Modeling of concentrating solar thermoelectric generators
Author(s)
McEnaney, Kenneth; Kraemer, Daniel; Ren, Zhifeng; Chen, Gang
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The conversion of solar power into electricity is dominated by non-concentrating photovoltaics and concentrating solar thermal systems. Recently, it has been shown that solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) are a viable alternative in the non-concentrating regime. This paper addresses the possibility of STEGs being used as the power block in concentrating solar power systems. STEG power blocks have no moving parts, they are scalable, and they eliminate the need for an external traditional thermomechanical generator, such as a steam turbine or Stirling engine. Using existing skutterudite and bismuth telluride materials, concentrating STEGs can have efficiencies exceeding 10% based on a geometric optical concentration ratio of 45.
Date issued
2011-10Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical EngineeringJournal
Journal of Applied Physics
Publisher
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Citation
McEnaney, Kenneth et al. “Modeling of Concentrating Solar Thermoelectric Generators.” Journal of Applied Physics 110.7 (2011): 074502. © 2011 American Institute of Physics
Version: Final published version
ISSN
0021-8979
1089-7550