A High-Temperature, High-Efficiency Solar Thermoelectric Generator Prototype

M. L. Olsen; E. L. Warren; P. A. Parilla; E. S. Toberer; C. E. Kennedy; G. J. Snyder; S. A. Firdosy; B. Nesmith; A. Zakutayev; A. Goodrich; C. S. Turchi; J. Netter; M. H. Gray; P. F. Ndione; R. Tirawat; L. L. Baranowski; A. Gray; D. S. Ginley

doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.155

A High-Temperature, High-Efficiency Solar Thermoelectric Generator Prototype

M. L. Olsen, E. L. Warren, P. A. Parilla, E. S. Toberer, C. E. Kennedy, G. J. Snyder, S. A. Firdosy, B. Nesmith, A. Zakutayev, A. Goodrich, C. S. Turchi, J. Netter, M. H. Gray, P. F. Ndione, R. Tirawat, L. L. Baranowski, A. Gray, D. S. Ginley

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

60 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) have the potential to convert solar energy at greater than 15% efficiency. This project investigates the system design, the necessary thermoelectric and optical technologies, and the economic feasibility of the STEG approach. A STEG is a solid-state heat engine that converts sunlight directly into DC electricity through the thermoelectric effect. STEGs consist of three subsystems: the solar absorber, the thermoelectric generator (TEG), and the heat management system (insulation, heat exchanger, vacuum enclosure, etc.). This project will integrate several state-of-the-art technologies to achieve high efficiency, including next-generation materials for TEGs, high-temperature solar-selective absorbers, and thermal cavities. We will test STEGs at NREL's high flux solar furnace (HFSF) and perform analysis of parasitic losses and lifetime analysis to optimize prototype operation. Equally important for this technology is the development of a cost model to determine the economic competitiveness and possible application niches for STEG technologies. We report on first-order economic analysis to identify the most promising pathways for advancing the technology.

Original language	American English
Pages	1460-1469
Number of pages	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.155 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.155
State	Published - 2013
Event	International Conference on Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2013 - Las Vegas, NV, United States Duration: 17 Sep 2013 → 20 Sep 2013

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2013
Country/Territory	United States
City	Las Vegas, NV
Period	17/09/13 → 20/09/13

NREL Publication Number

NREL/CP-5900-61707

Keywords

Solar cavity-receivers
Solar thermoelectric generators
Solar-selective absorbers
Solid-state heat engines

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Olsen, M. L., Warren, E. L., Parilla, P. A., Toberer, E. S., Kennedy, C. E., Snyder, G. J., Firdosy, S. A., Nesmith, B., Zakutayev, A., Goodrich, A., Turchi, C. S., Netter, J., Gray, M. H., Ndione, P. F., Tirawat, R., Baranowski, L. L., Gray, A., & Ginley, D. S. (2013). A High-Temperature, High-Efficiency Solar Thermoelectric Generator Prototype. 1460-1469. Paper presented at International Conference on Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2013, Las Vegas, NV, United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.155, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.155

@conference{aed954977d5b418684f2b0d261db0537,

title = "A High-Temperature, High-Efficiency Solar Thermoelectric Generator Prototype",

abstract = "Solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) have the potential to convert solar energy at greater than 15% efficiency. This project investigates the system design, the necessary thermoelectric and optical technologies, and the economic feasibility of the STEG approach. A STEG is a solid-state heat engine that converts sunlight directly into DC electricity through the thermoelectric effect. STEGs consist of three subsystems: the solar absorber, the thermoelectric generator (TEG), and the heat management system (insulation, heat exchanger, vacuum enclosure, etc.). This project will integrate several state-of-the-art technologies to achieve high efficiency, including next-generation materials for TEGs, high-temperature solar-selective absorbers, and thermal cavities. We will test STEGs at NREL's high flux solar furnace (HFSF) and perform analysis of parasitic losses and lifetime analysis to optimize prototype operation. Equally important for this technology is the development of a cost model to determine the economic competitiveness and possible application niches for STEG technologies. We report on first-order economic analysis to identify the most promising pathways for advancing the technology.",

keywords = "Solar cavity-receivers, Solar thermoelectric generators, Solar-selective absorbers, Solid-state heat engines",

author = "Olsen, {M. L.} and Warren, {E. L.} and Parilla, {P. A.} and Toberer, {E. S.} and Kennedy, {C. E.} and Snyder, {G. J.} and Firdosy, {S. A.} and B. Nesmith and A. Zakutayev and A. Goodrich and Turchi, {C. S.} and J. Netter and Gray, {M. H.} and Ndione, {P. F.} and R. Tirawat and Baranowski, {L. L.} and A. Gray and Ginley, {D. S.}",

year = "2013",

doi = "10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.155",

language = "American English",

pages = "1460--1469",

note = "International Conference on Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2013 ; Conference date: 17-09-2013 Through 20-09-2013",

}

Olsen, ML, Warren, EL , Parilla, PA, Toberer, ES, Kennedy, CE, Snyder, GJ, Firdosy, SA, Nesmith, B, Zakutayev, A, Goodrich, A, Turchi, CS , Netter, J, Gray, MH, Ndione, PF , Tirawat, R, Baranowski, LL, Gray, A & Ginley, DS 2013, 'A High-Temperature, High-Efficiency Solar Thermoelectric Generator Prototype', Paper presented at International Conference on Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2013, Las Vegas, NV, United States, 17/09/13 - 20/09/13 pp. 1460-1469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.155, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.155

TY - CONF

T1 - A High-Temperature, High-Efficiency Solar Thermoelectric Generator Prototype

AU - Olsen, M. L.

AU - Warren, E. L.

AU - Parilla, P. A.

AU - Toberer, E. S.

AU - Kennedy, C. E.

AU - Snyder, G. J.

AU - Firdosy, S. A.

AU - Nesmith, B.

AU - Zakutayev, A.

AU - Goodrich, A.

AU - Turchi, C. S.

AU - Netter, J.

AU - Gray, M. H.

AU - Ndione, P. F.

AU - Tirawat, R.

AU - Baranowski, L. L.

AU - Gray, A.

AU - Ginley, D. S.

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) have the potential to convert solar energy at greater than 15% efficiency. This project investigates the system design, the necessary thermoelectric and optical technologies, and the economic feasibility of the STEG approach. A STEG is a solid-state heat engine that converts sunlight directly into DC electricity through the thermoelectric effect. STEGs consist of three subsystems: the solar absorber, the thermoelectric generator (TEG), and the heat management system (insulation, heat exchanger, vacuum enclosure, etc.). This project will integrate several state-of-the-art technologies to achieve high efficiency, including next-generation materials for TEGs, high-temperature solar-selective absorbers, and thermal cavities. We will test STEGs at NREL's high flux solar furnace (HFSF) and perform analysis of parasitic losses and lifetime analysis to optimize prototype operation. Equally important for this technology is the development of a cost model to determine the economic competitiveness and possible application niches for STEG technologies. We report on first-order economic analysis to identify the most promising pathways for advancing the technology.

AB - Solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) have the potential to convert solar energy at greater than 15% efficiency. This project investigates the system design, the necessary thermoelectric and optical technologies, and the economic feasibility of the STEG approach. A STEG is a solid-state heat engine that converts sunlight directly into DC electricity through the thermoelectric effect. STEGs consist of three subsystems: the solar absorber, the thermoelectric generator (TEG), and the heat management system (insulation, heat exchanger, vacuum enclosure, etc.). This project will integrate several state-of-the-art technologies to achieve high efficiency, including next-generation materials for TEGs, high-temperature solar-selective absorbers, and thermal cavities. We will test STEGs at NREL's high flux solar furnace (HFSF) and perform analysis of parasitic losses and lifetime analysis to optimize prototype operation. Equally important for this technology is the development of a cost model to determine the economic competitiveness and possible application niches for STEG technologies. We report on first-order economic analysis to identify the most promising pathways for advancing the technology.

KW - Solar cavity-receivers

KW - Solar thermoelectric generators

KW - Solar-selective absorbers

KW - Solid-state heat engines

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84902253250&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.155

DO - 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.155

M3 - Paper

AN - SCOPUS:84902253250

SP - 1460

EP - 1469

T2 - International Conference on Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2013

Y2 - 17 September 2013 through 20 September 2013

ER -

A High-Temperature, High-Efficiency Solar Thermoelectric Generator Prototype

Abstract

Conference

NREL Publication Number

Keywords

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