High-efficiency solar thermophotovoltaic system using a nanostructure-based selective emitter

Rajendra Bhatt; Ivan Kravchenko; Mool Gupta

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2020.01.029

High-efficiency solar thermophotovoltaic system using a nanostructure-based selective emitter

Rajendra Bhatt, Ivan Kravchenko, Mool Gupta

Nanofabrication Research Laboratory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

105 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this work, we present the design, fabrication, optimization, and experimental results of a high-efficiency planar solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) system utilizing a micro-textured absorber and a nanostructure multilayer metal-dielectric coated selective emitter fabricated on a tungsten (W) substrate. Light absorptance of more than 90% was achieved at visible and near-infrared wavelengths using the microtextured absorbing surface. The nanostructure selective emitter consists of two thin-film optical coatings of silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) and a layer of W in between to increase the surface emissivity in spectral regimes matching the quantum efficiency of the thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells. Gallium antimonide (GaSb)-based TPV cells are used in our STPV design. The experiment was conducted at different operating temperatures using a high-power continuous wave laser diode stack as a simulated source of concentrated incident radiation. Our experimental setup measured a maximum electrical output power density of 1.71 W/cm² at 1676 K STPV temperature, and the overall power conversion efficiency of 8.4% after normalizing the output power density to the emitter area. This is the highest STPV system efficiency reported so far for any experimental STPV device. The incident optical laser power on the absorber side was 131 W. This is equivalent to a solar concentration factor of ~2100, which is within the practical limit and readily achievable with Fresnel lens setup.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	538-545
Number of pages	8
Journal	Solar Energy
Volume	197
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.01.029
State	Published - Feb 2020

Funding

We thank the NASA Langley Professor program and NSF IUCRC Center for the financial support. A portion of this research was conducted at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, which is sponsored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy. We thank the NASA Langley Professor program and NSF IUCRC Center for the financial support. A portion of this research was conducted at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, which is sponsored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy.

Keywords

Blackbody
Nanostructure
STPV
Spectral control
TPV cells

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.solener.2020.01.029

Cite this

@article{7b575bb58e924d8ca18272e7aedb28bf,

title = "High-efficiency solar thermophotovoltaic system using a nanostructure-based selective emitter",

abstract = "In this work, we present the design, fabrication, optimization, and experimental results of a high-efficiency planar solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) system utilizing a micro-textured absorber and a nanostructure multilayer metal-dielectric coated selective emitter fabricated on a tungsten (W) substrate. Light absorptance of more than 90% was achieved at visible and near-infrared wavelengths using the microtextured absorbing surface. The nanostructure selective emitter consists of two thin-film optical coatings of silicon nitride (Si3N4) and a layer of W in between to increase the surface emissivity in spectral regimes matching the quantum efficiency of the thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells. Gallium antimonide (GaSb)-based TPV cells are used in our STPV design. The experiment was conducted at different operating temperatures using a high-power continuous wave laser diode stack as a simulated source of concentrated incident radiation. Our experimental setup measured a maximum electrical output power density of 1.71 W/cm2 at 1676 K STPV temperature, and the overall power conversion efficiency of 8.4% after normalizing the output power density to the emitter area. This is the highest STPV system efficiency reported so far for any experimental STPV device. The incident optical laser power on the absorber side was 131 W. This is equivalent to a solar concentration factor of ~2100, which is within the practical limit and readily achievable with Fresnel lens setup.",

keywords = "Blackbody, Nanostructure, STPV, Spectral control, TPV cells",

author = "Rajendra Bhatt and Ivan Kravchenko and Mool Gupta",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020",

year = "2020",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1016/j.solener.2020.01.029",

language = "English",

volume = "197",

pages = "538--545",

journal = "Solar Energy",

issn = "0038-092X",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - High-efficiency solar thermophotovoltaic system using a nanostructure-based selective emitter

AU - Bhatt, Rajendra

AU - Kravchenko, Ivan

AU - Gupta, Mool

PY - 2020/2

Y1 - 2020/2

N2 - In this work, we present the design, fabrication, optimization, and experimental results of a high-efficiency planar solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) system utilizing a micro-textured absorber and a nanostructure multilayer metal-dielectric coated selective emitter fabricated on a tungsten (W) substrate. Light absorptance of more than 90% was achieved at visible and near-infrared wavelengths using the microtextured absorbing surface. The nanostructure selective emitter consists of two thin-film optical coatings of silicon nitride (Si3N4) and a layer of W in between to increase the surface emissivity in spectral regimes matching the quantum efficiency of the thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells. Gallium antimonide (GaSb)-based TPV cells are used in our STPV design. The experiment was conducted at different operating temperatures using a high-power continuous wave laser diode stack as a simulated source of concentrated incident radiation. Our experimental setup measured a maximum electrical output power density of 1.71 W/cm2 at 1676 K STPV temperature, and the overall power conversion efficiency of 8.4% after normalizing the output power density to the emitter area. This is the highest STPV system efficiency reported so far for any experimental STPV device. The incident optical laser power on the absorber side was 131 W. This is equivalent to a solar concentration factor of ~2100, which is within the practical limit and readily achievable with Fresnel lens setup.

AB - In this work, we present the design, fabrication, optimization, and experimental results of a high-efficiency planar solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) system utilizing a micro-textured absorber and a nanostructure multilayer metal-dielectric coated selective emitter fabricated on a tungsten (W) substrate. Light absorptance of more than 90% was achieved at visible and near-infrared wavelengths using the microtextured absorbing surface. The nanostructure selective emitter consists of two thin-film optical coatings of silicon nitride (Si3N4) and a layer of W in between to increase the surface emissivity in spectral regimes matching the quantum efficiency of the thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells. Gallium antimonide (GaSb)-based TPV cells are used in our STPV design. The experiment was conducted at different operating temperatures using a high-power continuous wave laser diode stack as a simulated source of concentrated incident radiation. Our experimental setup measured a maximum electrical output power density of 1.71 W/cm2 at 1676 K STPV temperature, and the overall power conversion efficiency of 8.4% after normalizing the output power density to the emitter area. This is the highest STPV system efficiency reported so far for any experimental STPV device. The incident optical laser power on the absorber side was 131 W. This is equivalent to a solar concentration factor of ~2100, which is within the practical limit and readily achievable with Fresnel lens setup.

KW - Blackbody

KW - Nanostructure

KW - STPV

KW - Spectral control

KW - TPV cells

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078508549&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.solener.2020.01.029

DO - 10.1016/j.solener.2020.01.029

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85078508549

SN - 0038-092X

VL - 197

SP - 538

EP - 545

JO - Solar Energy

JF - Solar Energy

ER -

High-efficiency solar thermophotovoltaic system using a nanostructure-based selective emitter

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this