Speaker
Description
This study aims to increase the solar energy conversion into electrical energy by integrating two different systems, namely the photovoltaic system PV and the thermoelectric generator TEG. The thermoelectric generator will convert by Seebeck effect the thermal energy produced by the photovoltaic panel which will add additional electrical power to the overall power. A comparison between the hybrid system with solar concentrator and without solar concentrator was carried out. The contribution of the thermoelectric generator in both types of the hybrid system is evaluated. The study also focused on the impact of climate factors, which are solar irradiation, ambient temperature and wend speed, on the performance of both hybrid systems. For this purpose a mathematical model that takes into account the environmental factors and thermal and optical losses in the hybrid system has been developed. Six energy balance equations were obtained with six surface temperatures. The resolution of the six nonlinear equations is carried out by applying the Newthon-Raphson method. Results showed that the contribution of the thermoelectric generator in the hybrid system with solar concentrator is large compared to the hybrid system without solar concentrator which shows a small improvement. The power generated by the hybrid system with a solar concentrator is very large with respect to a photovoltaic panel. While the power of hybrid system without solar concentrator shows only a slight improvement. Results encourage the use of a solar concentrator in this hybrid system for better solar energy conversion.
