Solar thermoelectric generator and thermoelectric cooler performance: analysis and comparison using a different shape geometry

Abstract

Abstract Thermoelectric devices are one of the technologies used either to generate electricity by applying a temperature difference using thermal energy or as a heating/cooling system by applying an electrical voltage. The number of materials required to produce a product is an important factor in determining its price. Production costs associated with these materials, as well as their availability and quality, play a crucial role in price determination by manufacturers. In this context, a method that employs a uniform volume distribution was implemented. This approach enabled the analysis to focus on other variables, thereby promoting a more precise and relevant evaluation of overall performance. Based on the finite element method, this study investigated the influence of geometric shape, including Rect-leg, Y-leg, Pin-leg and X-leg designs, on the performance of solar thermoelectric generators and thermoelectric coolers. The study was conducted considering the same hot alumina junction surface that receives solar radiation; however, the effective surface, which corresponded to the heat flow area and had a similar area near the exposed surface, varied depending on the chosen leg geometry, thus impacting the heat flux due to the variation in thermal resistance. In the case of a solar thermoelectric generator, the Rect-leg model, having the same effective surface area, presented the lowest heat loss value resulting from convection and radiation in the heat spreader and the hot alumina plate. Under the same conditions, the Y-leg showed the highest value. The Rect-leg design generated, by using thermal and optical concentration, the highest output power of 0.028 and 0.054 W, and efficiency of 3.47% and 4.7%, respectively, whereas the Y-leg generated lower values of 0.006523 and 0.018744 W for power, and 2.83% and 2.71% for efficiency, respectively. In the case of the thermoelectric coolers, the Y-leg generated the highest temperature difference between the hot and cold sides of 67.28 K at an electric current value of 1.8 A, whereas the Rect-leg, Pin-leg and X-leg generated ~66.25, ~67.02 and ~67.19 K at 6.1, 2.7 and 2.6 A.