IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i5p1830-d762169.html

Refractory All-Ceramic Thermal Emitter for High-Temperature Near-Field Thermophotovoltaics

Author

Listed:
  • Fangqi Chen

    (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Xiaojie Liu

    (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Yanpei Tian

    (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Jon Goldsby

    (National Aeronautics and Space Administration Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH 44135, USA)

  • Yi Zheng

    (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

Abstract

Thermophotovoltaics is a promising technology for heat recovery and has garnered tremendous attention in the last decades. This work theoretically evaluates the performance of a thermophotovoltaic system equipped with refractory all-ceramic selective thermal emitters made of boron carbide, silicon carbide and beryllium oxide for a high working temperature of 2000 ∘ C, which corresponds to the external quantum efficiency of a SiC/Si tandem cell. The influence of thickness and filling ratio on the emissivity of thermal emitters over the wavelength ranging from 0.2 μ m to 2.5 μ m is studied. The corresponding spectral heat flux and output power are analyzed as well. For a specific configuration, the parameters for the thermophotovoltaic system are obtained, including short circuit current, open circuit voltage, fill factor, total heat flux, output power and conversion efficiency. The proposed all-ceramic thermal emitter ensures the robustness in the high-temperature working condition due to its thermal stability. The tuning of emissivity is achieved and analyzed based on distinct emitter nanostructures, and the further influence on the thermophotovoltaic system performance is deeply explored. This work sheds light on research of high-temperature thermal management and power generation.

Suggested Citation

  • Fangqi Chen & Xiaojie Liu & Yanpei Tian & Jon Goldsby & Yi Zheng, 2022. "Refractory All-Ceramic Thermal Emitter for High-Temperature Near-Field Thermophotovoltaics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-9, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:5:p:1830-:d:762169
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/5/1830/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/5/1830/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. De Pascale, Andrea & Ferrari, Claudio & Melino, Francesco & Morini, Mirko & Pinelli, Michele, 2012. "Integration between a thermophotovoltaic generator and an Organic Rankine Cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 695-703.
    2. Datas, Alejandro & Ramos, Alba & Martí, Antonio & del Cañizo, Carlos & Luque, Antonio, 2016. "Ultra high temperature latent heat energy storage and thermophotovoltaic energy conversion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 542-549.
    3. David M. Bierman & Andrej Lenert & Walker R. Chan & Bikram Bhatia & Ivan Celanović & Marin Soljačić & Evelyn N. Wang, 2016. "Enhanced photovoltaic energy conversion using thermally based spectral shaping," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(6), pages 1-7, June.
    4. Xuan, Yimin & Chen, Xue & Han, Yuge, 2011. "Design and analysis of solar thermophotovoltaic systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 374-387.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhang, Tao & Li, Yiteng & Chen, Yin & Feng, Xiaoyu & Zhu, Xingyu & Chen, Zhangxing & Yao, Jun & Zheng, Yongchun & Cai, Jianchao & Song, Hongqing & Sun, Shuyu, 2021. "Review on space energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    2. Neve, Todd & Shimizu, Makoto & Yugami, Hiroo, 2025. "Direct normal irradiance forecasting for high-temperature concentrated solar thermal systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    3. Tian Zhou & Zhiqiang Sun & Saiwei Li & Huawei Liu & Danqing Yi, 2016. "Design and Optimization of Thermophotovoltaic System Cavity with Mirrors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-11, September.
    4. Yi, F. & Xu, J.M. & Wang, B.X. & Zhao, C.Y., 2025. "Towards-standardization energy conversion efficiency measuring system for thermophotovoltaic cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PD).
    5. Cao, Shaowen & Cai, Qilin & Zhang, Yingshi & Zhang, Qi & Ye, Qing & Deng, Weifeng & Wu, Xi, 2023. "Evaluation of spectral regulation by selective emitter and filter under both ideal and actual conditions for solar thermophotovoltaic systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    6. Li, Haoming & Wan, Shuaibin & Wang, Lu & Zhao, Jiyun & Ji, Dongxu, 2025. "Divide and conquer: Spectral-splitting and utilization of thermal radiation from waste heat in the steel industry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 378(PA).
    7. Zhang, H.G. & Wang, E.H. & Fan, B.Y., 2013. "A performance analysis of a novel system of a dual loop bottoming organic Rankine cycle (ORC) with a light-duty diesel engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 1504-1513.
    8. Zhang, Ge & Cottrill, Anton L. & Koman, Volodymyr B. & Liu, Albert Tianxiang & Mahajan, Sayalee G. & Piephoff, D. Evan & Strano, Michael S., 2020. "Persistent, single-polarity energy harvesting from ambient thermal fluctuations using a thermal resonance device with thermal diodes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    9. Sy-Bor Wen & Arun Bhaskar, 2023. "The Shockley–Queisser Efficiency Limit of Solar Thermophotovoltaic (STPV) Cells Using Different Photovoltaic Cells and a Radiation Shield Considering the Étendue of Solar Radiation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-13, October.
    10. Ren, Xiao & Li, Jing & Hu, Mingke & Pei, Gang & Jiao, Dongsheng & Zhao, Xudong & Ji, Jie, 2019. "Feasibility of an innovative amorphous silicon photovoltaic/thermal system for medium temperature applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.
    11. Zeneli, M. & Malgarinos, I. & Nikolopoulos, A. & Nikolopoulos, N. & Grammelis, P. & Karellas, S. & Kakaras, E., 2019. "Numerical simulation of a silicon-based latent heat thermal energy storage system operating at ultra-high temperatures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 837-853.
    12. Lin, Chungwei & Wang, Bingnan & Teo, Koon Hoo & Zhang, Zhuomin, 2018. "A coherent description of thermal radiative devices and its application on the near-field negative electroluminescent cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 177-186.
    13. Shan, Shiquan & Tian, Jialu & Chen, Binghong & Zhang, Yanwei & Zhou, Zhijun, 2023. "Theoretical and technical analysis of the photo-thermal energy cascade conversion for fuel with high-temperature combustion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    14. Cai, Haotong & Fan, Jiaxi & Li, Haoming & Cheng, Haoyang & Ji, Dongxu, 2025. "Thermally geometric design of phase change material and photovoltaic (PV-PCM) for cooling and efficiency improvement," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    15. Adam, Alexandros & Fraga, Eric S. & Brett, Dan J.L., 2015. "Options for residential building services design using fuel cell based micro-CHP and the potential for heat integration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 685-694.
    16. Ferrari, Claudio & Melino, Francesco & Pinelli, Michele & Spina, Pier Ruggero, 2014. "Thermophotovoltaic energy conversion: Analytical aspects, prototypes and experiences," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1717-1730.
    17. Zhang, Chao & Tang, Liangliang & Liu, Yan & Liu, Zhuming & Liu, Wei & Qiu, Kuanrong, 2020. "A novel thermophotovoltaic optical cavity for improved irradiance uniformity and system performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    18. Habibi, Mohammad & Cui, Longji, 2023. "Modelling and performance analysis of a novel thermophotovoltaic system with enhanced radiative heat transfer for combined heat and power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 343(C).
    19. Sakai, Hiroki & Sheng, Nan & Kurniawan, Ade & Akiyama, Tomohiro & Nomura, Takahiro, 2020. "Fabrication of heat storage pellets composed of microencapsulated phase change material for high-temperature applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    20. Rami Y. Dahham & Haiqiao Wei & Jiaying Pan, 2022. "Improving Thermal Efficiency of Internal Combustion Engines: Recent Progress and Remaining Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-60, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:5:p:1830-:d:762169. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.