Modeling and optimization of solar thermoelectric generators for terrestrial applications
Name
STEG_Opt_version_for_Dspace.pdf
Size
1.03 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
f33da1428a65c3d1e00cabb5899c33e2
Author(s)
Kraemer, Daniel
McEnaney, Kenneth
Chiesa, Matteo
Chen, Gang
Date Issued
February 2012
Journal
Solar Energy
Publisher
Elsevier
Citation
Kraemer, Daniel; McEnaney, Kenneth; Chiesa, Matteo and Chen, Gang. "Modeling and optimization of solar thermoelectric generators for terrestrial applications." Solar Energy 86, no. 5 (May 2012): 1338-1350. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
In this paper we introduce a model and an optimization methodology for terrestrial solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs). We describe, discuss, and justify the necessary constraints on the STEG geometry that make the STEG optimization independent of individual dimensions. A simplified model shows that the thermoelectric elements in STEGs can be scaled in size without affecting the overall performance of the device, even when the properties of the thermoelectric material and the solar absorber are temperature-dependent. Consequently, the amount of thermoelectric material can be minimized to be only a negligible fraction of the total system cost. As an example, a Bi[subscript 2]Te[subscript 3]-based STEG is optimized for rooftop power generation. Peak efficiency is predicted to be 5% at the standard spectrum AM1.5G, with the thermoelectric material cost below 0.05 $/W[subscript p]. Integrating STEGs into solar hot water systems for cogeneration adds electricity at minimal extra cost. In such cogeneration systems the electric current can be adjusted throughout the day to favor either electricity or hot water production.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2012.01.025
