Title: Exergy analysis of flat plate collector integrated with thermoelectric cooler: a novel approach to enhance thermal and electrical efficiency

Authors: Sunil Kumar; Gopal Nath Tiwari; Madhu Sudan

Addresses: Department of Physics, S.V. College, Aligarh (UP) – 202001, India ' Sodha Energy Research Park, BERS Public School, Ballia, India ' Department of Physics, S.V. College, Aligarh (UP) – 202001, India

Abstract: An analytical expression for the characteristic equation of flat plate collector integrated with a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) under forced flow condition has been developed in this communication. The output parameters of a single unit collector are marginally affected by mass flow rates greater than 0.02 kg/s. The findings show that as the mass flow rate increases, the outlet temperatures decrease, and the output energy increases. The temperature, energy and exergy efficiency are significantly impacted by low mass flow rate (below 0.01 kg/s), and packing factor. It was discovered that the FPC-TEC unit's overall exergy efficiency was significantly greater than its thermal exergy efficiency.

Keywords: flat plate collector; FPC; thermoelectric cooler; TEC; exergy efficiency; mass flow rate.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2025.150022

International Journal of Exergy, 2025 Vol.48 No.3, pp.223 - 237

Received: 09 Feb 2025
Accepted: 03 May 2025
Published online: 21 Nov 2025 *

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