Concentrating solar thermoelectric generators with a peak efficiency of 7.4%

Daniel Kraemer, Qing Jie, Kenneth McEnaney, Feng Cao, Weishu Liu, Lee A. Weinstein, James Loomis, Zhifeng Ren () and Gang Chen ()
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Daniel Kraemer: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Qing Jie: University of Houston
Kenneth McEnaney: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Feng Cao: University of Houston
Weishu Liu: University of Houston
Lee A. Weinstein: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
James Loomis: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Zhifeng Ren: University of Houston
Gang Chen: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nature Energy, 2016, vol. 1, issue 11, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Concentrating solar power normally employs mechanical heat engines and is thus only used in large-scale power plants; however, it is compatible with inexpensive thermal storage, enabling electricity dispatchability. Concentrating solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) have the advantage of replacing the mechanical power block with a solid-state heat engine based on the Seebeck effect, simplifying the system. The highest reported efficiency of STEGs so far is 5.2%. Here, we report experimental measurements of STEGs with a peak efficiency of 9.6% at an optically concentrated normal solar irradiance of 211 kW m−2, and a system efficiency of 7.4% after considering optical concentration losses. The performance improvement is achieved by the use of segmented thermoelectric legs, a high-temperature spectrally selective solar absorber enabling stable vacuum operation with absorber temperatures up to 600 ∘C, and combining optical and thermal concentration. Our work suggests that concentrating STEGs have the potential to become a promising alternative solar energy technology.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/nenergy.2016.153

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