High efficiency converters for thermophotovoltaic applications

Abstract

Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) converters were developed and tested at the heat source operating temperature of 1700 K. Rare-earth-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) and lutetium yttrium aluminum garnet (Lu,YAG) selective emitters, as well as a blackbody emitter, were coupled to InGaAdInP photovoltaic (PV) cells and bandpasslinfrared (IR) reflector filters. YAG-based selective emitters were doped with Ho, Tm, and Er. PV cells had bandgaps of 0.51, 0.57, and 0.69 eV. Converter energy conversion efficiencies approaching 30%, as well as electrical output power densities near 2 W/cm2 were demonstrated.The overall performance of the filtered blackbody-based converter was found to be superior to the selective emitter YAG-based converters. The details of the measurements performed on the above converters and their individual components are presented.

Modeling and Simulation of Multiple-Input Converter System with Equally Drawn Source Power

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Converting solar-photovoltaic power into exportable products

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