Numerical and Experimental Analyses of a Phase Change Material-Thermoelectric System Integrated with a Heat Sink and Radiative Cooling

Providing power to remotely located sensors can pose significant challenges, especially when these sensors are positioned in the open sea or remote wilderness. The development of a durable, low-maintenance power system with an extended lifespan is of utmost importance, and this study is primarily motivated by this need. This research focuses on the design, modeling, and development of a system that combines a phase change material-thermoelectric generator (PCM-TEG) with a heat sink-coated radiative cooler (HS-RC). This integration yields a remarkable 10-fold increase in performance compared to relying solely on radiative cooling. Additionally, the study highlights the substantial influence of the PCM’s melting temperature on the TEG’s nighttime operation. To ensure the TEG operates effectively during nighttime hours, it is imperative that the PCM can release energy. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of a radiative cooler with high reflectivity across the entire solar spectrum to achieve robust diurnal radiative cooling performance. On a summer day, the PCM-TE-RC-HS system showcases its ability to generate substantial power densities, reaching maximum values of 258 mW/m2 in Istanbul, 222 mW/m2 in Cairo, and 162 mW/m2 in Helsinki.