”, Solar Energy, Vol. 88 , pp. 182–191, (2013).
 
[9] Li, Y., Witharana, S., Cao, H., Lasfargues, M., Huang,Y., and Ding, Y., “Wide Spectrum Solar Energy Harvesting through an Integrated Photovoltaic and Thermoelectric System”, Particuology, Vol. 15, pp. 39–44, (2014).
 
[10] Lina, W., Shih, T.,  Zheng, J., Zhang, Y., and Chen, J., “Coupling of Temperatures and Power Outputs in Hybrid Photovoltaic and Thermoelectric Modules”, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 74, pp. 121–127, (2014).
 [11] Zhang, J., Xuan, Y., and Yang, L., “Performance Estimation of Photovoltaic Thermoelectric Hybrid Systems”, International Journal of Energy, Vol. 78, No. 15, pp. 895-903, (2014).
 
 [12] Panga, W., Liu, Y., Shao, S., and Gao, X., “Empirical Study on Thermal Performance through Separating Impacts from a Hybrid PV/TE System Design Integrating Heat Sink”, International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 60, pp. 9-12, (2015).
 
[13] Wu, Y., Wu, S., and Xiao, L., “Performance Analysis of Photovoltaic–thermoelectric Hybrid System with and without Glass Cover”, International Journal of Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 93,  pp. 151–159, (2015).
 
[14] Najafi, H., and Woodbury, K. A., “Modeling and Analysis of a Combined Photovoltaic Thermoelectric Power Generation System”, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, ASME, Vol. 135, No. 3, pp. 031013-031013-8, (2013).
 
[15] Fisac, M., Villasevil, F.X., and López, F., “High-efficiency Photovoltaic Technology Including Thermoelectric Generation”, Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 252, pp. 264-269, (2014).
 
[16] Najafi, H., and Woodbury, K.A., “Optimization of a Cooling System Based on Peltier Effect for Photovoltaic Cells”, Solar Energy, Vol. 91, pp. 152-160, (2013).
 
[17] Vishal, V., Aarti, K., and Singh, B., “Complementary Performance Enhancement of PV Energy System through Thermoelectric Generation”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 58, pp. 1017-1026, (2016).
 
[18] Farhangian Marandi, O., Ameri, M., and  Adelshahian, B., “The Experimental Investigation of a Hybrid Photovoltaic Thermoelectric Power Generator Solar Cavity-Receiver”, Solar Energy, Vol. 161, pp. 38-46, (2018).
 
[19] Howell, J., Siegel, R., and Pinar, M., “Thermal Radiation Heat Transfer”, Fifth Ed, pp. 222- 248, New York,  Taylor and Francis Inc., (2002).
 
[20] Modest, M. F., “Radiative Heat Transfer, Third Edition”, pp. 269-278, Elsevier, Science and Technology, London, (2013).
 
[21] Clausing, A. M., Waldvogel, J. M., and Lister, L. D., “Natural Convection from Isothermal Cubical Cavities with a Variety of Side Facing Apertures”,  Heat Transfer, Vol. 109, pp. 407-412, (1987).
 
[22] Leibfried, U., and Ortjohann, J., “Convective Heat Loss from Upward and Downward-facing Cavity Solar Receivers: Measurements and Calculations”, J. Solar  Energy Engineering., Vol. 117, pp. 75-84, (1995).
 
[23] Taumoefolau, T., Paitoonsurikarn, S., Hughes, G., and Lovegrove, K., “Experimental Investigation of Natural Convection Heat Loss from a Model Solar Concentrator Cavity Receiver”, Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 126, pp. 801-807, (2004).
 
[24] Suter, C., “Thermoelectric Conversion of Concentrated Solar Radiation and Geothermal Energy”, Phd Thesis, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland, (2013).
 
[25] 801 Database Structure and Properties, Design Institute for Physical Property Research, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), New York, USA, (2010).
 
 [26] Sera, D., Teodorescu R., and Rodriguez, P., “PV Panel Model Based on Data Sheet Values”, Proceedings of the IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics (ISIE), Vigo, Spain,  pp. 2392–2396, (2007).
 
[27] Meflah, A., Mahrane, A., Madjid, C., Khadidja, R., Hachemi, R., and Smara Z., “Current-Voltage Characteristic Modeling of a Silicon Micromorphous Photovoltaic Module”, IEEE Xplore, 3rd International Renewable and Sustainable Energy Conference (IRSEC'15), Marrakech & Ouarzazate, Morocco, pp. 1-6, (2015).
 
[28] Kryotherm Company Catalogue(Informational Booklet) Available:
        http://kryothermtec.com/catalogs.html
 
[29] Steinfield, A., and Schubnell, M., “Optimum Aperture Size and Operating Temperature of a Solar Cavity-Receiver”, Solar Energy, Vol. 50, pp. 19-25, (1993).
 
[30] Mahmoodi, S., Berahmandpour, H., and  Heydari, K., “Electricity Cost Evaluation by LCOE Algorithm in Different Energy Production Technology in IRAN”, 30th International Power Sytem Confrence, Tehran, Iran, 23-25 Nov, (2015).
 
[31] Branker, K., Pathak, M. J. M., and  Pearce, J. M., “A Review of Solar Photovoltaic Levelized Cost of Electricity”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 15, pp. 4470– 4482, (2011).
Iranian Journal of Mechanical Engineering Transactions of ISME
Volume 21, Issue 2 - Serial Number 55
Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
Spring 2019
Pages 29-55

  • Receive Date 17 June 2018
  • Revise Date 21 January 2019
  • Accept Date 20 October 2019