Enhancing photothermal-thermoelectric power generation performance based on the thermal rectification effect of phase change materials

JU Jiaxin; ZHAO Yanqi; DING Yulong

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2026.0049

您当前的位置：

首页 >

文章列表页 >

Enhancing photothermal-thermoelectric power generation performance based on the thermal rectification effect of phase change materials

Energy Storage Materials and Devices | 更新时间：2026-07-01

- Enhancing photothermal-thermoelectric power generation performance based on the thermal rectification effect of phase change materials
- Energy Storage Science and Technology Vol. 15, Issue 4, Pages: 1173-1184(2026)
- 作者机构：
  
  1.江苏大学机械工程学院，江苏镇江 212013
  2.南京工业大学能源科学与工程学院，江苏南京 211816
  3.伯明翰大学化学工程学院，英国伯明翰 B15 2TT
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
- DOI：10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2026.0049
  CLC： TM 615;O 414.13
- Received：19 January 2026，
  
  Revised：2026-02-12，
  
  Published：28 April 2026
- 稿件说明：
移动端阅览
鞠佳昕, 赵彦琦, 丁玉龙. 基于相变材料热整流效应强化光热-热电发电性能研究[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2026, 15(4): 1173-1184.

JU Jiaxin, ZHAO Yanqi, DING Yulong. Enhancing photothermal-thermoelectric power generation performance based on the thermal rectification effect of phase change materials[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2026, 15(4): 1173-1184.
鞠佳昕, 赵彦琦, 丁玉龙. 基于相变材料热整流效应强化光热-热电发电性能研究[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2026, 15(4): 1173-1184. DOI： 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2026.0049.

JU Jiaxin, ZHAO Yanqi, DING Yulong. Enhancing photothermal-thermoelectric power generation performance based on the thermal rectification effect of phase change materials[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2026, 15(4): 1173-1184. DOI： 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2026.0049.

摘要

我国太阳能资源十分丰富，利用太阳能进行储热与发电已成为当下清洁能源领域的研究热点之一。本研究构建了由二十烷和聚乙二醇(PEG)组成的复合热二极管，利用二者由于热物性差异产生的热整流效应，实现并强化热能的单向传导。同时，将该热整流材料与光热-热电发电装置相结合，借助热整流效应增强装置的集热与保温能力，使光热-热电发电系统在俘获外界相同热量的条件下，扩大并长时间维持热电发电片两端的温差，使得相同环境下温差发电片的发电效率与发电量得到明显提升。进一步地，通过分析二十烷与PEG复合体系产生热整流效应的机理，开展了不同尺寸比和温差条件下的数值模拟研究。结果表明，在60℃温差条件下，当二十烷与PEG的尺寸比为5∶5时，热整流系数最优为1.405。此外，在相同尺寸比条件下进一步考察温差对热整流效应的影响，发现当温差升至90℃时，可实现最大热整流系数1.53。随后，针对光热-热电发电装置的实际应用，探究了其在稳态和非稳态加热环境下的发电效率。结果表明，引入热整流材料在升温和降温过程中对装置内部二十烷起到保温作用，从而提升光热-热电发电装置整体发电效率。稳态环境下添加复合热二极管的一组整体发电量提升20.79%，发电效率最大提升约1.56倍；在非稳态环境下，内部二十烷储热平均温度最大提升18℃，发电量提升12.5%，发电效率最大提升约2.36倍。

Abstract

Solar energy resources are abundant in China

and the utilization of solar energy for heat storage and power generation has become a major research focus in the field of clean energy. In this study

a composite thermal diode composed of eicosane and polyethylene glycol (PEG) was constructed. By exploiting the thermal rectification effect arising from differences in their thermophysical properties

enhanced unidirectional heat transfer was achieved. This thermal rectification material was subsequently integrated into a photothermal-thermoelectric power generation device. Through the thermal rectification effect

both heat collection and thermal insulation performance were improved

thereby increasing the temperature difference across the thermoelectric modules under the same external heat input. As a result

the system is capable of capturing the same amount of external heat while maintaining and enlarging the temperature gradient between the hot and cold ends of the thermoelectric generator

leading to a significant improvement in power generation efficiency and output under identical environmental conditions. Furthermore

the mechanism of the thermal rectification effect in the eicosane-PEG composite system was analyzed

and numerical simulations were conducted under different size ratios and temperature difference conditions. The results indicate that under a temperature difference of 60℃

the optimal thermal rectification coefficient reached 1.405 when the size ratio of eicosane to PEG was 5∶5. Under the same size ratio

the influence of temperature difference on the thermal rectification effect was further examined. When the temperature difference increased to 90℃

a maximum thermal rectification coefficient of 1.53 was achieved. For practical application of the photothermal-thermoelectric power generation device

its power generation performance was evaluated under both steady-state and unsteady-state heating conditions. Under steady-state conditions

the incorporation of the thermal rectification material not only provided effective thermal insulation for internal eicosane during heating and cooling but also enhanced the overall power generation performance of the device. In a steady-state environment

the group incorporating the composite thermal diode exhibited a 20.79% increase in total power generation

with a maximum improvement in power generation efficiency of approximately 1.56 times. Under unsteady-state conditions

the average temperature of the internal eicosane heat storage material increased by up to 18℃

resulting in a 12.5% increase in power generation and a maximum enhancement in power generation efficiency of approximately 2.36 times.

关键词

Keywords

references

GEBREABE S T, BOGALE D, HAILU A, et al. Advances in solar energy technologies: A comprehensive review of photovoltaic, thermal, and hybrid systems for sustainable energy solutions[J]. Next Research, 2026, 3: 101176. DOI:10.1016/j.nexres.2025. 101176.

ROSLAN M F, RAMACHANDARAMURTHY V K, MANSOR M, et al. Techno-economic impact analysis for renewable energy-based hydrogen storage integrated grid electric vehicle charging stations in different potential locations of Malaysia[J]. Energy Strategy Reviews, 2024, 54: 101478. DOI:10.1016/j.esr.2024. 101478.

丁怡婷. 全国累计发电装机容量同比增长17.3%[N]. 人民日报, 2025-11-26.

邵常焜, 汤勇, 陈恭, 等. 热二极管及其热控功能结构制造的研究现状与发展趋势[J]. 机械工程学报, 2024, 60(20): 271-288.

SHAO C K, TANG Y, CHEN G, et al. Development status and perspective trend of thermal diodes and its thermal control functional structure manufacture[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2024, 60(20): 271-288.

WONG M Y, TSO C Y, HO T C, et al. A review of state of the art thermal diodes and their potential applications[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2021, 164: 120607. DOI:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2020.120607.

WEN S Z, LIU X L, CHENG S, et al. Ultrahigh thermal rectification based on near-field thermal radiation between dissimilar nanoparticles[J]. Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, 2019, 234: 1-9. DOI:10.1016/j.jqsrt. 2019.05.026.

XU G D, SUN J, MAO H M, et al. Near-field radiative thermal rectification assisted by black phosphorus sheets[J]. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 2020, 149: 106179. DOI:10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2019.106179.

TRAIPATTANAKUL B, TSO C Y, CHAO C Y H. A phase-change thermal diode using electrostatic-induced coalescing-jumping droplets[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2019, 135: 294-304. DOI:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019. 01.110.

WONG M Y, ZHU Y H, ZENG Y J, et al. Thermal rec tification enhancement of coalescence-jumping phase transition thermal diodes using Cu-Al 2 O 3 hybrid nanofluids[J ] . Advanced Engineering Materials, 2022, 24(6): 2100958. DOI:10.1002/adem.202100958.

DAMOULAKIS G, JAFARI GUKEH M, KOUKORAVAS T P, et al. High-performance planar thermal diode with wickless components[J]. Journal of Electronic Packaging, 2022, 144(3): 031004. DOI: 10.1115/1.4051467.

LYU J, SHENG Z Z, XU Y Y, et al. Nanoporous kevlar aerogel confined phase change fluids enable super-flexible thermal diodes[J]. Advanced Functional Materials, 2022, 32(19): 2200137. DOI:10.1002/adfm.202200137.

CARLOMAGNO I, CIMMELLI V A, JOU D. Enhanced thermal rectification in graded Si c Ge 1- c alloys[J ] . Mechanics Research Communications, 2020, 103: 103472. DOI:10.1016/j.mechrescom. 2020.103472.

MENG Z N, GULFAM R, ZHANG P, et al. Numerical and experimental study of the thermal rectification of a solid-liquid phase change thermal diode[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2020, 147: 118915. DOI:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer. 2019.118915.

康克佳. 光热发电:设备日趋完善模式逐渐成熟[N]. 中国城市报, 2024-09-23(6).

任咪咪, 吴於人. “超级智能向日葵”: 敦煌100兆瓦熔盐塔式光热电站[J]. 科学画报, 2025, 86(7): 22-23.

REN M M, WU Y R. "Super intelligent sunflower": Dunhuang 100 MW molten salt tower photothermal power station[J]. Science Pictorial, 2025, 86(7): 22-23.

SELVAM C, MANIKANDAN S, KRISHNA N V, et al. Enhanced thermal performance of a thermoelectric generator with phase change materials[J]. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2020, 114: 104561. DOI:10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer. 2020.104561.

CHARGUI R, BECHIR N, MARZOUGUI M. High-performance solar energy conversion and storage system: Integration of Fresnel lens, phase change material, and thermoelectric generators[J]. Solar Energy, 2026, 303: 114172. DOI:10.1016/j.solener.2025.114172.

MONTERO F J, LAMBA R, ORTEGA A, et al. A novel 24-h day-night operational solar thermoelectric generator using phase change materials[J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2021, 296: 126553. DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126553.

COTTRILL A L, ZHANG G, LIU A T, et al. Persistent energy harvesting in the harsh desert environment using a thermal resonance device: Design, testing, and analysis[J]. Applied Energy, 2019, 235: 1514-1523. DOI:10.1016/j.apenergy.2018. 11.045.

Views

下载量

CSCD

Alert me when the article has been cited

提交

Tools

Publicity Resources

Recent advances in thermal rectification of phase change materials

Influence of micro-dosage alumina on the heat storage performance of eutectic salt hydrate

Research on the preparation of thermochemical energy storage materials and application in cross-season energy storage

Influence of copper foam on the heat transfer and temperature control characteristics of phase change materials under different force fields

Suitability assessment and zoning for the construction of compressed air energy storage plants in China

Related Author

LEI Jiaqi

DING Yulong

Zhao Yanqi

Ding Yulong

WANG Chuang

TIAN Heqing

GUO Chaxiu

ZHOU Junjie

Related Institution

伯明翰大学化学工程学院

School of Energy Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China; ³School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom

School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University

Hebei Energy Storage Industry and Technology Research Institute

Low Temperature Energy Conversion, Storage and Transportation Research Center

⁰