Performance Optimization of Phase Change Material-Thermoelectric Generation Systems

Abstract Solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) integrating phase change materials (PCMs) have attracted increasing attention in the past few years. However, the study of synergistic effects of heat transfer of PCM and cooling condition of heat sink on thermoelectric generator (TEG) performance is not sufficiently in-depth. This study improves the fins arrangement in phase change energy storage devices through simulation and experiments to enhance heat transfer, while also considering the influence of a PCM container material. Additionally, we compared the effects of TEG numbers and cooling conditions on system efficiency. The results indicate that the parallel arrangement of heat-conducting fins in the phase change heat storage container can completely melt PCM within half an hour, while the S-shape arrangement still remains 20% and has not melted under the same conditions. On this basis, when the solar radiation intensity is 1.6 W/cm2, PCM-STEG with six TEGs can obtain 1895 J of electrical energy under water-cooling conditions at a temperature of 30 °C and a flowrate of 25 mL/min.