Open Access
ARTICLE
Fabrication and Simulation of TE Modules for a Feasibility Study on Harvesting Solar Heat Energy from Roof Tiles
Sakorn Inthachai1, Supasit Paengson2, Jindaporn Jamradloedluk1,*, Tosawat Seetawan2,*
1
Solar Energy and Energy Resources Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering, Mahasrakham University, Khamriang, 44150, Thailand
2
Program of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thermoelectric Research Laboratory, Center of Excellence on Alternative Energy, Research and Development Institution, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, Sakon Nakhon, 47000, Thailand
* Corresponding Authors: Jindaporn Jamradloedluk. Email: ; Tosawat Seetawan. Email:
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: New Trends in Sustainable Materials for Energy Conversion, CO2 Capture and Pollution Control)
Journal of Renewable Materials 2021, 9(10), 1685-1697. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2021.015553
Received 26 December 2020; Accepted 26 February 2021; Issue published 12 May 2021
Abstract
A novel roof tile thermoelectric generator (RT-TEG) was used to harvest electrical energy from a solar heat
source. The RT-TEG was fabricated and simulated by flat and curved thermoelectric modules consisting of
p-n junctions of
p-Sb
2Te
3 and
n-Bi
2Te
3, with an Al
2O
3 substrate at the top and bottom for heat absorption
and heat rejection. The RT-TEG was installed in a roof tile to act as a generator. The electrical voltage and power
values of the curved thermoelectric modules were higher than those of the flat thermoelectric module by 0.44 V
and 80 mW, at a temperature difference (ΔT) of 100 K. In field tests, the RT-TEG produced a maximum electrical
voltage of 33.70 mV and an electrical power of 46.24 μW at ΔT~7 K under a load resistance of 1 Ω under good
sunshine at 13.00 hours. The energy conversion efficiency of RT-TEG was found to be 2.24 × 10
−4.
Graphical Abstract
Keywords
Cite This Article
Inthachai, S., Paengson, S., Jamradloedluk, J., Seetawan, T. (2021). Fabrication and Simulation of TE Modules for a Feasibility Study on Harvesting Solar Heat Energy from Roof Tiles.
Journal of Renewable Materials, 9(10), 1685–1697. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2021.015553