Performance analysis on a novel micro-channel heat pipe evacuated tube solar collector-incorporated thermoelectric generation

Li, Guiqiang; Ji, Jie; Zhang, Gan; He, Wei; Chen, Xiao; Chen, Hongbing

doi:10.1002/er.3589

Cited by 45 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“… Q h represents the thermal energy passing through the TE hot side, Q h = Q flow , and Q l is the energy passing through the TE cold side, which can be obtained as below, respectively,

Q_{h} = α T_{h} I + k normalΔ T - \frac{1}{2} I^{2} R_{TEG},

Q_{l} = α T_{l} I + k normalΔ T + \frac{1}{2} I^{2} R_{TEG},

where T h and T l are the both sides temperature of TE, respectively, and k is the TE thermal conductivity.

Q_{l} = \frac{T_{l} - T_{a}}{R_{fin}},

where R fin is the entire TRs from the TE to the ambient air.

R_{fin} = R_{normalT - normalH} + R_{HS} + R_{normalH - normalA},

where R T − H , R HS , and R H − A are the TR between the HS and the TE, that of the HS, and that between the ambient air and the HS, respectively.…”

Section: Mathematic Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation and experiment of a PV‐MCHP‐TE system and ambient parameters impacts

Zhou

Liu

2020

Int J Energy Res

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Summary Combining the photovoltaic (PV) with the thermoelectric (TE) can obtain higher electrical outputs, because the thermal energy produced by the PV cells can be used to produce more electricity by the TE device. This paper built the mathematical model on the energy flow of the PV–microchannel heat pipe (MCHP)–TE system then verified the correctness of the model via the experiment. In addition, the impacts of the different wind speed, different solar radiation, and different ambient temperature on the PV‐MCHP‐TE system have been analysed. The result shows that the maximum difference value of the power output between the simulation and experiment is 0.16 W, so the simulated values and experimental values are in good agreement. At the same time, within the scope of the ambient parameters set in the simulation, when the solar radiation raises, the electrical efficiency of the PV‐MCHP‐TE system decreases, but when the wind speed raises, the electrical efficiency of this system will decrease more and more slowly. This work will lay the foundation for the performance forecasting of the system throughout the year.

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“… Q h represents the thermal energy passing through the TE hot side, Q h = Q flow , and Q l is the energy passing through the TE cold side, which can be obtained as below, respectively,

Q_{h} = α T_{h} I + k normalΔ T - \frac{1}{2} I^{2} R_{TEG},

Q_{l} = α T_{l} I + k normalΔ T + \frac{1}{2} I^{2} R_{TEG},

where T h and T l are the both sides temperature of TE, respectively, and k is the TE thermal conductivity.

Q_{l} = \frac{T_{l} - T_{a}}{R_{fin}},

where R fin is the entire TRs from the TE to the ambient air.

R_{fin} = R_{normalT - normalH} + R_{HS} + R_{normalH - normalA},

where R T − H , R HS , and R H − A are the TR between the HS and the TE, that of the HS, and that between the ambient air and the HS, respectively.…”

Section: Mathematic Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation and experiment of a PV‐MCHP‐TE system and ambient parameters impacts

Zhou

Liu

2020

Int J Energy Res

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“…However, this geometric advantage is not critically important. It is possible to change the shape of the pipe into a square one, to produce a simpler solution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the volume power density of radial thermoelectric generators

Han

Wee

2020

Int J Energy Res

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We examine the volume power density of radial thermoelectric generators (TEGs). Radial, or tubular, TEGs have been considered as an alternative to the usual flat-plate TEGs due to its improved geometric match to typical curved heat sources and high surface power density. However, surface power density is not the only important performance index in realistic situations. Especially for TEGs with inorganic materials that have high raw material prices, volume power density can be important as well. In this note, an analytic model of a radial TEG is studied with a numerical trial-and-error approach for investigating its volume power density. At the same time, an alternative, approximate method of estimating the maximum power of the radial TEG is presented.Using these two approaches, we estimate the volume power density of a skutterudite-based radial TEG and compare the results to those of a flat-plate TEG. The volume power density of the radial TEG is significantly lower than that of the flat-plate TEG. For example, our calculation for a representative case with free convection on the cold side shows that the volume power density of the radial TEG will be 107 W/m 3 at best. The result improves with forced convection, and our calculation for a representative case with forced convection on the cold side exhibits the maximum volume power density of 24 100 W/m 3 . All these values turn out to be smaller roughly by one order of magnitude than the maximum volume power densities of comparable flatplate TEGs. Such a low volume power density indicates lower economic feasibility of the radial TEG with expensive inorganic thermoelectric materials. This is also explicitly discussed by presenting the high cost per watt of the radial TEG. It is therefore suggested that radial TEGs with less expensive organic materials may be more acceptable than those with inorganic ones.

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“…The evaporator of heat pipe withdraws the heat energy from the exhaust pipe, while the TEG module is attached to the pipes condenser to use the heat energy. The combination of evacuated heat pipes and integrated TEG module was proposed to produce heat water and electricity simultaneously . The hot water was generated by the heat conducted through the TEG materials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hybrid TEG/wind system using concentrated solar energy and chimney effect

2018

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This paper investigates a novel hybrid system combining thermal electrical generators (TEGs) and a wind turbine. The mathematical model of the system is derived and solved to investigate the performance of the proposed system. In the proposed system, solar energy is converted to heat by an absorber plate. Some portion of this heat is converted to electricity using TEG, while another portion of the heat is used to heat up air flowing in an inclined duct placed underneath the absorber plate. Heating the air inside the system enhances the current speed because of the effect of buoyancy. A wind turbine is placed inside the duct parallel to air flow before it exits to the atmosphere. The wind current is accelerated before passing through the turbine by using venture effect. The TEGs are exposed to the concentrated solar radiation. This can be obtained using a compound parabolic concentrator. The proposed configuration has multiadvantages: (1) the wind is used to drive a wind turbine; (2) air cools the rear surfaces of TEGs to increase the temperature difference between the opposite surfaces, thus generates more electrical power; and (3) it uses buoyancy effect to increase the wind stream speed, thus enhancing the power generated from turbine. It is found that the solar concentration ratio is the most important factor contributing to enhancing the TEG efficiency. The buoyancy effect leads to turbine power boost at high wind speeds more than at low wind speeds.

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Performance analysis on a novel micro-channel heat pipe evacuated tube solar collector-incorporated thermoelectric generation

Cited by 45 publications

References 21 publications

Simulation and experiment of a PV‐MCHP‐TE system and ambient parameters impacts

Simulation and experiment of a PV‐MCHP‐TE system and ambient parameters impacts

On the volume power density of radial thermoelectric generators

A hybrid TEG/wind system using concentrated solar energy and chimney effect

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