Simulation and experiment of a PV-MCHP-TE system and ambient parameters impacts

Combining the photovoltaic (PV) with the thermoelectric (TE) can obtain higher electrical outputs, because the thermal energy produced by the PV cells can be used to produce more electricity by the TE device. This paper built the mathematical model on the energy flow of the PV-microchannel heat pipe (MCHP)-TE system then verified the correctness of the model via the experiment. In addition, the impacts of the different wind speed, different solar radiation, and different ambient temperature on the PV-MCHP-TE system have been analysed. The result shows that the maximum difference value of the power output between the simulation and experiment is 0.16 W, so the simulated values and experimental values are in good agreement. At the same time, within the scope of the ambient parameters set in the simulation, when the solar radiation raises, the electrical efficiency of the PV-MCHP-TE system decreases, but when the wind speed raises, the electrical efficiency of this system will decrease more and more slowly. This work will lay the foundation for the performance forecasting of the system throughout the year.