Optimization of Photoelectric Converter Based on a Two-Chamber Na–Ar Gas Photoplasma

Abstract

An optimization for the design of a two-chamber photoplasma has been carried out to investigate some parameters affecting the conversion of light radiation to electrical energy. For these purposes, 2-D simulation with Plasma Module in COMSOL for a cylindrical two-chamber cell at sodium pressure 0.02 torr and different pressures of buffer gas are carried out. A theoretical model considering plasma chemistry and resonance radiation transfer developed in our previous work was used. The effect of the second chamber dimensions ${L}_{2}=({1-4}) \times 1 {0}^{-2}\,\,{\text {m}}$ and ${R}_{2}=({0.5-3}) \times 1 {0}^{-2}\,\,{\text {m}} $ at a fixed size of the first chamber ( ${L}_{1}={2{R}}_{1}={1}{0}^{-2}\,\,\text {m}$ ), the buffer gas pressure ${P}_{{\text {Ar}}}=({0.1-10 })\,\,{\text {Torr}}$ , and nonhomogeneous spatial distribution of photoexcitation rate have been investigated. It has been established that an optimal value of electromotive force (EMF) 1.037 V takes place at ${P}_{{\text {Ar}}}={5\,\,\text {torr}}$ and ${L}_{2}={R}_{2}={2\times 1}{0}^{-2}\,\,{\text {m}}$ . Also, for the same conditions, calculations of the $I-V$ and $P-V$ characteristics for the photoplasma device are presented. It was established that maximal output power ${P}_{{\text {max}}}={8\times 1}{0}^{-3}\,\,{\text {mW}}$ for these conditions. The obtained results give a good potential for designing a solar photoelectric converter.