Thin-film solar thermoelectric generator with enhanced power output: Integrated optimization design to obtain directional heat flow

Wei Zhu, Yuan Deng, Min Gao, Yao Wang, Jiaolin Cui and Hongli Gao

Energy, 2015, vol. 89, issue C, 106-117

Abstract: Thin-film STEGs (solar thermoelectric generators) show promise in effective use of solar energy as a power supply for wireless sensors and microscale devices. This paper reports a simulation procedure that aims to identify desirable heat flow and temperature distribution to improve the performance of thin-film STEGs. The temperature distribution, heat flux, and voltage of a thin-film STEG are simulated using the finite element method, resulting in an optimal design of the substrate, heat conductive layer, and thermoelectric legs of thin-film STEGs. The effect of air convection on the STEG's performance is also studied. Based on the simulation, a thin-film STEG was designed and fabricated, which exhibits an open-circuit voltage of 22 mV. In addition, the experimental results demonstrate that the measured temperature distribution is in good agreement with the simulated result. To minimize the heat loss from the passive region of the device, an improved design was created in an attempt to confine the heat flow within the thermoelectric legs. This improved design resulted in a 21.4% increase of the output voltage.

Keywords: Thin-film thermoelectric generator; Solar energy harvesting; Thermoelectric device optimization; Thermoelectric generation performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:89:y:2015:i:c:p:106-117

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2015.07.057

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