PV-TEG output: Comparison with heat sink and graphite sheet as heat dissipators

This paper finds that PV-TEG systems are well-researched. Different techniques are applied to regulate the heat (or dissipate the heat) in these systems. However, the research shows insufficient data regarding TEG as a heat-utilizing and heat-to-electrical energy-converting agent. So, this paper shows the usage of graphite sheets and heat sinks with PV-TEG systems and their comparison. The investigation demonstrates that at 823 W/m2 of solar irradiation, PV-TEG without heat dissipators transforms PV backside heat into TEG DC voltage of 0.727 V; PV-TEG with graphite sheet TEG voltage is 0.889 V; and PV-TEG with heat sink TEG voltage is 1.476 V. The PV-TEG with graphite sheet system improves TEG voltage up to 0.241 V and DC voltage gain up to 0.75 times for TEG alone. In addition, the temperature difference between the hot side and cold side is up to 3.92 C. PV-TEG with a heat sink system improves TEG voltage up to 0.749 V, provides a DC voltage gain of up to 1.78 times for TEG alone, and increases the temperature difference between the hot side and the cold side up to 5.96 °C.