Hybrid energy harvesting system to maximize power generation from solar energy

Abstract Concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) modules experience a reduction in the conversion efficiency with increasing in the cell temperature as a result of long wavelength solar irradiation which is not absorbed by the cell’s band gap. Separation of long wavelength solar spectrum from the solar irradiation helps to fully utilize the solar irradiation as a part of the otherwise wasted long wavelength thermal energy can be converted into useful electricity by the other types of energy harvesting mechanisms. In order to enhance overall energy harvesting from the solar irradiation, a novel hybrid energy harvesting system based on separation of the solar irradiation and comprising a solar concentrator, CPV, beam splitter, cavity, Stirling engine and solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) is considered in this study. The STEGs are, furthermore, used in the cavity to protect the Stirling engine from overheating. Coupled governing equations are created and developed to predict and investigate daily performance of the hybrid system including the conversion efficiency and electrical power. Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software is used to solve the governing equations and to evaluate of the model. Moreover, cost performance of the hybrid system and its energy harvester components is estimated. Aalborg, Denmark, was selected as the location for investigation of the model. The results of the analytical model are in a good agreement with experimental results and previous studies for the considered energy harvesting mechanisms. The results show an overall system conversion efficiency of 21.8% and a total electric power output of 45.4 kW at 455 suns during the peak solar irradiance hours. In this period, the STEG is able to produce 1.2 kW electrical power. The CPV and STEG have higher cost performance amongst the studied energy harvesters in the hybrid power generator system. The results, moreover, indicate that the considered hybrid system has high potential to play a significant role among future renewable technologies as a high-efficient hybrid energy harvester.

[1]  Lasse Rosendahl,et al.  Behavior of hybrid concentrated photovoltaic-thermoelectric generator under variable solar radiation , 2018 .

[2]  O. J. Venturini,et al.  Optimization of a Dish Stirling system working with DIR-type receiver using multi-objective techniques , 2017 .

[3]  Aditya Chauhan,et al.  Futuristic approach for thermal management in solar PV/thermal systems with possible applications , 2018 .

[4]  A. Rezania,et al.  Harvesting waste heat from cement kiln shell by thermoelectric system , 2019, Energy.

[5]  S. Kedare,et al.  Numerical investigations on the Dish–Stirling engine system , 2019 .

[6]  Nasrudin Abd Rahim,et al.  Concentrated photovoltaic thermal systems: A component-by-component view on the developments in the design, heat transfer medium and applications , 2019, Energy Conversion and Management.

[7]  Richard B. Diver,et al.  A Compendium of Solar Dish/Stirling Technology , 1994 .

[8]  Lauryn L. Baranowski,et al.  Concentrated solar thermoelectric generators , 2012 .

[9]  N. Pryds,et al.  Segmentation of low‐cost high efficiency oxide‐based thermoelectric materials , 2015 .

[10]  Lasse Rosendahl,et al.  Experimental and numerical investigation of hybrid concentrated photovoltaic – Thermoelectric module under low solar concentration , 2018, Energy.

[11]  R. Winston,et al.  Theoretical and experimental performance of a two-stage (50X) hybrid spectrum splitting solar collector tested to 600 °C , 2019, Applied Energy.

[12]  Jie Ji,et al.  Performance analysis on a solar concentrating thermoelectric generator using the micro-channel heat pipe array , 2016 .

[13]  Mehran Ameri,et al.  Exergetic advancement of photovoltaic/thermal systems (PV/T): A review , 2018, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

[14]  Thomas Søndergaard,et al.  Design and optimization of spectral beamsplitter for hybrid thermoelectric-photovoltaic concentrated solar energy devices , 2016 .

[15]  Guiqiang Li,et al.  High performance and thermal stress analysis of a segmented annular thermoelectric generator , 2019, Energy Conversion and Management.

[16]  H. Anis,et al.  Concentrated photovoltaics system costs and learning curve analysis , 2013 .

[17]  Zhifeng Wang,et al.  Numerical analysis and optimization of a spectrum splitting concentration photovoltaic–thermoelectric hybrid system , 2012 .

[18]  Tao Ma,et al.  Mathematical modelling and performance evaluation of a hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric system , 2019, Energy Conversion and Management.

[19]  Daniel Champier,et al.  Thermoelectric generators: A review of applications , 2017 .

[20]  P. Hu,et al.  Optical modeling for a two-stage parabolic trough concentrating photovoltaic/thermal system using spectral beam splitting technology , 2010 .

[21]  Ali Akbar Ranjbar,et al.  Experimental investigation of two-stage thermoelectric generator system integrated with phase change materials , 2017 .

[22]  Qiang Li,et al.  Feasibility analysis of a concentrating photovoltaic-thermoelectric-thermal cogeneration , 2019, Applied Energy.

[23]  Charles Harman,et al.  The effect of irreversibilities on solar Stirling engine cycle performance , 1999 .

[24]  Anil Kumar,et al.  Review on solar Stirling engine: Development and performance , 2018, Thermal Science and Engineering Progress.

[25]  L. Jehring.  Bejan, A., Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics. New York etc., John Wiley & Sons 1988. XXIII, 758 pp. ISBN 0‐471‐83043‐7 , 1992 .

[26]  Xiaolong Gou,et al.  Characteristics and parametric analysis of a novel flexible ink-based thermoelectric generator for human body sensor , 2018 .

[27]  Xing Ju,et al.  A review of the concentrated photovoltaic/thermal (CPVT) hybrid solar systems based on the spectral beam splitting technology , 2017 .

[28]  Drew DeJarnette,et al.  Experimental evaluation of a prototype hybrid CPV/T system utilizing a nanoparticle fluid absorber at elevated temperatures , 2018, Applied Energy.

[29]  R. Y. Ma.  Wind effects on convective heat loss from a cavity receiver for a parabolic concentrating solar collector , 1993 .

[30]  Said Farahat,et al.  Exergetic performance assessment of a solar photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) air collector , 2010 .

[31]  Steffen Ulmer,et al.  Detailed Performance Analysis of a 10kW Dish∕Stirling System , 2008 .

[32]  T. Xu,et al.  Modeling and experimental investigation of a free-piston Stirling engine-based micro-combined heat and power system , 2018, Applied Energy.

[33]  Lun Jiang,et al.  Spectral beam splitting in hybrid PV/T parabolic trough systems for power generation , 2018 .

[34]  Electo Eduardo Silva Lora,et al.  Mathematical modeling of the geometrical sizing and thermal performance of a Dish/Stirling system for power generation , 2017 .

[35]  Dongwen Zhang,et al.  Assessing the accuracy of mathematical models used in thermoelectric simulation: Thermal influence of insulated air zone and radiation heat , 2015 .

[36]  Toni Pujol,et al.  Numerical analysis of the effects of electrical and thermal configurations of thermoelectric modules in large-scale thermoelectric generators , 2018, Applied Energy.

[37]  Michel Feidt,et al.  A methodology of computation, design and optimization of solar Stirling power plant using hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells , 2010 .

[38]  P. Hu,et al.  Thermodynamic and optical analyses of a hybrid solar CPV/T system with high solar concentrating uniformity based on spectral beam splitting technology , 2019, Energy.

[39]  S. M. Yahya,et al.  Enhanced Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow in a Channel Behind a Photovoltaic Panel in a Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal System , 2013 .