Monolithic interconnected modules (MIMs) for thermophotovoltaic energy conversion

Wilt, David M.; Wehrer, R.J.; Palmisiano, M. N.; Wanlass, M. W.; Murray, Christopher S.

doi:10.1088/0268-1242/18/5/310

Cited by 47 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The hot side assembly was partially surrounded with either InGaAsSb [16] or InGaAs [17] (reported electrical output was scaled for a full set of cells) which were maintained at 20 • C with a chilled water loop. The distance between the emitter and cells was approximately 1 mm.…”

Section: System Demonstrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Thermophotovoltaic System Using a Photonic Crystal Emitter

Chan

Stelmakh

Soljačić

et al. 2016

Volume 1: Micro/Nanofluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip; Nanofluids; Micro/Nanoscale Interfacial Transport Phenomena; Micro/Nanoscale Bo

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The increasing power demands of portable electronics and micro robotics has driven recent interest in millimeter-scale microgenerators. Many technologies (fuel cells, Stirling, thermoelectric, etc.) that potentially enable a portable hydrocarbon microgenerator are under active investigation. Hydrocarbon fuels have specific energies fifty times those of batteries, thus even a relatively inefficient generator can exceed the specific energy of batteries. We proposed, designed, and demonstrated a first-ofa-kind millimeter-scale thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system with a photonic crystal emitter. In a TPV system, combustion heats an emitter to incandescence and the resulting thermal radiation is converted to electricity by photovoltaic cells. Our approach uses a moderate temperature (1000-1200 • C) metallic microburner coupled to a high emissivity, high selectivity photonic crystal selective emitter and low bandgap PV cells. This approach is predicted to be capable of up to 30% efficient fuel-to-electricity conversion within a millimeter-scale form factor. We have performed a robust experimental demonstration that validates the theoretical framework and the key system components, and present our results in the context of a TPV microgenerator. Although considerable technological barriers need to be overcome to realize a TPV microgenerator, we predict that 700-900 Wh/kg is possible with the current technology.

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Section: System Demonstrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Thermophotovoltaic System Using a Photonic Crystal Emitter

Chan

Stelmakh

Soljačić

et al. 2016

Volume 1: Micro/Nanofluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip; Nanofluids; Micro/Nanoscale Interfacial Transport Phenomena; Micro/Nanoscale Bo

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“…The choice of four cells per module was made to provide a large enough working voltage (approximately 1 V) for the MPPTs to ensure efficient power conversion by the electronics. Additionally, this voltage is below the reverse breakdown voltage of a typical TPV cell [16], such that stronger TPV cells in a single module will not cause an under-performing cell to be reverse biased. Using this architecture, current mismatch is limited to only four cells, all of which are placed in close proximity to each other, thereby minimizing the negative effects of non-uniform irradiation.…”

Section: A Conventional Mppt Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated CMOS Energy Harvesting Converter With Digital Maximum Power Point Tracking for a Portable Thermophotovoltaic Power Generator

Pilawa-Podgurski

Čelanović

et al. 2015

IEEE J. Emerg. Sel. Topics Power Electron.

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Abstract-This paper presents an integrated maximum power point tracking system for use with a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) portable power generator. The design, implemented in 0.35 µm CMOS technology, consists of a low-power control stage and a dc-dc boost power stage with soft-switching capability. With a nominal input voltage of 1 V, and an output voltage of 4 V, we demonstrate a peak conversion efficiency under nominal conditions of over 94% (overall peak efficiency over 95%), at a power level of 300 mW. The control stage uses lossless current sensing together with a custom low-power time-based ADC to minimize control losses. The converter employs a fully integrated digital implementation of a peak power tracking algorithm, and achieves a measured tracking efficiency above 98%. A detailed study of achievable efficiency versus inductor size is also presented, with calculated and measured results.

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“…At the emitter/PV cells side, we assume a black body emitter and single junction PV cells with back-side reflectors (BSR) (Wilt et al, 2003;Huang et al, 2004) as was done in earlier work Algora, 2010, 2012;Datas et al, 2013). The BSR reflects the photons that are not absorbed by the PV cells, i.e.…”

Section: Sistp V Descrip Tionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Note that for this arrangement to be effective, it is essential to have very low free carrier absorption within the bulk of the semiconductor PV cell substrate. Some materials like InP show very low free carrier absorption and consequently, have been used as the substrate to manufacture TPV cells with BSR (Wilt et al, 2003). Another very promising approach to manufacture such cells is to use thin film PV cells on highly reflective substrates (Wilt et al, 2003;Huang et al, 2004).…”

Section: Sistp V Descrip Tionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Night time performance of a storage integrated solar thermophotovoltaic (SISTPV) system

2014

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Energy storage at low maintenance cost is one of the key challenges for generating electricity from the solar energy. This paper presents the theoretical analysis (verified by CFD) of the night time performance of a recently proposed conceptual system that integrates thermal storage (via phase change materials) and thermophotovoltaics for power generation. These storage integrated solar thermophotovoltaic (SISTPV) systems are attractive owing to their simple design (no moving parts) and modularity compared to conventional Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies. Importantly, the ability of high temperature operation of these systems allows the use of silicon (melting point of 1680 K) as the phase change material (PCM). Silicon's very high latent heat of fusion of 1800 kJ/kg and low cost ($1.70/kg), makes it an ideal heat storage medium enabling for an extremely high storage energy density and low weight modular systems. In this paper, the night time operation of the SISTPV system optimised for steady state is analysed. The results indicate that for any given PCM length, a combination of small taper ratio and large inlet hole-to-absorber area ratio are essential to increase the operation time and the average power produced during the night time. Additionally, the overall results show that there is a trade-off between running time and the average power produced during the night time. Average night time power densities as high as 30 W/cm 2 are possible if the system is designed with a small PCM length (10 cm) to operate just a few hours after sun-set, but running times longer than 72 h (3 days) are possible for larger lengths (50 cm) at the expense of a lower average power density of about 14 W/cm 2 . In both cases the steady state system efficiency has been predicted to be about 30%. This makes SISTPV systems to be a versatile solution that can be adapted for operation in a broad range of locations with different climate conditions, even being used off-grid and in space applications.

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Monolithic interconnected modules (MIMs) for thermophotovoltaic energy conversion

Cited by 47 publications

References 25 publications

A Thermophotovoltaic System Using a Photonic Crystal Emitter

A Thermophotovoltaic System Using a Photonic Crystal Emitter

Integrated CMOS Energy Harvesting Converter With Digital Maximum Power Point Tracking for a Portable Thermophotovoltaic Power Generator

Night time performance of a storage integrated solar thermophotovoltaic (SISTPV) system

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