Thermodynamic Assessment of an Integrated PDSC–TES–AMTEC–TEG Solar Micro-CHP System

Ahmed Faeq Mohammed

doi:10.58564/IJSER.5.3.2026.376

Authors

Ahmed Faeq Mohammed Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58564/IJSER.5.3.2026.376

Keywords:

Alkali metal thermal-to-electric converter, Micro-combined heat and power, Parabolic dish solar concentrator, Thermal energy storage, Thermoelectric generator

Abstract

Decentralized renewable energy systems that generate electricity as well as useful heat have been gaining more attention as efficient alternatives to traditional fossil-fuel energy systems. This study reports a thermodynamic analysis of a solid-state solar micro-combined heat and power (mCHP) system that uses an alkali metal thermal-to-electric converter, latent thermal energy storage, a thermoelectric generator, and a parabolic dish solar concentrator. The configuration is designed to optimize solar energy use, integrating high-temperature solar heat collection, thermal storage, direct thermal-to-electric conversion, and waste heat recovery into a compact and modular system. The performance of the integrated system was analyzed using the methods of energy and exergy analysis, and the main sources of irreversibilities were identified. Suitable operating conditions were investigated by studying the effects of the key operating parameters such as receiver wall temperature, AMTEC current, condenser temperature, and TEG current. The results indicate that the proposed system can produce a total electrical power of 7372 W, including 6241 W from the AMTEC and 1131 W from the TEG, as well as useful heating power of 8242 W at 80 °C. The efficiencies for electrical and overall CHP are 24.75% and 52.05%, respectively. Moreover, the electrical exergy efficiency and overall exergy efficiency are 26.4% and 31.01%, respectively, and the overall rate of exergy destruction is 19231 W. From the exergy analysis it is seen that the solar collection stage is the largest source of irreversibility. The proposed PDSC–TES–AMTEC–TEG system has good potential for use as a dependable, modular, and fully solid-state solar micro-CHP system for decentralized energy applications.

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