Video Sharing-Solar Thermoelectric Alternative Energy

This innovative design has been getting a lot of praise! Professor Chen gives a brief overview of current methods of producing solar energy, and he explains how the thermoelectric effect can be used to convert solar energy into electricity. Dr. Chen demonstrates the innovative solar thermoelectric generator (STEGs) developed in his lab. Devices of this type are very popular (and inexpensive) in Europe and China.

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Relative Reference:

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128185353000293

2. https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/01/f7/csp_review_meeting_042313_ginley.pdf

3. https://www.nature.com/articles/nmat3013

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Illustration of a Solar Thermoelectric generator cell

a, Illustration of a STEG cell made of a pair of p- and n-type thermoelectric elements, a flat-panel selective absorber that also acts as a thermal concentrator, and two bottom electrodes that serve as heat spreaders and radiation shields. The device is surrounded by a glass enclosure maintaining an evacuated environment. b and c are photographs of the device showing side (b) and top (c) views. Illustration of thermal concentration (d) and area ratio of absorber and cross-section of thermoelectric elements (e) leading to the calculation of thermal concentration.

(Kraemer, D., Poudel, B., Feng, HP. et al. High-performance flat-panel solar thermoelectric generators with high thermal concentration. Nature Mater. 10, 532–538 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3013)