Numerical Analysis of a TEG and mPCM Enhancement System for BIPVs Using CFD

Yong-Kwon Kang, Jaewon Joung, Minseong Kim, Hyun-Hwa Lee and Jae-Weon Jeong ()
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Yong-Kwon Kang: Department of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
Jaewon Joung: Department of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
Minseong Kim: Department of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
Hyun-Hwa Lee: Department of Living and Built Environment Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, Goyang 10223, Republic of Korea
Jae-Weon Jeong: Department of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-17

Abstract: Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) are the most promising systems for net-zero energy buildings. However, there are few practical cases because of shortcomings, such as the lack of solar tracking and the rapid rise in PV surface temperature. Therefore, methods of increasing the efficiency of BIPVs have been proposed and studied. These include using phase change material (PCM) or heat fins, wavelength selection, decreasing the PV surface temperature, or using a thermoelectric generator (TEG) and convection cooling to utilize the waste heat from the PV. Many preceding studies have been conducted on TEG and convection heat dissipation methods to utilize as much waste heat as possible. Therefore, in this study, a TEG–PCM hybrid system using mPCM was proposed to improve constructability. Herein, the appropriate phase change temperature of the PCM, the heat fin spacing in the PCM container, and the TEG arrangement were analyzed through computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based simulations. The appropriate melting temperature of the PCM, the heat fin interval, and the arrangement of the TEG for the proposed system are 25 °C, 20 mm, and 140 mm, respectively. In order to achieve optimal efficiency, it is necessary to consider an appropriate amount of heat transfer, and it has been confirmed that if there are too many thermoelectric elements, the opposite effect occurs.

Keywords: building-integrated photovoltaic; energy harvesting; thermoelectric generator (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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