THERMAL SCIENCE

International Scientific Journal

Authors of this Paper

External Links

Heng Li

,

Jialu Tian

,

Shujian Sun

,

Shiquan Shan

DESIGN OF EFFICIENT THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM BASED ON META-MATERIAL NARROW-BAND EMITTER FOR SPACE POWER SUPPLY

ABSTRACT
Photovoltaic technology has been widely used in spacecraft power supply, but its efficiency is difficult to be greatly improved by Shockley-Queisser limitation. The thermophotovoltaic technology can convert solar radiation energy or high temperature combustion energy into radiation energy with reshaped spectrum for direct photovoltaic power generation. In this study, a meta-material structure composed of metal tantalum, Ta, and dielectric SiO2 is innovatively proposed for shaping narrowband radiation. The results show that the optimized spectral emittance peak of narrowband emitters reaches 0.9998. Narrowband emitter has advantages at high temperatures above 1000 K. The thermophotovoltaic efficiency of InGaAsSb cell and tandem Si/InGaAsSb cells can reach more than 41.67% and 46.26%, respectively. It is significantly higher than published thermophotovoltaic system with broadband emitter. This study demonstrates the notable advantages and potential of narrowband emitter for spectrum reshaping, which provides an important reference for future spacecraft power supply as well as space solar power generation.
KEYWORDS
Thermophotovoltaic, Metamaterial structure, Spectrum reshaping, Narrowband emitter, Photovoltaic cell
PAPER SUBMITTED: 2023-02-03
PAPER REVISED: 2023-03-01
PAPER ACCEPTED: 2023-03-10
PUBLISHED ONLINE: 2023-04-22
DOI REFERENCE: https://doi.org/10.2298/TSCI221125087L
CITATION EXPORT: view in browser or download as text file
THERMAL SCIENCE YEAR 2024, VOLUME 28, ISSUE Issue 1, PAGES [51 - 63]
REFERENCES
  1. Zhang, T., et al., Review on Space Energy, Applied Energy, 292 (2021), 116896
  2. Radwan, A., et al., Performance Enhancement of Concentrated Photovoltaic Systems Using a Micro-Channel Heat Sink with Nanofluid, Energy Conversion and Management, 119 (2016), July, pp. 289-303
  3. Chubb, D., et al., Solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) System with Thermal Energy Storage, American Institute of Physics Conference Series, American Institute of Physics, College Park, Md., USA, 1996
  4. La Potin, A., et al., Thermophotovoltaic Efficiency of 40%, Nature, 604 (2022), Apr., pp. 287-291
  5. Shan, S., et al., Comparison between Spectrum-Split Conversion and Thermophotovoltaic for Solar Energy Utilization: Thermodynamic Limitation and Parametric Analysis, Energy Conversion and Management, 255 (2022), 115331
  6. Teofilo, V., et al., Thermophotovoltaic Energy Conversion for Space, The Journal of Physical Chemistry, 112 (2008), 21, pp. 7841-7845
  7. Shan, S., et al., Spectral Emittance Measurements of Micro/Nanostructures in Energy Conversion: A Review, Frontiers in Energy, 14 (2020), Aug., pp. 482-509
  8. Burger, T., et al., Present Efficiencies and Future Opportunities in Thermophotovoltaics, Joule, 4 (2020), 8, pp. 1660-1680
  9. Zhou, Z., et al., Solar Thermophotovoltaics: Reshaping the Solar Spectrum, Nanophotonics, 5 (2016), 1, pp. 1-21
  10. Chen. B., Shan. S., Construction and Performance Analysis of a Solar Thermophotovoltaic System Targeting on the Efficient Utilization of AM0 Space Solar Radiation, iScience, 25 (2022), 105373
  11. Rana, A. S., et al., Broadband Solar Absorption by Chromium Metasurface for Highly Efficient Solar Thermophotovoltaic Systems, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 171 (2023), 113005
  12. Maremi, F. T., et al., Design of Multilayer Ring Emitter Based on Metamaterial for Thermophotovoltaic Applications, Energies, 11 (2018), 2299
  13. Rinnerbauer, V., et al., Metallic Photonic Crystal Absorber‐Emitter for Efficient Spectral Control in High‐ Temperature Solar Thermophotovoltaics, Advaned Energy Mater., 4 (2014), 1400334
  14. Gu, W., et al., High Efficiency Thermophotovoltaic Emitter by Metamaterial-Based Nanopyramid Array, Optics Express, 23 (2015), 24, pp. 30681-30694
  15. Lou, Y. Y., et al., Enhanced Thermal Radiation Conversion in a GaSb/GaInAsSb Tandem Thermophotovoltaic Cell, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 172 (2017), Dec., pp. 124-132
  16. Chen, B., et al., An Effective Design of Thermophotovoltaic Metamaterial Emitter for Medium-Temperature Solar Energy Storage Utilization, Solar Energy, 231 (2022), Jan., pp.194-202.
  17. Liu. X. J., et al, Tailorable Bandgap-Dependent Selective Emitters for Thermophotovoltaic Systems, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 200 (2023), 123504
  18. Chen, F., et al., A Refractory Metal-Based Photonic Narrowband Emitter for Thermophotovoltaic Energy Conversion, Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 11 (2023), 5
  19. Ferrari, C., et al., Thermophotovoltaic Energy Conversion: Analytical Aspects, Prototypes and Experiences, Applied Energy, 113 (2014), Jan., pp. 1717-1730
  20. Chan, W., et al., Modelling Low-Bandgap Thermophotovoltaic Diodes for High-Efficiency Portable Power Generators, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 94 (2010), 3, pp. 509-514
  21. Ferrari, C., et al., The Critical Role of Emitter Size in Thermo-Photovoltaic Generators, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 113 (2013), June, pp. 20-25
  22. Qiu, K., et al., Generation of Electricity Using InGaAsSb and GaSb TPV Cells in Combustion-Driven Radiant Sources, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 90 (2006), 1, pp. 68-81
  23. Shoaei, E., Performance Assessment of Thermophotovoltaic Application in Steel Industry, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 157 (2016), Dec., pp. 55-64
  24. Bagheri, S., et al., Design and Simulation of a High Efficiency InGaP/GaAs Multi Junction Solar Cell with AlGaAs Tunnel Junction, Optik, 99 (2019), 163315
  25. Ioannide, A., Characterization of Monolithic Tandem Solar Cells Containing Strain Balanced Quantum Well Sub-Cells, Ph. D. thesis, Imperial College London, UK, 2015
  26. Tirkas, P. A., et al., Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method for Electromagnetic Radiation, Interference, and Interaction with Complex Structures, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, 35 (2015), 2, pp. 192-203
  27. Palik, E. D., Handbook of Optical Constant of Solids II, Academic Press, New York, USA, 1991
  28. Wang, J., et al., Emissivity Calculation for a Finite Circular Array of Pyramidal Absorbers Based on Kirchhoff's Law of Thermal Radiation, IEEE Transactions Antennas and Propagation, 58 (2010), 4, pp. 1173-1180
  29. Qiu, Y., et al., A High-Temperature Near-Perfect Solar Selective Absorber Combining Tungsten Nanohole and Nanoshuriken Arrays, ES Energy and Environment, 13 (2021), June, pp. 77-90
  30. Zhao, B., et al., Thermophotovoltaic Emitters Based on a 2-D Grating/Thin-Film Nanostructure, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 67 (2013), Dec., pp. 637-645
  31. Rohsenow, W. M., et al., Handbook of Heat Transfer, Fundamentals, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, USA, 1985
  32. Jeon, N., et al., High-Temperature Selective Emitter Design and Materials: Titanium Aluminum Nitride Alloys for Thermophotovoltaics, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 11 (20191), 44, pp. 41347-41355
  33. Tobler, W. J., Durisch, W., Plasma-Spray Coated Rare-Earth Oxides on Molybdenum Disilicide-High Temperature Stable Emitters for Thermophotovoltaics, Applied Energy, 85 (2008), 5, pp. 371-383
PDF VERSION [DOWNLOAD]
Design of efficient thermophotovoltaic system based on meta-material narrow-band emitter for space power supply

© 2024 Society of Thermal Engineers of Serbia. Published by the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International licence