Experimental study of a hybrid solar photovoltaic, thermoelectric and thermal module

¹ University of Beira Interior, Rua Marquês d’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001, Covilhã, Portugal
² C-MAST Centre for Aerospace Science and Technologies, 6201-001, Covilhã, Portugal

^* Corresponding author: pires@ubi.pt

Abstract

Nowadays, solar energy, which can be photovoltaic and thermal, is a clean and reliable source of energy for the production of electric and thermal power. However, new ways for improving photovoltaic efficiency are fundamental for an extensive application of this technology. Most of the energy absorbed by the PV panel converts itself into heat, which usually is lost and does not have any energetic value. The performance of a combined photovoltaic (PV), thermoelectric generator (TEG) and water heating panel is tested in practice. The thermoelectric set is applied on the back of the PV panel so that the two devices have approximately the same temperature. On the other face of the thermoelectric set, there is the water heating panel, which consists of an aluminium heat exchanger specially designed for this hybrid module. The exposed surface of the hybrid panel has an area of about 2.72 dm². Experimental tests were conducted in direct solar exposure during July. The experimental results indicate that the maximum global module efficiency was 91.3% for an irradiance of 1089 W/m². The power peak production was 29.7 W, at 2 p.m., with an irradiance value of 1230 W/m².