Acknowledgements

On the other hand, CdTe+TEC system shows to decrease the exergy loss at high ΔT values. The high efficient material properties of the CdTe panel not only locate it in the least exergy loss at all temperature ranges, but also, supported by Figure 8a information, indicate that less exergy is used to feed the TEC, as ΔT increases. We must remember that exergy was defined as useful work in Eq. (44), meaning that feeding a cooling system destroys exergy, which is reflected in

These numbers are consistent with the deficit in the exergy output. Only at some ranges, CdTe generates enough energy to result in positive values. TEC consumption increment elevates exergy losses up to a 32.77% at low ΔT values. Furthermore, at high ΔT, exergy loss is

For CIGS, c-Si, and a-Si group, cooling increases exergy output generation: 13.69% for CIGS, 21.42% for c-Si, and 36.92% for a-Si as shown in Figure 8b. Also, exergy losses can be noted to diminish with the system cooling, 4.03% for CIGS, with a minimum exergy loss temperature range from 313.8 to 305.7 K; 5.34% for c-Si with a minimum exergy loss temperature range from 310.8 to 301.0 K; 13.91% for a-Si with a minimum exergy loss temperature from 298.8 to 298.0 K. It is to be noted that every temperature range where exergy loss is minimal differs from reference or ambient temperatures for PV panels, meaning that excessive cooling can also

In this chapter we have shown that, if we consider the power consumption of the thermoelectric modules, the general energy balance for the whole hybrid PV+TEC system results in a higher energy consumption than energy generation for most systems. Additionally, the exergy analysis shows that for this system there will always be exergy loss, rendering the feasibility of

Also, the conditions for minimum exergy loss have been determined for diverse types of PV panels, while using thermoelectric cooling modules to decrease temperature. These temperature ranges can be considered as the optimal working conditions, and they all differ from the lowest temperature analyzed for CIGS, a-Si, and c-Si, meaning that reducing the system all the way to ambient temperature (Tamb) is not necessarily the best energetic option for the hybrid systems. It is to be noted that this temperature ranges of minimum exergy loss are held within

We have concluded from these simulation results that the PV+TEC hybrid system is not a viable self-sustaining system. Even though the self-sustenance of the hybrid PV+TEC system is inviable, the conditions for minimum exergy loss allow us to determine the best performance of the system. These optimal operational conditions can be observed from the obtained results,

Although the results show that hybrid PV + TEC systems are inviable, thermoelectric technology has a wide range of impact from electronics and telecommunications to medical

Figure 8b.

348 Bringing Thermoelectricity into Reality

be counterproductive.

5. Conclusions

decreased, and exergy output is maximized.

the hybrid PV+TEC system impossible.

realistic parameters that can be obtained for the system.

with minimum exergy losses, that can be useful in future studies.

This work was financially supported by research grant 20180069 of Instituto Politecnico Nacional, México. Arturo Monedero Khouri was financially supported by CONACyT-Mexico (CVU No. 785068). The authors acknowledge the editorial assistance in improving the manuscript.
