PV PANEL EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT USING A HYBRID PV-TEG ASSEMBLY SYSTEM

Abstract

Peltier cells are used as a system to generate electricity through thermoelectric conversion using heat removed from the rear side of PV panels. This system also helps in improving PV panel performance by reducing the temperature of the panel. The combination of thermoelectric generation and improved PV panel efficiency represents an interesting solution to increase power generation in PV systems. The proposed prototype describes the characterization of a hybrid system consisting of a set of four Peltier cells attached to the rear side of a PV panel. The system has been evaluated under different operating conditions submitting the panel to variable solar radiation. Individual performance of Peltier cells has also been evaluated. The results of experimental tests show that PV panel temperature has been reduced to a maximum of 17.9º C for the peak solar radiation value of 1000 W/m2. Likewise, power conversion efficiency of the PV panel has been improved from 11.6% to 14.3% for the same solar radiation value, and from 12.9% to 14.7%, on average, over the entire solar day. The maximum global power ratio has also been increased, on average, from 0.844 for the PV panel alone to 0.957 for the hybrid system, which means a relative increase of 13.4%. Keywords: Photovoltaic panel. Thermoelectric generation. Peltier and Seebeck effect. Performance improvement. Hybridization.