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Open AccessJournal ArticleDOI

Modeling of concentrating solar thermoelectric generators

Kenneth McEnaney, +3 more
- 03 Oct 2011 - 
- Vol. 110, Iss: 7, pp 074502
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TLDR
In this paper, the possibility of solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) being used as the power block in concentrating solar power systems has been discussed, and it has been shown that using existing skutterudite and bismuth telluride materials, concentrating STEGs can have efficiencies exceeding 10% based on a geometric optical concentration ratio of 45.
Abstract
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.

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Journal ArticleDOI

Thermoelectric generators: A review of applications

TL;DR: In this paper, a review of thermoelectric generators is presented, as well as the future applications which are currently being studied in research laboratories or in industry and the main purpose of this paper is to clearly demonstrate that, almost anywhere in industry or in domestic uses, it is worth checking whether a TEG can be added whenever heat is moving from a hot source to a cold source.
Journal ArticleDOI

Concentrating Solar Power.

TL;DR: In this paper, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-Energy) gave DE-AR0000471 and DE-ARM0000181 for the first time, respectively.
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Thermoelectric Devices for Power Generation: Recent Progress and Future Challenges

TL;DR: In this paper, an overview of the design principle, fabrication methods and testing technology of thermoelectric (TE) power generation devices is presented, focusing specifically on the optimization of Bi2Te3/electrode joints and fabrication and evaluation of Bi 2Te3-based modules.
Journal ArticleDOI

Concentrating solar thermoelectric generators with a peak efficiency of 7.4

TL;DR: In this article, the authors reported a solar thermoelectric generator with an efficiency of 9.6% at an optically concentrated normal solar irradiance of 211'kW'm−2 and a system efficiency of 7.4% after considering optical concentration losses.
Journal ArticleDOI

Advancements in hybrid photovoltaic systems for enhanced solar cells performance

TL;DR: A comprehensive review of various methods reported in the literature and discusses various design and operating parameters influencing the cooling capacity for PV systems leading to an enhanced performance is provided in this paper, where various designs, such as air, liquid, heat pipes, phase change materials (PCMs), and thermoelectric (TE) devices, can be employed to aid cooling of PV cells.
References
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Book

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Journal ArticleDOI

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Journal ArticleDOI

Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes

TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an active and passive building heating system for solar thermal power systems, where the active system is designed by f--chart and the passive one by Utilizability Methods.
Book

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Journal ArticleDOI

High-Thermoelectric Performance of Nanostructured Bismuth Antimony Telluride Bulk Alloys

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