Prospects for high-performance thermophotovoltaic conversion efficiencies exceeding the Shockley–Queisser limit

Zhou, Zhiguang; Chen, Qingshuang; Bermel, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2015.03.035

Cited by 57 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…If typical sub-band gap and carrier thermalization losses due to above-band gap absorption can be strongly suppressed or even eliminated with this approach, extremely high heat-to-electricity power conversion efficiencies up to 50% could be achieved [28], well in excess of both the singlejunction and tandem-junction Shockley-Queisser limits for PV cells [10]. This would be possible at 1300 ∘ C for band gaps ranging from 0.7 to 1.1 eV, encompassing a wide range of PV materials including GaSb and c-Si [29].…”

Section: Principles Of Selectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The absorption cutoff can be tuned by adjusting the dimensions of the periodic structure, and thus shifting the photonic band gap. Furthermore, PhCs can also enhance absorption via quality factor matching (Qmatching) [29,50,55,56]. According to coupled mode theory [57], a cavity with a resonance frequency ω 0 and absorption quality factor Q abs , and coupled to a radiating mode with a quality factor Q rad has an absorption spectrum given by the following:…”

Section: Phc Selective Solar Absorbersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Solar thermophotovoltaics: reshaping the solar spectrum

et al. 2016

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Abstract:Recently, there has been increasing interest in utilizing solar thermophotovoltaics (STPV) to convert sunlight into electricity, given their potential to exceed the Shockley-Queisser limit. Encouragingly, there have also been several recent demonstrations of improved systemlevel efficiency as high as 6.2%. In this work, we review prior work in the field, with particular emphasis on the role of several key principles in their experimental operation, performance, and reliability. In particular, for the problem of designing selective solar absorbers, we consider the trade-off between solar absorption and thermal losses, particularly radiative and convective mechanisms. For the selective thermal emitters, we consider the tradeoff between emission at critical wavelengths and parasitic losses. Then for the thermophotovoltaic (TPV) diodes, we consider the trade-off between increasing the potential short-circuit current, and maintaining a reasonable opencircuit voltage. This treatment parallels the historic development of the field, but also connects early insights with recent developments in adjacent fields. With these various components connecting in multiple ways, a system-level end-to-end modeling approach is necessary for a comprehensive understanding and appropriate improvement of STPV systems. This approach will ultimately allow researchers to design STPV systems capable of exceeding recently demonstrated efficiency values.

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Section: Principles Of Selectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Phc Selective Solar Absorbersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar thermophotovoltaics: reshaping the solar spectrum

et al. 2016

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“…Finite difference time-domain (FDTD) 38 and current transport simulations have shown that an IPSE enables system conversion efficiencies to reach up to 41.8%, using the realistic model for GaSb PV diodes, by nearly eliminating sub-bandgap emission. This corresponds to showing that the 10.9% gap from the ideal efficiency value observed in previous work 39 can now be reduced to 4.3% using IPSEs. Arguably, the IPSE creates a nonzero chemical potential for photon emission using a purely thermal input source, which is a fundamentally distinctive physical behavior akin to light-emitting diodes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Overall, the efficiency gap from the ideal case is substantially reduced to 4.3%, which is less than two-fifths of the original gap previously seen in the literature. 39 Assuming the presence of a large-area passive heat sink with convective and radiative cooling available on its outer surface, the best IPSE design leaves the temperature of the PV diode at 1.5 K above ambient when illuminated. It was also assumed that the PV diode has zero series resistance.…”

Section: Integrated Photonic Crystal Selective Emitter With Chirped Qmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…39 Previously, we found that for a W PhC emitter paired with a cold-side rugate filter, 46 the highest estimated η ¼ 35.2% occurs at E g ¼ 0.7 eV and T ¼ 1573 K, where E g is the bandgap energy of the PV diode and T is the operating temperature of the emitter. A suitable geometry for selective emission is determined using the technique of quality factor-matching, in which the radiative coupling rate is matched with the material absorption rate to achieve full absorption.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integrated photonic crystal selective emitter for thermophotovoltaics

2016

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Abstract. Converting blackbody thermal radiation to electricity via thermophotovoltaics (TPV) is inherently inefficient. Photon recycling using cold-side filters offers potentially improved performance but requires extremely close spacing between the thermal emitter and the receiver, namely a high view factor. Here, we propose an alternative approach for thermal energy conversion, the use of an integrated photonic crystal selective emitter (IPSE), which combines twodimensional photonic crystal selective emitters and filters into a single device. Finite difference time domain and current transport simulations show that IPSEs can significantly suppress sub-bandgap photons. This increases heat-to-electricity conversion for photonic crystal based emitters from 35.2 up to 41.8% at 1573 K for a GaSb photovoltaic (PV) diode with matched bandgaps of 0.7 eV. The physical basis of this enhancement is a shift from a perturbative to a nonperturbative regime, which maximized photon recycling. Furthermore, combining IPSEs with nonconductive optical waveguides eliminates a key difficulty associated with TPV: the need for precise alignment between the hot selective emitter and cool PV diode. The physical effects of both the IPSE and waveguide can be quantified in terms of an extension of the concept of an effective view factor.

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Two-dimensional tungsten photonic crystal selective emitter: effects of geometrical parameters and temperature

Rostamnejadi

Daneshvar

2018

Appl. Phys. B

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Prospects for high-performance thermophotovoltaic conversion efficiencies exceeding the Shockley–Queisser limit

Cited by 57 publications

References 69 publications

Solar thermophotovoltaics: reshaping the solar spectrum

Solar thermophotovoltaics: reshaping the solar spectrum

Integrated photonic crystal selective emitter for thermophotovoltaics

Two-dimensional tungsten photonic crystal selective emitter: effects of geometrical parameters and temperature

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