Modeling and performance analysis of a concentrated photovoltaic–thermoelectric hybrid power generation system

• Thermodynamic model of concentrated photovoltaic–thermoelectric system is analysed.
• Thomson effect reduces the power output of PV, TE and hybrid PV–TEG system.
• Effect of thermocouple number, irradiance, PV and TE current have been studied.
• The optimum concentration ratio for maximum power output has been found out.
• The overall efficiency and power output of hybrid PV–TEG system has been improved.

In this study, a thermodynamic model for analysing the performance of a concentrated photovoltaic–thermoelectric generator (CPV–TEG) hybrid system including Thomson effect in conjunction with Seebeck, Joule and Fourier heat conduction effects has been developed and simulated in MATALB environment. The expressions for calculating the temperature of photovoltaic (PV) module, hot and cold sides of thermoelectric (TE) module are derived analytically as well. The effect of concentration ratio, number of thermocouples in TE module, solar irradiance, PV module current and TE module current on power output and efficiency of the PV, TEG and hybrid PV–TEG system have been studied. The optimum concentration ratio corresponding to maximum power output of the hybrid system has been found out. It has been observed that by considering Thomson effect in TEG module, the power output of the PV, TE and hybrid PV–TEG systems decreases and at C = 1 and 5, it reduces the power output of hybrid system by 0.7% and 4.78% respectively. The results of this study may provide basis for performance optimization of a practical irreversible CPV–TEG hybrid system.