Performance evaluation of a high-temperature thermoelectric generator under different solar concentrations

Due to some special features like being highly reliable and having long lifetime, solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) are appropriate to convert solar energy into electrical energy directly. In this investigation, an oxide-based TEG is examined under different solar concentrations. To increase the energy absorbance by the TEG, a self-adhesive graphite sheet is attached to the surface of the TEG. For both STEG systems, the variation of the temperatures on the hot and cold sides of the TEG, open circuit voltage and short circuit current are obtained and compared. I-V-P curves for both STEG systems are achieved and discussed. The results indicate the significant effect of using graphite sheet in the STEG system on the power generation and all abovementioned parameters.