Efficient, low-cost solar thermoelectric cogenerators comprising evacuated tubular solar collectors and thermoelectric modules

Applied Energy

Volumn 109, Issue , 2013, Pages 51-59

  Zhang, Ming ^a,e   Miao, Lei ^a   Kang, Yi Pu ^a   Tanemura, Sakae ^a,b,c   Fisher, Craig A J ^b   Xu, Gang ^a   Li, Chun Xin ^d   Fan, Guang Zhu ^d  

^a GUANGZHOU INSTITUTE OF ENERGY CONVERSION   (China)

^b JAPAN FINE CERAMICS CENTER   (Japan)

^c NAGOYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY   (Japan)

^d Dexing Solar Technology Co Ltd Guangzhou Private Science Park   (China)

^e YOKOHAMA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY   (Japan)

Author keywords

Electricity; Evacuated tube heat pipe solar collector; Solar cogeneration; Thermal energy; Thermoelectric conversion

Indexed keywords

COLLECTOR EFFICIENCY; ELECTRICITY; EQUIVALENT CIRCUITS; HEAT PIPES; INCIDENT SOLAR RADIATION; THERMAL ENERGY; THERMOELECTRICITY;

COMMERCIAL PRODUCTIONS; ELECTRICAL EFFICIENCY; HEAT TRANSFER EQUATIONS; HEAT-PIPE SOLAR COLLECTORS; SOLAR CO-GENERATION; THEORETICAL MODELS; THERMO-ELECTRIC MODULES; THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION;

SOLAR ENERGY;

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS; ELECTRICAL POWER; ENERGY EFFICIENCY; HEAT BUDGET; SOLAR POWER; THERMAL POWER; WATER TEMPERATURE; WIND VELOCITY;

EID: 84877021007     PISSN: 03062619     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.03.008     Document Type: Article

References (39)

1. Tian Y., Zhao C.Y. A review of solar collectors and thermal energy storage in solar thermal applications. Appl Energy 2013, 104:538-553.
2. Telkes M. Solar thermoelectric generators. J Appl Phys 1954, 25:765-777.
3. Kraemer D., Poudel B., Feng H.-P., Caylor J.C., Yu B., Yan X., et al. High-performance flat-panel solar thermoelectric generators with high thermal concentration. Nat Mater 2011, 10:532-538.
4. He W., Su Y.H., Riffat S.B., Hou J.X., Ji J. Parametrical analysis of the design and performance of a solar heat pipe thermoelectric generator unit. Appl Energy 2011, 88:5083-5089.
5. He W., Su Y.H., Wang Y.Q., Riffat S.B., Ji J. A study on incorporation of thermoelectric modules with evacuated-tube heat-pipe solar collectors. Renew Energy 2012, 37:142-149.
6. Omer S.A., Infield D.G. Design optimization of thermoelectric devices for solar power generation. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 1998, 53:67-82.
7. Omer S.A., Infield D.G. Design and thermal analysis of a two stage solar concentrator for combined heat and thermoelectric power generation. Energy Convers Manage 2000, 41:737-756.
8. Atik K. Numerical simulation of a solar thermoelectric generator. Energy Source Part A 2011, 33:760-767.
9. Eswarmoothy M., Shanmuam S. A numerical model to compute heat loss in the focal receiver of a solar parabolic dish thermoelectric generator. Energy Source Part A 2012, 34:959-965.
10. Xiao J.S., Yang T.Q., Li P., Zhai P.C., Zhang Q.J. Thermal design and management for performance optimization of solar thermoelectric generator. Appl Energy 2012, 93:33-38.
11. Chen G. Theoretical efficiency of solar thermoelectric energy generators. J Appl Phys 2011, 109:104908-1-104908-8.
12. McEnaney K., Kraemer D., Ren Z.F., Chen G. Modeling of concentrating solar thermoelectric generator. J Appl Phys 2011, 110:074502-1-074502-6.
13. Kraemer D., McEnaney K., Chiesa M., Chen G. Modeling of and optimization of solar thermoelectric generators for terrestrial applications. Sol Energy 2012, 86:1338-1350.
14. Van Sark W.G.J.H.V. Feasibility of photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid modules. Appl Energy 2012, 88:2785-2790.
15. Wang N., Han L., He H.C., Park N.H., Koumoto K. A novel high-performance photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid devices. Energy Environ Sci 2011, 4:3676-3679.
16. Rockendorf G., Sillmann R., Podlowski L., Litzenburger B. PV-hybrid and thermoelectric collectors. Sol Energy 1999, 67:227-237.
17. Chavez-Urbiola E.A., Vorobiev Y.V., Bulat L.P. Solar hybrid systems with thermoelectric generators. Sol Energy 2012, 86:369-378.
18. Dresselhaus M.S., Chen G., Tang M.Y., Yang R., Lee H., Wang D., et al. New directions for low-dimensional thermoelectric materials. Adv Mater 2007, 19:1043-1053.
19. Liu W.S., Yan X., Chen G., Ren Z.F. Recent advancement in thermoelectric nanocomposites. Nano Energy 2012, 1:42-56.
20. Mehta R.J., Zhang Y.L., Karthik C., Singh B., Siegel R.W., Borca-Tasciuc T., et al. A new class of doped nanobulk high-figure-of merit thermoelectrics by scalable bottom-up assembly. Nat Mater 2012, 11:233-240.
21. 3 nanoplates. Nano Lett 2012, 12:640-647.
22. Szokolay S.V. Introduction to architectural science: the basis of sustainable design 2005, Architectural Press, Oxford, p. 86-94.
23. Kim J.T., Ahn H.T., Han H., Kim H.T., Chun W. The performance simulation of all-glass vacuum tubes with coaxial fluid conduit. Int Commun Heat Mass Transfer 2007, 34:587-597.
24. Miao L., Zhang M., Tanemura S., Tanaka T., Kang Y.P., Xu G. Feasibility study on the use of a solar thermoelectric cogenerator comprising a thermoelectric module and evacuated tubular collector with parabolic trough concentrator. J Electron Mater 2012, 41:1759-1765.
25. Chen J.C. Thermodynamic analysis of a solar-driven thermoelectric generator. J Appl Phys 1996, 79:2717-2722.
26. Amatya R., Ram R.J. Solar thermoelectric generator for micropower applications. J Electron Mater 2010, 39:1735-1740.
27. Oommen R., Jayaraman S. Development and performance analysis of compound parabolic solar concentrators with reduced gap losses - oversized reflector. Energy Convers Manage 2001, 42:1379-1399.
28. Duffie J.A., Beckman W.A. Solar energy thermal processes, chapter 7: flat plate collectors, chapter 8: focusing collectors 1974, Wiley, New York (NY), p. 120-214.
29. Ernst DM. Evaluation of theoretical heat pipe performance. In: Record IEEE thermionic conversion specialist conference, Pala Alto, CA, USA; 1967. p. 349-54.
30. Rowe D.M. Thermoelectrics handbook: nano to macro. Gereral principles and basic considerations 2006, CRC Taylor & Francis, New York, [chapter 1.3]. D.M. Rowe (Ed.).
31. Kalogirou S.A. Solar thermal collectors and applications. Prog Energy Combust Sci 2004, 30:231-295.
32. Kalogirou S. Economic analysis of solar energy systems using spreadsheets. In: Proceedings of the world renewable energy congress IV, Denver, Colorado, USA, vol. 2; 1996. p. 1303-7.
33. 0.3. Nano Lett 2010, 10:3373-3378.
34. Yang J., Yip H.-L., Jen A.K.-Y. Rational design of advanced thermoelectric materials. Adv Energy Mater 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201200514.
35. Wang R.Z., Zhai X.Q. Development of solar thermal technologies in China. Energy 2010, 35:4407-4416.
36. SRP EarthWise solar energy for your home. <> [accessed 21.02.13]. http://srpnet.com/.
37. Solar water heating systems explained - benefits, costs, savings, earnings, suitability. <> [accessed 20.02.13]. http://energysavingtrust.org.uk/.
38. Ecobusiness links free solar panel survey. <> [accessed 20.02.13]. http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/surveys/free-solar-panel-price-survey/.
39. Barbose G, Darghouth N, Wiser R, Seel J. Tracking the Sun IV: an historical summary of the installed cost of photovoltaics in the United States from 1998 to 2010. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report; September 2011.