Small‐scale electricity generation through thermal harvesting in rooftop photovoltaic picogrid using passively cooled heat conversion devices

Investigated in this study is harnessing the heat energy absorbed by photovoltaic (PV) solar cells for electricity generation, in order to boost the electric power output of rooftop PV power system, without expending on cooling the energy conversion devices. An experiment was carried out in which a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental quality management 2020-06, Vol.29 (4), p.95-102
Main Authors: Ajewole, Titus O., Olabode, Olakunle E., Alawode, Kehinde O., Lawal, Muyideen O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arrays
conductivity
Electric power
Electric power generation
Electric power systems
Electricity
Electricity distribution
Electricity generation
Energy conversion
Environmental management
Environmental quality
Heat
Hot climates
metal plate
Metal plates
Modules
Parallel connected
Passive cooling
Photovoltaic cells
Photovoltaics
PV array
Roofs
Solar cells
Solar energy
TEG modules
Thermoelectric generators
waste heat
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Summary:Investigated in this study is harnessing the heat energy absorbed by photovoltaic (PV) solar cells for electricity generation, in order to boost the electric power output of rooftop PV power system, without expending on cooling the energy conversion devices. An experiment was carried out in which a metallic plate was attached to the back of a low rate rooftop PV installation to capture the waste heat of the PV array and evenly distribute the heat to the conversion devices. Four commercial thermoelectric generator (TEG) modules were attached to the plate for the conversion of the heat to electricity. The modules were passively cooled and connected in parallel. Outputs of the PV array and the TEG bundle were obtained on a data logger while the experiment lasted for 11 weeks during a sunny season in Nigeria. Voltage and current up to 2.5 V and 4 A, respectively, were obtained from the harvested heat, while the PV–TEG combination operated at higher efficiency than that of the PV alone. Potential of rooftop PV system in hot climates is thus maximized by the passive cooling. The approach could be improved further using metal plate with higher conductivity.
ISSN:1088-1913
1520-6483
DOI:10.1002/tqem.21696