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Upper bounds for solar thermophotovoltaic efficiency

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  • Badescu, Viorel

Abstract

The main components of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) devices are the primary lens (or mirror), the absorber, the PV cell, and a photon recuperator system. A theory integrating all these components is used in this paper to analyse a particular type of TPV device (plane disk absorber and PV cell). The TPV efficiency is maximized by using three optimization parameters, namely absorber, PV cell temperatures, and cell voltage. Almost ideal operation conditions are envisaged and upper bounds are obtained for the TPV efficiency. They are strongly dependent on PV cell bandgap and radiation concentration. Preliminary results suggest the existence of an optimum solar radiation concentration ratio. The improvement in thermal design quality allows the usage of PV cells based on wide bandgap semiconductors.

Suggested Citation

  • Badescu, Viorel, 2005. "Upper bounds for solar thermophotovoltaic efficiency," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 211-225.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:30:y:2005:i:2:p:211-225
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2004.04.012
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Yu & Zhang, Xingwang & Zhang, Xiulan & Chen, Nuofu, 2012. "Electricity generation from thermal irradiation governed by GaSb active layer," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 231-237.
    2. Mostafa, Samia I. & Rafat, Nadia H. & El-Naggar, Sahar A., 2012. "One-dimensional metallic-dielectric (Ag/SiO2) photonic crystals filter for thermophotovoltaic applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 245-250.
    3. Xuan, Yimin & Chen, Xue & Han, Yuge, 2011. "Design and analysis of solar thermophotovoltaic systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 374-387.
    4. Erdil, Erzat & Ilkan, Mustafa & Egelioglu, Fuat, 2008. "An experimental study on energy generation with a photovoltaic (PV)–solar thermal hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1241-1245.
    5. Alharbi, Fahhad H. & Kais, Sabre, 2015. "Theoretical limits of photovoltaics efficiency and possible improvements by intuitive approaches learned from photosynthesis and quantum coherence," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1073-1089.

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