Suitability of Electrical Coupling in Solar Cell Thermoelectric Hybridization

Abstract

Abstract:It is well known that the major constraints to the efficiency of photovoltaic devices come from the generation of heat. In this context, thermoelectric generators have been proposed as a viable heat recovery solution, leading to an increase of the overall efficiency. Within this kind of hybrid solution, the photovoltaic and thermoelectric parts can be either electrically separated or connected in the same circuit. In the latter case, the presence of the thermoelectric generator in series to the solar cell may lead to electrical losses. In this work, we analyze the effect of several parameters on the output power of electrically hybridized thermoelectric-photovoltaic systems. Both electrical measurements and simulations are used. The results show that while an electrical lossless condition exists (as also reported in previous works), it does not necessarily lead to significant power gains compared to the sole photovoltaic case. In addition, the strong temperature sensitivity of the lossless condition makes electrical hybridization difficult to implement. Since solar irradiation varies over time, such sensitivity would make the system work mostly in a suboptimal regime. Therefore, this study provides clues on the actual applicability of electrically hybridized devices.

Advancements in thermoelectric generators for enhanced hybrid photovoltaic system performance

“…In addition, Lorenzi et al [80] analysed the effect of several parameters on the power output of an electrical coupled PV/TEG system. Results obtained showed that for solar cells with a small series resistance, the voltage needed for electrical lossless coupling was smaller.…”

Organic Photovoltaics Integrated with Thermoelectric Generator Achieving Low Critical Temperature Difference and Efficient Energy Conversion

“…[ 10 ] Lorenzi et al further evaluated the match on internal resistance of PV and TEG (electrically connected in series) and their influence on total power output. [ 52 ] However, there's no theoretical or numerical simulation about the d T c and the TEG optimization based on d T c under a given PV device, which should be general for such type of device integration based on various PV techniques.…”

Energy-Aware System Design for Autonomous Wireless Sensor Nodes: A Comprehensive Review

“…For the realization of converters combining thermal and solar sources (see Figure 4 a), a laminated structure is proposed in [ 36 , 37 ], where solar and thermoelectric cells are used. This hybridization enabled in this case an improvement of the maximum power output by 47% and 36% in comparison to the single solar cell and thermoelectric cell, respectively.…”

“…The resulting system structure is complex and contains several layers to be able to ensure the hybridization. In [ 37 , 38 ], a solution combining thermoelectric and solar cells is developed to power wearable medical devices. In this case, the main purpose of combining both sources is to ensure the continuous reliable energy availability as photovoltaic cells have a good performance limited to outdoors.…”