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Electro-thermal and Mechanical Optimization of a Concentrated Solar Thermoelectric Generator

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Mitigating Climate Change (TELAC 2021)

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Abstract

Solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) is a relatively less efficient direct energy conversion device which converts input solar heat directly into electricity based on thermoelectric effects. A comprehensive model consisting the detailed electrical, thermodynamic and mechanical analysis of STEG is still missing in the literature. Thus, this paper presents a numerical model and analysis of a hybrid solar thermoelectric generator. The hybrid system is made up of a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) attached to a thermoelectric module (TEM). A three-dimensional finite element model is developed and employed in analysing the hybrid system for varying concentrated solar irradiation and external load resistance. The optimum external load resistance, current, voltage and heat absorption rate required to maximise the electrical and thermodynamic performance of the device are obtained. The results in this study will provide useful information in the design of power generation systems.

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Abbreviations

A :

Thermeoelement area (m2)

C :

Concentration ratio

E :

Electric field intensity (V/m)

G :

Global solar irradiance (W/m2)

I m :

Matched load current (A)

J :

Current density (A/m2)

R L :

Load Resistance (\(\Omega\))

S :

Seebeck coefficient (V/K)

\(u^{^{\prime} \prime \prime }\) :

Joule heat (W/m3)

W m :

Matched load power (W)

V m :

Matched load voltage (V)

q″:

Concentrated solar irradiance (W/m2)

\(\eta_m\) :

Matched load efficiency

\(\tau\) :

Thomson coefficient (V/K)

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Acknowledgements

The first, fifth and sixth authors would like to acknowledge and appreciate the support offered by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, towards the successful completion of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu, Nigeria

    Chigbogu Ozoegwu & Mkpamdi Eke

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, 302017, India

    Ravita Lamba

  3. Applied Renewable and Sustainable Energy Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria

    Howard O. Njoku

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa

    Howard O. Njoku

  5. Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Chika Maduabuchi & Emenike C. Ejiogu

  6. Laboratory of Industrial Electronics, Power Devices and New Energy Systems (LIEPNES), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Chika Maduabuchi & Emenike C. Ejiogu

Authors
  1. Chika Maduabuchi
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  2. Ravita Lamba
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  3. Chigbogu Ozoegwu
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  4. Howard O. Njoku
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  5. Mkpamdi Eke
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  6. Emenike C. Ejiogu
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Chika Maduabuchi or Mkpamdi Eke .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Turbulence and Energy Lab, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada

    David S.-K. Ting

  2. Fluid Mechanics Research Laboratory, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN, USA

    Ahmad Vasel-Be-Hagh

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Maduabuchi, C., Lamba, R., Ozoegwu, C., Njoku, H.O., Eke, M., Ejiogu, E.C. (2022). Electro-thermal and Mechanical Optimization of a Concentrated Solar Thermoelectric Generator. In: Ting, D.SK., Vasel-Be-Hagh, A. (eds) Mitigating Climate Change. TELAC 2021. Springer Proceedings in Energy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92148-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92148-4_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-92147-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-92148-4

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