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Enhancing micro thermophotovoltaic system efficiency via a Gyroid lattice-embedded micro combustor: performance comparison and optimization

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  • Gao, Wei
  • He, Ziqiang
  • Qi, Wenjie

Abstract

To improve the efficiency of micro thermophotovoltaic (MTPV) system, this study pioneers a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) Gyroid lattice into a micro combustor (Combustor C). Meanwhile, a micro combustor with aligned pin-fin arrays (Combustor A) and a combustor with staggered pin-fin arrays (Combustor B) both were constructed. The performances of the three combustors were compared under varying inlet velocities and equivalence ratios (ERs), and the influence of the Gyroid lattice position on Combustor C's performance was systematically investigated. The results indicated that the continuous smooth surface structure of the Gyroid lattice can effectively enhance flame root anchoring and heat transfer. The Combustor C achieves the highest system net output power and system efficiency among all combustors at the same conditions. At inlet velocity of 25 m/s, system efficiency based on Combustor C is 6.19 %, outperforming Combustor A by 9.6 % and Combustor B by 4.2 %. At ER of 1.2, the system net powers based on Combustors A, B, and C are 47.91 W, 50.46 W, and 52.73 W, respectively. When the Gyroid lattice is positioned 18 mm from the backward-facing step, the MTPV system achieves maximum net output power (53.85 W) and efficiency (6.21 %).

Suggested Citation

  • Gao, Wei & He, Ziqiang & Qi, Wenjie, 2025. "Enhancing micro thermophotovoltaic system efficiency via a Gyroid lattice-embedded micro combustor: performance comparison and optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 330(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:330:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225026015
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.136959
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    References listed on IDEAS

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