Effect of Inclination and Thermoelectric Material on the Performance of Solar PV-Thermo Electric Cooling System

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, coupled with thermo-electric cooling, have gained significant attention as an eco-friendly solution. To enhance energy efficiency and reduce the overall environmental impact of energy generation and consumption, it is a viable option. This study investigates the impact of critical parameters, namely inclination angle of solar panels, the type of material used in thermo-electric cooling modules, on the performance of a solar PV-thermo electric cooling system. In this research, the impact of inclination angles (15°, 20°, 25°) and two materials (Bismuth telluride and Peltium telluride) of thermoelectric were considered for this study. A comprehensive series of experiments were conducted to analyze the impact of varying inclination angles of the solar panels and material of thermoelectric cooler. The average incident irradiation, panel temperature and outpower of solar panel variation with time are presented. The optimum tilt angle of the solar panel is observed as 20° and material for thermoelectric cooler is Bismuth telluride. When using Bismuth telluride as a thermoelectric material with 20° tilt angle, the solar panel’s temperature decreases by 14% and its outpower is augments by a maximum of 14.5%. The results presented here offer practical guidance for system design and operation, ultimately promoting the widespread adoption of this technology in a more environmentally conscious manner.