A comprehensive review of solar, thermal, photovoltaic, and thermoelectric hybrid systems for heating and power generation

ABSTRACT

In this review, the most recent revelations in the possibilities of integrating various solar collectors with thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and their main promising results are presented. These combined structures produce the normal (thermal, electrical) energy generated by the solar panel with an additional electrical power resulting from the combination with TEG modules, implying a better exploitation of solar radiation. At the beginning, the basic principles of combined solar thermal and electrical conversion systems, including the photovoltaic (PV) panel combined with the thermal collector (Th) constituting the PV/Th design, are summarized. Second, a detailed discussion on the existence and material varieties of thermoelectric generators, recent industrial applications, and parameters affecting the efficiency of thermal-electric conversion are reported. Then, recent feasibility analyses, experimental applications, types, and performance now of photovoltaic-thermoelectric (PV/TE) are reviewed, while TEG convert heat and thermal energy. Subsequently, considered and discussed is contemporary research on the utilization of thermoelectric generators in various stationary and concentrating solar thermal collectors and processes. An extensive examination of the key technical, practical, and experimental aspects of tri-generation solar hybrid systems integration is also summarized. This paper is therefore a very helpful reference for future research in the discipline of solar (PV, Th, PV/Th)-TE and its applications.

KEYWORDS:

• Hybrid system
• PV panel
• solar power
• thermal collector
• thermoelectric generator

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Nomenclature

SWH: Solar water heater

PV: Photovoltaic panel

TEC:Thermoelectric cooler

TEM: Thermoelectric module

TEG: Planar thermoelectric generator

TEWH: Thermoelectric water heating

CyTEG: Tubular thermoelectric generator

CSWH_CyTEG_TEG: Concentrated SWH, TEG, and CyTEG

LCP: Low concentrate PV

LFPV: Linear Fresnel PV

GHP: Gravity heat pipe

PCM: Phase change material

${\mathbf{P}}_{TEGs},{\mathbf{P}}_{hybridsystem}\hspace{0.17em}$: Power output of TEG and CSWH_CyTEG_TEG (W)

$\mathbf{Z}\bar{\mathbf{T}}$ Dimensionless TE figure of merit

S: Seebeck coefficient

${\mathbf{L}}_{TEG}$: Thermoelectric length (m)

${\eta }_{SWH},{\eta }_{TEGs},\hspace{0.17em}{\eta }_{\mathbf{h}\mathbf{y}\mathbf{b}\mathbf{r}\mathbf{i}\mathbf{d}\mathbf{s}\mathbf{y}\mathbf{s}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{e}\mathbf{m}}$: SWH, TEGs, and CSWH_CyTEG_TEG efficiencies

${\mathbf{Q}}_{th}$: Thermal output

$\sigma$: Constant of Stefan–Boltzmann

$\mathbf{G}$: Solar irradiance ($W/m^2$)

${\mathbf{T}}_n$: Temperature of each component (K)

$\mathbf{C}$: Concentrator coefficient