Analytical Modeling of the Thermoelectric Effect in Photovoltaic Cells: Combined Solar Photovoltaic and Thermoelectric Generator System (PV+TEG)
Géraud F. Hounkpatin
Département de Physique (FAST) et Formation Doctorale Sciences des Matériaux (FDSM), Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Bénin and Laboratoire de Physique du Rayonnement LPR, FAST-UAC, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Bénin.
Macaire Agbomahéna
Laboratoire de Physique du Rayonnement LPR, FAST-UAC, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Bénin and Laboratoire de Caractérisation Thermophysique des Matériaux et Appropriation Energétique (Labo CTMAE/EPAC/UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Bénin.
Basile B. Kounouhéwa
Département de Physique (FAST) et Formation Doctorale Sciences des Matériaux (FDSM), Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Bénin and Laboratoire de Physique du Rayonnement LPR, FAST-UAC, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Bénin and Centre Béninois de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CBRST), 03 BP 1665 Cotonou, Bénin.
Vianou I. Madogni *
Département de Physique (FAST) et Formation Doctorale Sciences des Matériaux (FDSM), Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Bénin and Laboratoire de Physique du Rayonnement LPR, FAST-UAC, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Bénin.
Antoine Vianou
Laboratoire de Caractérisation Thermophysique des Matériaux et Appropriation Energétique (Labo CTMAE/EPAC/UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Bénin.
Cossi N. Awanou
Département de Physique (FAST) et Formation Doctorale Sciences des Matériaux (FDSM), Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Bénin and Laboratoire de Physique du Rayonnement LPR, FAST-UAC, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Bénin.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Analytical modeling of the combined systems photovoltaic-thermoelectric (PV + TEG). The advantage of these systems is double:
− On the one hand, they allow to cool the photovoltaic cells (PV), which avoids the loss of electrical efficiency observed in the devices,
− On the other hand, recover this lost energy in the form of heat, and transform it into electrical energy thanks to the thermoelectric modules operating in Seebeck mode.
Study Design: Laboratory of Radiation Physics LPR, FAST-UAC, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Benin. Department of Physics (FAST) and Doctoral Formation Materials Science (FDSM), University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
Methodology: We considered the temperature distribution in the semiconductor plate of the Thermoelectric Generator System (TEG). We resolved the thermal conductivity equation described by:
Where a2 is the thermal diffusivity, Q(x, y, z) is the heat flow going from the PV to the TEG module which is dissipated through the latter; using constants variation method. We assumed that the temperature along the y-axis is considered uniform.
Results: The results obtained show that, the temperature distribution in the form of a traveling wave is maintained by external heating. This depends on both the hot and cold side temperature and the temperature span.
Conclusion: The heat flux available at the hot side of the TEG is assumed to be what remains of the absorbed radiation of the PV power production.
Keywords: Strong sunshine, quantum efficiency, thermoelectric module, Seebeck mode, temperature distribution, thermal conductivity