E2PHEST2US · Enhanced Energy Production of Heat and Electricity by a combined Solar Thermionic-Thermoelectric Unit System

Concentrating solar systems are matter of relevant and constantly increasing interest of the energy market owing to the compact size, reduced request for components, capability to be multi-generative, potential high-efficiency and low-cost.This project aims to design and realize innovative and scalable components for solar concentrating systems that generate both electricity and heat and work efficiently at high temperatures (800-1000°C).The proposed concept includes the design, realization and testing of several new component technologies. A high-temperature receiver will be developed to provide the heat input to the converter unit. A new-concept conversion module will be developed for electrical and thermal energy production based on thermionic and thermoelectric direct converters, thermally combined in series to increase the efficiency (thermal-to-electrical efficiency estimated to 35%). A heat recovery system will be designed to collect waste heat (standard efficiency of 65%) and provide it as an additional energy product (co-generation). Innovative wirings for fluid and electricity transport will be designed, realized and tested. The benefit associated to a single hybrid cable, able to carry both relatively high-temperature fluids and electricity, will be characterized and demonstrated.A small-scale prototype solar system will be realized to test and evaluate the real impact of the new components.