MODELING AND OPTIMIZATION OF THIN-FILM SOLAR THERMOELECTRIC COOLING DEVICES

• Published in: Digest Journal of Nanomaterials and Biostructures 2020-04, Vol.15 (2), p.569-577
• Main Authors: ABDALLA, A. S. I., DAFALLA, A. M., EISA, M. H., ALDAGHRI, O., AL KAOUD, A. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1842-3582; 1842-3582
• DOI: 10.15251/DJNB.2020.152.569

We present a mathematical model for a thin-film solar thermoelectric cooling and power generation depending on current flow at the interface between two different materials. Based on the direction of the current flow, an amount of thermal energy is absorbed or dissipated to offset the disparity in thermal energy between the two key materials. The reliability of thermoelectric energy transfer is obtained in terms of the power generation mode by applying two boundary clauses, one is the external heat input and the other is the temperature at the superior surface. Accordingly, to achieve an efficient and steady-state thermophotovoltaic process due to a thin-film solar cell system, a better understating of the solar energy conversion is needed. The calculated results owing to the process of solar cell conversion provide important intrinsic reliability for thin-film solar cells. with this approach, we address and analyze several modules composed of multiple n-type and ptype thermoelectric heterostructure that connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel.