Potential analysis of a hybrid cascaded thermophotovoltaic-electrochemical system for power generation and cooling

To improve the utilization of thermal energy and mitigate losses associated with waste heat in radiative energy conversion, this work proposes a hybrid system that integrates a dual-junction thermophotovoltaic cell with an electrochemical energy converter. A comprehensive numerical model is developed to convert high-energy thermal radiation into electrical energy while simultaneously recovering waste heat for cooling through electrochemical processes, thereby enhancing overall energy utilization. The validity of the model is confirmed by comparison with known results of the individual subsystems. Numerical analysis reveals that, under optimized conditions with respective optimal bandgap combinations, the hybrid system achieves a power density of 1.417 W cm−2 and an energy efficiency of 52%, corresponding to a 13.3% performance improvement relative to an independent thermophotovoltaic cell. Parametric studies reveal the critical roles of emitter temperature, charge ratio, reflective coefficient, temperature coefficient, and internal resistance in governing system performance. These findings offer quantitative insights into the synergistic integration of thermophotovoltaic and electrochemical conversion processes, underscoring the substantial potential of advanced hybrid thermal-electrical energy conversion systems.