High efficiency thermoelectric unit within an autonomous solar energy converter

The study is concerned with development of an autonomous power generation unit in the 5 to 10 kW range. Such a unit is intended to operate at isolated sites under remote control and to power various systems such as local radio transmitters, environmental measurement stations, or mobile telephone stations with 100% reliability. Our paper focuses on the conceptual design and the development of a high efficiency direct energy converter of solar energy based on thermoelectric power generation. The converter consists of solar radiation concentrating optics, a thermal storage and a power thermoelectric unit. The thermoelectric unit is based on a new design and novel multicrystal legs that are expected to enable a wider temperature difference with an efficiency of 10% (thermal to electric). This stage of work consists of crystal growth techniques with high crystalline perfection of thermoelectric materials and the development of two stage composite legs. The waste heat (0.50 kW) from the thermoelectric unit is used for space heating or absorption refrigeration.