Abstract
The aim of this paper was to conduct lab-scale investigation of a new roof design concept termed “the thermoelectric roof solar collector (TE-RSC)” for power generation using solar energy. The TE-RSC was composed of a transparent acrylic sheet, air gap, a copper plate, thermoelectric modules and a rectangular fin heat sink. The incident solar radiation heats up the copper plate so that a temperature difference is created between the TE module that generates a direct current. This current generated was used to run a fan for cooling the TE modules. The TE-RSC surface area was 0.0525 m 2 and 10 thermoelectric cooling modules (Tianjin Lantian model TEC1-12708) were used. Investigations were done by varying solar radiation, simulated by using a halogen lamp, between 400 and 1000 W/m 2. It was found that this new roof design can generate about 1.2 W under solar radiation intensity of about 800 W/m 2 at ambient temperature varying between 30 and 35 °C. The corresponding air velocity generated by the ventilation fan was about 1.7 m/s. Therefore, the proposed TE-RSC concept seems to be an interesting new alternative for various purposes such as power generation in remote areas, roof heat gain reduction and indoor ventilation of spaces.
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