INTRODUCTION

 

A solar cell in which the sun's energy is first converted into heat by a sheet of metal, and the heat is converted into electricity by a semiconductor material sandwiched between the first metal sheet and a metal collector sheet. 

A thermoelectric cell is a device that converts heat (temperature differences) into electricity, using a phenomenon called the "Seebeck effect" (or "thermoelectric effect").  Their typical efficiencies are around 5-10% [1]. This effect can be used to generate electricity.

The objective of this project is to develop and performance analysis of photovoltaic – thermoelectric (PV – TE) energy harvester prototype on building wall using LABVIEW. This project function is to evaluate the best performance when thermoelectric cell place at wall building. The output from project will connect to DAQ using LABVIEW software. This project will more focus about thermoelectric cell. The performance of the result will compare with 3 type of thermoelectric cell place difference situation. The output will combine with photovoltaic output.  

      In everyday life, the electricity are used by consumption of fossil fuel which produce carbon dioxide and can give negative impact of our environment, because of solar energy is clean, free and easy to get, this source is getting more attention nowadays. The concept of developing solar thermal is by combining two sources of energy which are solar and thermal into single output. Furthermore, these types of energy are suitable in Malaysia because in Malaysia it received a huge amount of sunlight.

        The advantage of this project are power is free of cost because its get from the sunlight. Then the power is zero emission. Silent production energy and lastly  is power is available “on the go”.  Nowadays, most of the building especially houses are using solar panels as their power generators. But there has a some difficulty by used this solar panel which is solar panel is expensive and having high installation cost and  much weight.