A study of performance characteristics of hybrid energy harvesting systems based on photovoltaics and thermoelectrics

Abstract

The hybrid photovoltaic/thermoelectric generator (PV/TEG) technology is an advanced and efficient technology that combines the power from PV and TEGs to generate sustainable electricity. This hybrid approach optimizes energy output and ensures cleaner power by connecting IoT devices. Comprehensive studies have been conducted in the past to improve the efficiency of TEG modules. Various material parameters of TEG legs, such as the Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, and electrical resistivity, and geometric parameters, including the cross-sectional area, leg size, leg height and the number of leg pairs, influence the TEG characteristic and determine with this the performance of the hybrid system. This work explores the influence of the TEG leg lengths and numbers of TEGs at various weather conditions on the power generation of a hybrid PV/TEG device, using an analytical model verified by experiments. The paper also analyses the performance characteristics of TEGs along with the hybrid PV/TEG system and concludes that the maximum output power from the TEG module in the hybrid PV/TEG model can be achieved by increasing the leg length.