Abstract
For use in gas-fired thermophotovoltaic systems, a selective emitter made from Yb2O3 foam ceramic has been developed. This foam ceramic is mechanically stable, and FTIR spectroscopy showed that 10% of the radiation power emitted by the foam can be converted by Si photocells. The thermal and thermal-shock stability of Yb2O3 foam ceramic was analyzed. The foam passed 200 heating/cooling cycles without major damage. Tubes were manufactured from this material and tested in a thermophotovoltaic demonstration system. An electrical power of 86 W was achieved at a thermal power of 16 kW. Using a simulation model, the potential efficiency of a thermophotovoltaic system based on our technology applied for the conversion of concentrated solar radiation was estimated.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
W. E. Horne, M. D. Morgan, V. S. Sundaram, and T. Butcher, in Proceedings of Fifth Conference on Thermophotovoltic Generation of Electricity, Ed. by T. J. Coutts, G. E. Guazzoni, and J. Luther (2003), AIP Conf. Proc., Vol. 653, p. 91.
B. Bitnar, J.-C. Mayor, W. Durisch, et al., in Proceedings of Fifth Conference on Thermophotovoltic Generation of Electricity, Ed. by T. J. Coutts, G. E. Guazzoni, and J. Luther (2003), AIP Conf. Proc., Vol. 653, p. 18.
B. Bitnar, W. Durisch, J.-C. Mayor, et al., Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 73(3), 221 (2002).
B. Bitnar, W. Durisch, F. von Roth, et al., in Next Generation Photovoltaics: High Efficiency through Full Spectrum Utilization, Ed. by A. Martí and A. Luque (Inst. of Physics, Bristol, 2004), p. 223.
B. Bitnar, W. Durisch, A. Meyer, and G. Palfinger, in Proceedings of Fifth Conference on Thermophotovoltic Generation of Electricity, Ed. by T. J. Coutts, G. E. Guazzoni, and J. Luther (2003), AIP Conf. Proc., Vol. 653, p. 465.
R. Siegel and J. R. Howell, Thermal Radiation Heat Transfer, 2nd ed. (Hemisphere, New York, 1981).
K. W. Stone, D. L. Chubb, D. M. Wilt, and M. W. Wanlass, in Proceedings of Second NREL Conference on Thermophotovoltaic Generation of Electricity, Ed. by J. P. Benner, T. J. Coutts, and D. S. Ginley (1996), AIP Conf. Proc., Vol. 358, p. 199.
Zh. I. Alferov and V. D. Rumyantsev, in Next Generation Photovoltaics: High Efficiency through Full Spectrum Utilization, Ed. by A. Marti and A. Luque (Inst. of Physics, Bristol, 2004), p. 19.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
From Fizika i Tekhnika Poluprovodnikov, Vol. 38, No. 8, 2004, pp. 980–984.
Original English Text Copyright © 2004 by Bitnar, Durisch, Palfinger, von Roth, Vogt, Brönstrup, Seiler.
This article was submitted by the authors in English.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bitnar, S., Durisch, W., Palfinger, G. et al. Practical thermophotovoltaic generators. Semiconductors 38, 941–945 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1134/1.1787116
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/1.1787116