Performance of a Solar Thermoelectric Power-Harvesting Device Based on an All-Glass Solar Heat Transfer Pipe and Gravity-Assisted Heat Pipe with Recycling Air Cooling and Water Cooling Circuits

Zhe Zhang, Yafeng Wu, Wenbin Li and Daochun Xu
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Zhe Zhang: Key Lab of State Forestry Administration on Forestry Equipment and Automation, School of Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Yafeng Wu: Key Lab of State Forestry Administration on Forestry Equipment and Automation, School of Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Wenbin Li: Key Lab of State Forestry Administration on Forestry Equipment and Automation, School of Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Daochun Xu: Key Lab of State Forestry Administration on Forestry Equipment and Automation, School of Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: For the purpose of collecting solar radiation for energy conversion and utilization and improving the output performance of thermoelectric power-generation components, a new solar thermoelectric conversion device based on an all-glass solar heat transfer pipe and gravity-assisted heat pipe with recycling air cooling and water cooling circuits is designed. The uniqueness of the device lies in the combination of gravity-assisted heat pipes with excellent thermal conductivity and a direct air-cooled mode, a fin-cooled mode, and two solar-driven water-cooling modes with different flow rates. Based on the structure, the device can realize four separate output modes and multiple composite output modes and has practical significance for meeting different load power requirements, such as wireless sensors and electronics. Under a state of regular illumination from 3.14 × 10 4 lx to 10.04 × 10 4 lx, with one thermoelectric power generator (TEG) in one mode, the peak output voltage and power values of the device in single-output mode range from 183.1 mV to 370.7 mV and 33.5 mW to 137.2 mW, respectively, proving the feasibility of the proposed device. The energy supply of the above structure is completely obtained from the natural environment, and this aspect provides a high reference value for the cross-research of natural environment energy utilization and thermoelectric energy-conversion technology.

Keywords: solar energy; thermoelectric; cooling; thermodynamics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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