Lessons learned on closed cavity TPV system efficiency measurements

Gethers, C. K.; Ballinger, C.T.; DePoy, D.M.

doi:10.1063/1.57814

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…However, this modelled comparison predicted a 20% lower P abs and 10% lower P max than was measured [9]. A more detailed discussion about the challenges associated with determining the efficiency based upon absorbed power can be found in [7].…”

Section: Performance Based Upon Absorbed Powermentioning

confidence: 73%

“…At the cell level, it is more meaningful to measure the heat power absorbed by the cell. The TPV cell efficiency is then 100 times P max divided by the net power delivered to the heat source total radiative power absorbed by the TPV device, P abs [6][7][8][9][10]. This approach rewards cell designs that minimize the absorption of photons that do not produce electron-hole pairs.…”

Section: Performance Based Upon Absorbed Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main limitation of this method is the inability to form a closed cavity, resulting in parasitic absorptions and errors in P abs . These losses can be minimized by careful attention to thermal isolation of components and placement of temperature sensors [7]. For a cell mounted on a copper block, the radiative energy absorbed by a TPV device at open-circuit conditions can be expressed as [6,8]…”

Section: Performance Based Upon Absorbed Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two steady-state methods have been employed: one method determines the temperature rise of the coolant, and the other method determines the temperature gradient along a copper mass. These methods are compared by Gethers et al [7,9]…”

Section: Performance Based Upon Absorbed Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characterizing thermophotovoltaic cells

Emery¹

2003

Semicond. Sci. Technol.

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Performance of photovoltaic cells is often expressed in terms of conversion efficiency. For flat-plate and concentrator cells operating under natural sunlight, procedures have been established and standardized for determining their efficiency. These procedures rate the efficiency in terms of a reference temperature, reference total irradiance, reference spectral irradiance and a defined area. However, for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) devices, such reference conditions have not been established, resulting in large differences in efficiencies measured among various technologies and research groups. We discuss a strategy for determining a limited set of reference conditions to help compare TPV performance among technologies and groups. First, we measure the quantum efficiency and the current versus voltage (I-V ) curves as a function of light-level and temperature. From this information, we can then determine the I-V characteristics at any current density for an arbitrary light source. We also present an alternative procedure to characterize PV cells in terms of the power produced divided by absorbed power. The discussion covers temperature, contacting, reference conditions and other measurement issues.

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Section: Performance Based Upon Absorbed Powermentioning

confidence: 73%