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Hybrid Photovoltaic–Thermoelectric Generators: Theory of Operation

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Hybrid and Fully Thermoelectric Solar Harvesting

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Materials Science ((SSMATERIALS,volume 268))

Abstract

This chapter is devoted to provide the general theory describing the hybridization of solar cells with thermoelectric generators. Moving from a description of the system, its main components will be introduced and analysed. Their characteristics and their impact on the final system efficiency will be scrutinised. Specifically, the heat generation within solar cells will be detailed considering the main losses occurring in a PV cell. This will bring to an evaluation of the temperature sensitivity of solar cells, which is one of the most important parameter to be considered when pairing PV cells and TEGs. In addition, we will introduce the concept of fully hybridized systems, where the thermoelectric and PV devices are both thermally and electrically connected to each other.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Dario Narducci

  2. Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Peter Bermel & Kazuaki Yazawa

  3. University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Bruno Lorenzi

  4. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Yangling, China

    Ning Wang

Authors
  1. Dario Narducci
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  2. Peter Bermel
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  3. Bruno Lorenzi
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  4. Ning Wang
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  5. Kazuaki Yazawa
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Correspondence to Dario Narducci .

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Narducci, D., Bermel, P., Lorenzi, B., Wang, N., Yazawa, K. (2018). Hybrid Photovoltaic–Thermoelectric Generators: Theory of Operation. In: Hybrid and Fully Thermoelectric Solar Harvesting. Springer Series in Materials Science, vol 268. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76427-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76427-6_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-76426-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-76427-6

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

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