Geothermally-cooled solar thermoelectric energy harvester

摘要

A solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) is disclosed. A STEG includes a thermoelectric generator (TEG) configured to convert light energy from solar light into electrical energy, and a heat transfer structure coupled to the TEG where a portion of the heat transfer structure is configured to be embedded in the earth. The TEG includes a first side and a second side, wherein the solar light is incident on the first side of the TEG and the heat transfer structure is configured to provide cooling for the second side of the TEG using geothermal cooling. The use of geothermal cooling to provide cooling for the second side of the TEG increases the temperature difference across the TEG of the STEG, thereby increasing the net generation efficiency of the STEG.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a thermoelectric generator (TEG) comprising a first side and a second side, the TEG configured to generate electrical energy based on a temperature difference between the first side of the TEG and the second side of the TEG, the first side of the TEG configured to be heated by light energy from solar light incident on the first side of the TEG; and a heat transfer structure coupled to the second side of the TEG,
wherein the heat transfer structure comprises a base and a support member, wherein a first end of the support member is coupled to the second side of the TEG and a second end of the support member is coupled to the base, wherein the base and a. portion of the support member are configured to be embedded in earth to provide cooling for the second side of the TEG via geothermal cooling,wherein the heat transfer structure further comprises a fluid and a pump, wherein the fluid is configured to transport heat in a direction from the TEG toward the base of the heat transfer structure for cooling via geothermal cooling, and wherein the pump is configured to circulate the fluid in a direction from the base of the heat transfer structure toward the TEG.