Floating TEG Based Solar Energy Harvesting System

In this paper, solar energy harvesting system based on the floating TEG (thermo-electric generator) has been proposed. The solar radiations are made to fall on the hot side of the TEG whereas its other face gets cooled by continuously flowing running water of waterfall in order to maintain a suitable temperature gradient between two faces of the TEG. The TEG generates the electrical output depending on the temperature gradient between the faces of thermoelectric generator. The proposed energy harvesting system is proficient enough to produce an average output power of 1230.25 milliwatts and 432.39 milliwatts when an array of twelve TEG is employed in series and parallel combination, respectively. The proposed energy harvesting system utilizing array of twelve TEG is 96.37 percent and 93.52 percent more efficient in comparison to array of four TEG when connected in series and parallel combination, respectively in standstill water conditions. The electrical output generated from floating TEG energy harvesting system can be suitably employed to charge Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride) rechargeable cells of 1.2V each arranged in the form of grid with two cells in series connected in parallel with two cells in series.