Abstract
Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems generate electricity without the limitations of radiation intermittency, which is the case in solar photovoltaic systems. As energy demands steadily increase, there is a need to improve the conversion dynamics of TPV systems. Consequently, this study proposes a novel radiation-thermodynamic model to gain insights into the thermodynamics of TPV systems. After validating the model, parametric studies were performed to study the dependence of power generation attributes on the radiator and PV cell temperatures. Our results indicated that a silicon-based photovoltaic (PV) module could produce a power density output, thermal losses, and maximum voltage of 115.68 W cm−2, 18.14 W cm−2, and 36 V, respectively, at a radiator and PV cell temperature of 1800 K and 300 K. Power density output increased when the radiator temperature increased; however, the open circuit voltage degraded when the temperature of the TPV cells increased. Overall, for an 80 W PV module, there was a potential for improving the power generation capacity by 45% if the TPV system operated at a radiator and PV cell temperature of 1800 K and 300 K, respectively. The thermal efficiency of the TPV system varied with the temperature of the PV cell and radiator.
Highlights
Decarbonized energy infrastructure is urgently needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to mitigate the current impacts of global warming and climate change [1]
In response to the need to deepen the understanding of the radiation-thermodynamic model of TPV systems, this study presented a novel numerical integration of the radiative heat flux, power density output, and thermal losses for a TPV
The parameters of the TPV cells are often stated at STC, as exemplified by an experimental study involving butane burner with a thermal output power of 1.35 kW [36]
Summary
Decarbonized energy infrastructure is urgently needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to mitigate the current impacts of global warming and climate change [1]. MacKay [2] stated that energy production processes are the highest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions This is understandable because modern civilization cannot exist as it has without different forms of energy. The importance of generating energy sustainably has gone beyond academia to influence political, environmental, and economic decisions across the globe. This has motivated an aggressive search for clean energy technologies in order to implement the Paris Agreement, which seeks to reduce the threats of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise this century below 2 ◦ C above pre-industrial levels and to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 ◦ C [3]. Low-carbon energy technologies will strengthen the global response during the upcoming transition from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy infrastructure [4]
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