Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) applications to space power generation

Vicente, F. A.; Kelly, Charles E.; Loughin, S.

doi:10.1109/iecec.1996.552967

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Advantages of TPV with respect to competitors are the high efficiency (~25% in current state of the art devices [9] and potential to reach ~40% [10]), the low weight, the independence of pressure and gravitational force, the absence of moving parts and the fact that it directly produces DC power. The main concern of TPV is the low rejection (TPV cell) temperature, which implies a large radiator area and limits the usefulness of TPV to relatively small power outputs, typically below 1 kW [11] (Fig. 2).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermophotovoltaic energy in space applications: Review and future potential

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Martı́

2017

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

158

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This article reviews the state of the art and historical development of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion along with that of the main competing technologies, i.e. Stirling, Brayton, thermoelectrics, and thermionics, in the field of space power generation. Main advantages of TPV are the high efficiency, the absence of moving parts, and the fact that it directly generates DC power. The main drawbacks are the unproven reliability and the low rejection temperature, which makes necessary the use of relatively large radiators. This limits the usefulness of TPV to small/medium power applications (100 W e -class) that includes radioisotope (RTPV) and small solar thermal (STPV) generators. In this article, next generation TPV concepts are also revisited in order to explore their potential in future space power applications. Among them, multiband TPV cells are found to be the most promising in the short term because of their higher conversion efficiencies at lower emitter temperatures; thus significantly reducing the amount of rejected heat and the required radiator mass.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%