The document presents research on a solar parabolic dish thermoelectric generator with an acrylic cover. It describes the system components, including a parabolic dish concentrator and thermoelectric module. Simulation results show that the acrylic cover improves performance by increasing receiver temperature by 1.56% and overall efficiency by 2.11% compared to an uncovered design. The covered design produces 10.75% higher voltage and 2.51% more power. The research aims to enhance thermoelectric power generation from solar concentrators.

1. Presenting Author
G.Muthu
Research scholar
Department of Mechanical Engineering
National Institute of Technology
Tiruchirappalli
Tamil Nadu
Co Authors
Prof. S.Shanmugam
Prof. AR.Veerappan
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

2. Solar Parabolic Dish Thermoelectric
Generator with Acrylic Cover
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

3. Outline
 Introduction
 Methodology
 Results
 Discussion
 Conclusions
 References
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

4. Introduction
 Concentrating
solar power (CSP) systems namely
parabolic trough, linear Fresnel reflector, power
tower and parabolic dish can be used effectively to
convert solar energy into heat.
 Solar thermal thermoelectric generator is the most
promising option.
 Working principle - Seebeck effect.
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

5. Seebeck Effect
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

6. Applications of Thermoelectric power
Cooling fans
 Thermoelectric generators
 Field generators
 Firewood generators
 Bio-fuel generators
 Vehicle exhaust waste heat generators
 Waste incineration generator systems

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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

7. Structure of Thermoelectric Module
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

8. Specification of Module
Model name: TEP1-12656-0.6
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

9. Properties of Thermoelectric Module
Ref : Thermonamic Electronics (Xiamen) Co.,Ltd.,China.


Seebeck coefficient (α ) =190~ 200 10-6 V / K

Electrical Resistivity ()= 0.926 10-5 ~ 0.9615 10-5 Ω- m

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Material : Bismuth Telluride alloy (Bi2 Te3)
Thermal conductivity (K) = 1.2 ~ 1.6 W/mK
National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

10. Model of solar TEG
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

11. Specification of parabolic dish concentrator
Open mouth diameter of dish
 Parabolic concentrator surface area
 Height of the parabola
 Reflectivity of the concentrator
 Focal distance

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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
3.56 m
10.53 m2
0.7 m
0.78
1.11 m
11-Dec-13

12. Useful energy gained

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The useful energy gained (Qu) on the hot side of
TEG
National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

13. Heat loss coefficient

If the wind flows over the receiver plate surface at
Vm m/sec, the heat loss coefficient due to the wind
hw, is given by (McAdams, 1954).
hw=5.7+3.8Vm
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

14. Instantaneous thermal efficiency

14
The instantaneous thermal efficiency of the
parabolic dish collector is expressed as
National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

15. Thermoelectric generator equations

The amount of heat removed from cold side (Qc)
and that supplied to hot side (Qh) of the TEG are
Where S=2 N
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

16. Properties of Thermoelectric Module
Thermoelectric properties are computed from the
following expression (Melcor, 2009).
2
 (Tavg )  (22224  930.6Tavg  0.9905T avg )  109
 (Tavg )  (5112  163.4Tavg  0.6279T avg )  10
2
10
K (Tavg )  (62605 277.7Tavg  0.4131 avg ) 104
T2
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

17. Electric output & TEG Efficiency
The output (Pteg) from TEG is estimated from the
relation
The efficiency of TEG
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

18. Overall efficiency

18
Overall system efficiency (ηoverall ) is computed
from the relations
National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

19. Results
Receiver plate temperature with solar beam
radiation
390
Receiver plate temperature (K)
With cover
370
Without cover
350
330
310
290
270
250
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
Solar beam radiation (W/m2)
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

20. Instantaneous thermal efficiency of parabolic
dish collector (%)
Instantaneous thermal efficiency of collector
with solar beam radiation
68.0
With cover
67.5
Without cover
67.0
66.5
66.0
65.5
65.0
64.5
64.0
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
Solar beam radiation (W/m2)
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

21. The output voltage for various solar beam
radiations
Output voltage of the system (Volts)
4.5
With cover
4
Without cover
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
Solar beam radiation (W/m2)
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

22. Output power with solar beam radiation
4
Electrical power output (w)
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
With cover
0.5
Without cover
0
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
Solar beam radiation (W/m2)
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

23. Overall efficiency of the System with solar
beam radiation
Overall efficiency of the system (%)
1.8
1.6
With cover
1.4
Without cover
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
Solar beam radiation (W/m2)
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

24. Conclusions


There is 2.11% improvement in overall efficiency for TEG with
cover as compared to that without cover.

The maximum voltage of the thermoelectric module achieved
was 4 volts, which is 10.75% higher than TEG without cover for
same solar beam radiation.

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A maximum of 383 K receiver plate temperature was obtained
for TEG with cover at solar beam radiation of 1050 W/m2. It is
1.56% higher than in TEG without cover for the same solar beam
radiation.
The electrical power output for modified TEG was 2.51% higher
than that of the TEG without cover.
National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

25. Photographic view - TEG with solar dish
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

26. References
[1] Reddy, K.S. and Sendhil Kumar, N. (2008) Combined
laminar natural convection and surface radiation heat
transfer in a modified cavity receiver of solar parabolic
dish,
International
Journal
of
Thermal
Sciences, 47, pp.1647–1657.
[2] Sukhatme, S.P. and Nayak, J.K. (2012) Solar energy:
principles of thermal collection and storage, Edition
2, Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Company limited, India.
[3]
Shanmugam,
S.,
Eswaramoorthy,
M.,
and
Veerappan, AR. (2011) Mathematical Modeling of
Thermoelectric Generator Driven, Applied Solar
Energy, 47(1), pp31–35.
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

27. References
[4] Eswaramoorthy, M. and Shanmugam, S.(2012) Numerical
Model to Compute Heat Loss in Focal Receiver of Solar
Parabolic Dish Thermoelectric Generator, Energy
Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization Environmental
Effects, 34, pp 959-965.
[5] Eswaramoorthy, M. (2010) Studies on solar parabolic dish
thermoelectric generator, Ph.D. Thesis, Department of
Mechanical
Engineering,
National
Institute
of
Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India.
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National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
11-Dec-13

28. Thank You