Experimental Investigation of Passive Water Cooling in Solar Heating Thermoelectric Generator

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, güneş enerjisinden elektrik üretmek için bir termoelektrik jeneratör (TEG) sistemi tasarlanmıştır. TEG'in sıcak yüzeyini ısıtmak için güneş enerjili iki fazlı kapalı termosifon (TPCT) tipi ısı borusu kullanılmış ve soğuk tarafı soğutmak için 1200 cc kapasiteli pasif su soğutmalı bir sistem tasarlanmış ve üretilmiştir. Soğutma sistemi, verimli bir soğutma sağlamak için doğal bir su sirkülasyonu sağlayan birincil ve ikincil bölümler olarak iki kısma sahiptir. Literatürdeki çalışmaların çoğunda tek bir TEG kullanılırken, bu çalışmada daha fazla elektrik üretmek için basit, kolay ve ucuz bir tasarım elde etmek amacıyla 5 TEG kullanılmıştır. Sadece pasif su soğutmanın etkisi değil, aynı zamanda reflektör kullanmanın sistem verimliliği üzerindeki etkisi deneysel olarak test edilmiştir. Sistem, reflektör olmayan, yarı reflektör ve tam reflektör olmak üzere üç farklı koşulda güneş enerjisi ile çalıştırılmıştır. Elektriksel ve termal veriler bir bilgisayara kaydedilir ve karşılaştırma ve hesaplamalar için 08:00-15:00 saatleri arasında elde edilen veriler kullanılmıştır. Sadece maksimum açık devre voltajına ulaşılan TEG-1 için, maksimum çıkış gücü, elektriksel verim ve Seebeck katsayısı hesaplamaları yapılmıştır. Sonuçlar, küçük kapasiteli pasif su soğutmalı bir ısı borusu kullanıldığında, elektrik üretmek için 5 adet TEG için gerekli sıcaklık farkına ulaşılabileceğini göstermiştir. 

Keywords

• Solar energy,two-phased closed themosiphon,thermoelectric generator,passive cooling

Experimental Investigation of Passive Water Cooling in Solar Heating Thermoelectric Generator

Abstract

In this study, a thermoelectric generator (TEG) system is designed to produce electricity from solar energy. Solar powered two-phase closed thermosiphon (TPCT) type heat pipe is used to heat the hot surface of the TEG, and a 1200 cc capacity passive water-cooled system is designed and manufactured to cool the cold side. The cooling system has two sections as primary and secondary sections which provide a natural water circulation to achieve an efficient cooling. A single TEG is used in most studies in the literature while 5 TEGs are used in this study to obtain a simple, easy and cheap design to generate more electricity. Not only the effect of passive water cooling, but also the effect of using a reflector on the system efficiency is tested experimentally. The system is operated by solar power under three different conditions as non-reflector, semi-reflector and full-reflector. Electrical and thermal data are recorded in a computer and data obtained from 08:00 to 15:00 is used for comparison and calculations. Maximum output power, electrical efficiency and Seebeck coefficient calculations are made for only TEG-1 in which the maximum open-circuit voltage is reached. Results showed that using a heat pipe with a small capacity passive water-cooling, the temperature difference for five TEGs can be reached to generate electricity.

Keywords

• Solar energy,Two-phase closed thermosiphon,Thermoelectric generator,Passive cooling

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