Abstract
Utilizing a beam-splitting system is considered a potential solution for enhancing electricity generation by exploiting full-spectrum solar radiation. To settle the balance between photothermal and photoelectric conversion performance, an experimental and theoretical study is carried out using two configurations, namely, a standalone photovoltaic system and a photovoltaic/thermoelectric generator (PV/TEG) hybrid system incorporating a beam-splitting configuration. Both systems are cooled using passive cooling to increase solar energy utilization. The experiment is carried out using a two-dimensional tracking system under outdoor conditions. Thermal and electrical outputs are both investigated. The results of both configurations are compared under maximum permissible operation conditions (MOC). The maximum operation condition is determined based on the limit temperature of the photovoltaic silicon cell, which is about 358 K (85 °C). The results indicate that the maximum permissible concentrations are 16 suns and 8 suns, for the systems with and without splitting, respectively. Under the conditions mentioned above, the average individual efficiencies of both the photovoltaic and thermoelectric generator systems are about 7.58% and 1.36%, respectively. For the standalone system, the average efficiency is about 13 %. However, under maximum permissible operation conditions, the average output power density for the hybrid system reaches about 1215 W/m2, compared to only 850 W/m2 for the standalone system. Therefore, the total generated power increases by nearly 43%.Furthermore, the hybrid splitting system enables both the photovoltaic and thermoelectric generator modules to convert visible and thermal parts into electricity with an efficiency of up to 20% and 3%, respectively. Therefore, using a beam-splitting system has a significant impact on the performance of the hybrid system. The outcomes of this study offer a guideline for evaluating the performance of hybrid splitting systems.
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