Performance of a Heat-Pipe Cooled Concentrated Photovoltaic/Thermoelectric Hybrid System

Compared to traditional one-sun solar cells, multijunction concentrator cells operating under concentrated radiation are advantageous because of their high output and low cooling costs. Such a PV requires technique maintain its performance efficiency. The multi-junction photovoltaic cell efficiency around 33%, (160–250 sun), has been tested. Heat pipes were used in this study as fast efficient way rejecting heat accumulated the cells. In work, evaporator side pipe was set thermal contact with back such that excess transferred efficiently other (condenser side). To positively utilize excessive heat, two thermoelectric generators thermally attached either condenser pipe, each fin-shaped sink. Four different configurations tested compared. net power obtained by employing types TEG lengths alongside for heat-to-electricity conversion 20% 17%, corresponding long short configurations, respectively, compared sink only configured at an optical concentration 230 suns.