Heat Transfer and Geometrical Analysis of Thermoelectric Converters Driven by Concentrated Solar Radiation
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Date
2010-04Type
- Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
A heat transfer model that couples radiation/conduction/convection heat transfer with electrical potential distribution is developed for a thermoelectric converter (TEC) subjected to concentrated solar radiation. The 4-leg TEC module consists of two pairs of p-type La1.98Sr0.02CuO4 and n-type CaMn0.98Nb0.02O3 legs that are sandwiched between two ceramic Al2O3 hot/cold plates and connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel. The governing equations for heat transfer and electrical potential are formulated, discretized and solved numerically by applying the finite volume (FV) method. The model is validated in terms of experimentally measured temperatures and voltages/power using a set of TEC demonstrator modules, subjected to a peak radiative flux intensity of 300 suns. The heat transfer model is then applied to examine the effect of the geometrical parameters (e.g. length/width of legs) on the solar-to-electricity energy conversion efficiency. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000029000Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
MaterialsVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
MDPISubject
thermoelectricity; thermoelectric converter; solar; heat transfer; radiation; modeling; optimizationOrganisational unit
03530 - Steinfeld, Aldo / Steinfeld, Aldo
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ETH Bibliography
yes
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