# US 12,111,073 B2 · Method for assembling a PV system with thermoelectric generation

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,111,073 B2
- Document ID: US12111073B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/660,269
- Filed: 2024-05-10
- Published: 2024-08-29
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-31
- Assignees: Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
- Applicants: Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
- Inventors: Fahad G. Al-Amri
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111073B2

## CPC

- F24F 5/0046: {using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground}
- F24F 5/001: {Compression cycle type}
- F24F 5/0042: {characterised by the application of thermo-electric units or the Peltier effect}
- F24S 20/30: Solar heat collectors for heating objects, e.g. solar cookers or solar furnaces
- F24S 40/55: Arrangements for cooling, e.g. by using external heat dissipating means or internal cooling circuits (by venting F24S40/53)
- F28D 15/0233: {the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular (F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence)}
- F28D 15/0275: {Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores}
- H02S 40/42: Cooling means
- H02S 40/44: Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/67)
- H10N 10/13: characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
- H10N 10/81: Structural details of the junction
- F24F 1/42: characterised by the use of the condensate, e.g. for enhanced cooling
- F24F 2005/0067: {with photovoltaic panels}
- F28D 2015/0225: {Microheat pipes}
- F28F 2275/025: by using adhesives
- Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- Y02E 10/60: Thermal-PV hybrids
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00)
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A cooling system for a photovoltaic panel including micro flat heat pipes (HP) integrated with thermoelectric generators (TEG) and a cooled water reservoir for cooling the working fluid in heat pipes. The cooled water in the reservoir is pumped from the condensate pan of an air conditioner. Experimental results show that cooling system reduced the average temperature of the panel by as much as 19° C. or 25%. Further, the output power of the photovoltaic panel increased by 44% when the photovoltaic panel was used in a very hot climate (30-40° C.). An additional two watts of power was generated by the TEGs.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for assembling a PV system with thermoelectric generation, comprising:
attaching, by a thermally conductive adhesive, a plurality of thermoelectric generators to a back surface of a photovoltaic panel, wherein the back surface of the photovoltaic panel is a polymer;
attaching, by the thermally conductive adhesive, one of a plurality of micro flat heat pipes (HP) over at least one thermoelectric generator to completely cover the at least one thermoelectric generator and overhang the at least one thermoelectric generator;
attaching, by the thermally conductive adhesive, an aluminum spacer to a back surface of the photovoltaic panel adjacent each thermoelectric generator and beneath each micro flat heat pipe, wherein the thermally conductive adhesive is present as a continuous layer between the back surface of the photovoltaic panel and each thermoelectric generator of the plurality of thermoelectric generators;
connecting, by first piping, condensate water from an air conditioning evaporator to a pump;
connecting, by second piping, the pump to a first heat sink reservoir;
connecting, by third piping, the first heat sink reservoir to a second heat sink reservoir;
connecting, by fourth piping, the second heat sink reservoir to a drain;
attaching, by thermally conductive adhesive, the second piping over each first end of a first number of micro flat heat pipes; and
attaching, by thermally conductive adhesive, the fourth piping over each first end of a second number of micro flat heat pipes, the first number and the second number equaling the plurality of micro flat heat pipes;
wherein the photovoltaic panel has a front surface, a frame and at least one electrical junction box, wherein the photovoltaic panel is configured to generate electrical current from solar radiation impinging on the front surface;
the plurality of thermoelectric generators have a first side and a second side, the first side attached to the back surface, wherein each thermoelectric generator is configured to generate electrical current when the first side is at a different temperature than the second side;
wherein each micro flat heat pipe of the plurality of micro flat heat pipes is attached to an entirety of the second side of at least one of the thermoelectric generators, each micro flat heat pipe having a hot end and a cold end;
each heat sink of the plurality of heat sinks comprising a water reservoir;
the air conditioner evaporator is connected to an air conditioner having a condensate drain;
the PV system with thermoelectric generation further comprising:
a water pumping unit comprising a fluid manifold in thermal contact with the hot ends of the plurality of micro flat heat pipes and a pump fluidly coupled to each water reservoir and the condensate drain;
a battery;
a plurality of spacers, each of the spacers being provided between each of the plurality of micro flat heat pipes and the back surface only in areas of the back surface not covered by one of the thermoelectric generators, the spacers being configured to provide thermal contact between the micro flat heat pipes and the back surface in areas not covered by one of the thermoelectric generators, the thermoelectric generators being configured to provide thermal contact between the micro flat heat pipes and the back surface in areas not covered by one of the spacers, and the spacers directly contacting the back surface, the micro flat heat pipes, and the thermoelectric generators;
a controller operatively connected to the pump, the plurality of thermoelectric generators, the at least one electrical junction box and the battery, the controller comprising circuitry and at least one processor, the controller configured to:
receive electrical current from the at least one electrical junction box and the plurality of thermoelectric generators;
control a speed of the pump; and
invert the electrical current to charge the battery.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the PV system with thermoelectric generation further comprises:
a temperature sensor connected to the back surface and the controller;
wherein the temperature sensor is configured to change resistance based on the temperature of the back surface; and
wherein the controller is further configured to control the pump based on the resistance of the temperature sensor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic panel is a monocrystalline photovoltaic panel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the PV system with thermoelectric generation comprises 8 micro flat heat pipes and 8 thermoelectric generators.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic panel is a polycrystalline photovoltaic panel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the PV system with thermoelectric generation comprises 4 micro flat heat pipes and 8 thermoelectric generators.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein each micro flat heat pipe is attached to the second sides of two thermoelectric generators.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a state of charge of the battery; and
wherein the controller further comprises switching circuitry configured to switch the battery to one of receiving charging current and providing voltage to the air conditioner.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2,
wherein the controller is further configured to determine a state of charge of the battery; and
wherein the controller further comprises switching circuitry configured to switch the battery to one of receiving charging current and providing voltage to a load.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The photovoltaic panel system method of claim 9, wherein the controller further comprises switching circuitry configured to connect the electrical current directly to an electrical grid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The photovoltaic panel system method of claim 10,
wherein the PV system with thermoelectric generation further comprises a display operatively connected to the controller, the display configured to show the temperature of the back surface, a speed of the pump, the current output from each junction box, the battery state of charge and an operational status of the air conditioner.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
attaching, by thermally conductive adhesive, electrode ends of a temperature sensor to the back surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
electrically connecting each thermoelectric generator; each junction box of the photovoltaic panel; a battery; the temperature sensor and a grid connector to a controller.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising at least one of:
electrically connecting a power input of the controller to the battery;
electrically connecting a power input of the controller to at least one junction box; and
electrically connecting a power input of the controller to the grid.