Search for: All records

ABSTRACT The vast majority of power generation in the United States today is produced through the same processes as it was in the late-1800s: heat is applied to water to generate steam, which turns a turbine, which turns a generator, generating electrical power. Researchers today are developing solid-state power generation processes that are more befitting the 21 st -century. Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells directly convert radiated thermal energy into electrical power, through a process similar to how traditional photovoltaics work. These TPV generators, however, include additional system components that solar cells do not incorporate. These components, selective-emitters and filters, shape the way the radiated heat is transferred into the TPV cell for conversion and are critical for its efficiency. Here, we present a review of work performed to improve the components in these systems. These improvements will help enable TPV generators to be used with nearly any thermal source for both primary power generation and waste heat harvesting. 

Abstract—Thermophotovoltaic and rectenna devices can be greatly improved by frequency-selective emitters, which narrow the emission spectrum of a heat source to couple to the most efficient operating point of the device. We have simulated an alumina and titanium emitter using a Fabry-Perot design which is intended for use with thermal energy converters operating in the near to mid infrared region.