A high-performance all-day vertical thermoelectric generator based on a double-sided reflective structure

Autor: Yinmo Xie, Yunxian Ji, Wei Jing, Qingzhi Lai, Bowei Xie, Chengchao Wang
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, Vol 63, Iss , Pp 105333- (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2214-157X
DOI: 10.1016/j.csite.2024.105333
Popis: Harvesting environmental energy sources is crucial for achieving renewable energy generation and net-zero emissions. However, ensuring uninterrupted electricity generation from environmental energy sources remains challenging. In this study, we present a simple, compact, and expandable all-day vertical passive thermoelectric generator (V-TEG) with a double-sided reflective structure that simultaneously harnesses solar and space cold energy. Outdoor experimental measurements, combined with finite element simulation analysis, revealed that the optimal angles of the solar reflector relative to the TEG range from 30° to 50°. Additionally, the TEG placed in the north–south orientation was found to enhance its daytime performance. The use of low-cost black paint combined with the solar reflector achieved equivalent spectral selectivity, effectively minimizing the infrared heat loss of the hot end of the TEG. During a 48-h outdoor test, the V-TEG achieved an average daytime power of 112.00 mW/m2 and a peak of 363.42 mW/m2. Comparative experiments demonstrated that the V-TEG outperformed horizontally placed TEG during the daytime. Furthermore, scaling the system by connecting three TEGs in series significantly increased the daily power output. This compact V- TEG system offers a promising solution for long-term power generation in low-power sensors and off-grid communities, supporting renewable energy and carbon neutrality goals.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals