Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells

Salama Abdelhady

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14

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Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells

Salama Abdelhady

Published in American Journal of Physics and Applications (Volume 6, Issue 5)

Received: 4 October 2018 Accepted: 22 October 2018 Published: 3 December 2018

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Abstract

The measured efficiencies of modern photovoltaic solar cells that exceed the limit determined by Shockley and Queisser indicate a need for advanced physics to solve such conflict. Similarly, the duality confusion represents another conflict that acquires new physics. Such conflicts and confusions were recently solved by using an innovative definition of the nature of electric current as electromagnetic waves of electric potential. This definition was used to find also plausible physical explanation of the results of Tesla’s experiment of transmission of electric power in space and the success of Faraday in polarizing light by electric field in one of his experiments. Additionally, literature failed to find plausible physical explanation of estimating the electric potential of the output electric current from thermopiles and thermoelectric generators as the sum of electric potentials gained in crossing the junctions of these devices. It is shown in this paper that the introduced nature of electric current leads to advanced and plausible physical explanation of such results. It is shown also in this paper that the electric potential of the output electric current from multijunction photovoltaic cells can be estimated, similar to the thermopiles and TEG, as sum of electric potentials gained in crossing the junctions of these cells. Such similarity between the relations applied in estimating the gained potentials in all these multijunction-devices in addition to the relation found by Goldsmid and Sharp between the Seebeck coefficient and the energy bandgap prove that the Photovoltaic effect and the Seebeck effect corresponds simply to the same phenomenon. In other words; the gained potential in photovoltaic cells is generated by the thermal potential of the incident radiation and the difference of the Seebeck coefficients of the materials of its junctions. Such advanced physics may represent a gateway to understand other phenomena in the nature.

Published in	American Journal of Physics and Applications (Volume 6, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14
Page(s)	133-141
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Thermopiles, Thermoelectric Generators, Multi-Junctions Photovoltaic Cells, Seebeck Effect, Photovoltaic Effect, Energy Bandgap

References

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Salama Abdelhady. (2018). Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells. American Journal of Physics and Applications, 6(5), 133-141. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14

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Salama Abdelhady. Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells. Am. J. Phys. Appl. 2018, 6(5), 133-141. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14

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AMA Style

Salama Abdelhady. Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells. Am J Phys Appl. 2018;6(5):133-141. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14

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@article{10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14,
  author = {Salama Abdelhady},
  title = {Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells},
  journal = {American Journal of Physics and Applications},
  volume = {6},
  number = {5},
  pages = {133-141},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpa.20180605.14},
  abstract = {The measured efficiencies of modern photovoltaic solar cells that exceed the limit determined by Shockley and Queisser indicate a need for advanced physics to solve such conflict. Similarly, the duality confusion represents another conflict that acquires new physics. Such conflicts and confusions were recently solved by using an innovative definition of the nature of electric current as electromagnetic waves of electric potential. This definition was used to find also plausible physical explanation of the results of Tesla’s experiment of transmission of electric power in space and the success of Faraday in polarizing light by electric field in one of his experiments. Additionally, literature failed to find plausible physical explanation of estimating the electric potential of the output electric current from thermopiles and thermoelectric generators as the sum of electric potentials gained in crossing the junctions of these devices. It is shown in this paper that the introduced nature of electric current leads to advanced and plausible physical explanation of such results. It is shown also in this paper that the electric potential of the output electric current from multijunction photovoltaic cells can be estimated, similar to the thermopiles and TEG, as sum of electric potentials gained in crossing the junctions of these cells. Such similarity between the relations applied in estimating the gained potentials in all these multijunction-devices in addition to the relation found by Goldsmid and Sharp between the Seebeck coefficient and the energy bandgap prove that the Photovoltaic effect and the Seebeck effect corresponds simply to the same phenomenon. In other words; the gained potential in photovoltaic cells is generated by the thermal potential of the incident radiation and the difference of the Seebeck coefficients of the materials of its junctions. Such advanced physics may represent a gateway to understand other phenomena in the nature.},
 year = {2018}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells
AU  - Salama Abdelhady
Y1  - 2018/12/03
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14
T2  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
JF  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
JO  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
SP  - 133
EP  - 141
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-4308
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14
AB  - The measured efficiencies of modern photovoltaic solar cells that exceed the limit determined by Shockley and Queisser indicate a need for advanced physics to solve such conflict. Similarly, the duality confusion represents another conflict that acquires new physics. Such conflicts and confusions were recently solved by using an innovative definition of the nature of electric current as electromagnetic waves of electric potential. This definition was used to find also plausible physical explanation of the results of Tesla’s experiment of transmission of electric power in space and the success of Faraday in polarizing light by electric field in one of his experiments. Additionally, literature failed to find plausible physical explanation of estimating the electric potential of the output electric current from thermopiles and thermoelectric generators as the sum of electric potentials gained in crossing the junctions of these devices. It is shown in this paper that the introduced nature of electric current leads to advanced and plausible physical explanation of such results. It is shown also in this paper that the electric potential of the output electric current from multijunction photovoltaic cells can be estimated, similar to the thermopiles and TEG, as sum of electric potentials gained in crossing the junctions of these cells. Such similarity between the relations applied in estimating the gained potentials in all these multijunction-devices in addition to the relation found by Goldsmid and Sharp between the Seebeck coefficient and the energy bandgap prove that the Photovoltaic effect and the Seebeck effect corresponds simply to the same phenomenon. In other words; the gained potential in photovoltaic cells is generated by the thermal potential of the incident radiation and the difference of the Seebeck coefficients of the materials of its junctions. Such advanced physics may represent a gateway to understand other phenomena in the nature.
VL  - 6
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Salama Abdelhady

Faculty of Energy Engineering, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt

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APA Style

Salama Abdelhady. (2018). Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells. American Journal of Physics and Applications, 6(5), 133-141. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14

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ACS Style

Salama Abdelhady. Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells. Am. J. Phys. Appl. 2018, 6(5), 133-141. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14

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AMA Style

Salama Abdelhady. Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells. Am J Phys Appl. 2018;6(5):133-141. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14,
  author = {Salama Abdelhady},
  title = {Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells},
  journal = {American Journal of Physics and Applications},
  volume = {6},
  number = {5},
  pages = {133-141},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpa.20180605.14},
  abstract = {The measured efficiencies of modern photovoltaic solar cells that exceed the limit determined by Shockley and Queisser indicate a need for advanced physics to solve such conflict. Similarly, the duality confusion represents another conflict that acquires new physics. Such conflicts and confusions were recently solved by using an innovative definition of the nature of electric current as electromagnetic waves of electric potential. This definition was used to find also plausible physical explanation of the results of Tesla’s experiment of transmission of electric power in space and the success of Faraday in polarizing light by electric field in one of his experiments. Additionally, literature failed to find plausible physical explanation of estimating the electric potential of the output electric current from thermopiles and thermoelectric generators as the sum of electric potentials gained in crossing the junctions of these devices. It is shown in this paper that the introduced nature of electric current leads to advanced and plausible physical explanation of such results. It is shown also in this paper that the electric potential of the output electric current from multijunction photovoltaic cells can be estimated, similar to the thermopiles and TEG, as sum of electric potentials gained in crossing the junctions of these cells. Such similarity between the relations applied in estimating the gained potentials in all these multijunction-devices in addition to the relation found by Goldsmid and Sharp between the Seebeck coefficient and the energy bandgap prove that the Photovoltaic effect and the Seebeck effect corresponds simply to the same phenomenon. In other words; the gained potential in photovoltaic cells is generated by the thermal potential of the incident radiation and the difference of the Seebeck coefficients of the materials of its junctions. Such advanced physics may represent a gateway to understand other phenomena in the nature.},
 year = {2018}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Advanced Physics of Thermoelectric Generators and Photovoltaic Cells
AU  - Salama Abdelhady
Y1  - 2018/12/03
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14
T2  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
JF  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
JO  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
SP  - 133
EP  - 141
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-4308
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20180605.14
AB  - The measured efficiencies of modern photovoltaic solar cells that exceed the limit determined by Shockley and Queisser indicate a need for advanced physics to solve such conflict. Similarly, the duality confusion represents another conflict that acquires new physics. Such conflicts and confusions were recently solved by using an innovative definition of the nature of electric current as electromagnetic waves of electric potential. This definition was used to find also plausible physical explanation of the results of Tesla’s experiment of transmission of electric power in space and the success of Faraday in polarizing light by electric field in one of his experiments. Additionally, literature failed to find plausible physical explanation of estimating the electric potential of the output electric current from thermopiles and thermoelectric generators as the sum of electric potentials gained in crossing the junctions of these devices. It is shown in this paper that the introduced nature of electric current leads to advanced and plausible physical explanation of such results. It is shown also in this paper that the electric potential of the output electric current from multijunction photovoltaic cells can be estimated, similar to the thermopiles and TEG, as sum of electric potentials gained in crossing the junctions of these cells. Such similarity between the relations applied in estimating the gained potentials in all these multijunction-devices in addition to the relation found by Goldsmid and Sharp between the Seebeck coefficient and the energy bandgap prove that the Photovoltaic effect and the Seebeck effect corresponds simply to the same phenomenon. In other words; the gained potential in photovoltaic cells is generated by the thermal potential of the incident radiation and the difference of the Seebeck coefficients of the materials of its junctions. Such advanced physics may represent a gateway to understand other phenomena in the nature.
VL  - 6
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download