Investigation of solar hybrid system with concentrating Fresnel lens, photovoltaic and thermoelectric generators

An experimental model of a solar hybrid system including photovoltaic (PV) module, concentrating Fresnel lens, thermoelectric generator (TEG), and running water heat extracting unit was created and studied. The PV module used was of c-Si and TEG of Bi2Te3; the Fresnel lens (solar concentrator) and TEG share an optical train, whereas PV module was illuminated separately with non-concentrated light. Heat extracting unit operated in thermo siphon mode. In climatic conditions of Mexico (Queretaro, 20(o) of North latitude, summer time), the Fresnel lens accepted 120W of solar radiation power, and the system generated 7.0W of electric power and 30W of thermal one. The discussion is made of the possible characteristics of a hypothetical hybrid system where all its elements share the same optical train. Copyright (C) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.