Design and Implementation of a Thermoelectric Power Generation Panel Utilizing Waste Heat Based on Solar Energy

Mohammed A. Qasim, Vladimir I. Velkin, Seepana Praveenkumar, Du Yang, Ahmed H. Mola, Sergey E. Shcheklein

Abstract


Thermoelectric power generation (TEG) can be considered a free energy conversion system, especially if it converts waste heat into electricity. The proposed system is based on a high-temperature side that is heated by waste heat from a solar water heater. In this work, a TEG panel is designed and fabricated from 20 TEGs, where 10 are connected in series, forming two sets that are then connected in parallel. The panel’s cold side is cooled using water passed through an aluminum block heat exchanger. The design is implemented and its operation is investigated experimentally. The average power output from this TEG panel is 3.55 W, which is equivalent to an average generated energy of 85.2 Wh for one day. This power can be increased with a greater temperature difference between its upper and lower sides. Also, the design employs active heating and cooling methods to attain a uniform temperature distribution on both sides of the panel. This new design had an average Carnot efficiency of 11.04% with a maximum value of 12.44%.


Keywords


Cold, Heat, Pipeline Radiation, Seebeck, Solar, Thermoelectric generator

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References


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DOI (PDF): https://doi.org/10.20508/ijrer.v12i3.13084.g8547

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