The TPV system harnesses thermal radiations from different heat sources, such as fuel combustion, industrial waste heat, concentrated solar, or nuclear energy, and transforms them into electricity. A thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system is a good option to meet net-zero requirements. The thermophotovoltaic cell is the most important part of the TPV system. It converts photon radiation into electricity.
In addition, the remarkable flexibility of converting different heat energy sources, including solar, nuclear, chemical combustion, and waste heat, into a high electrical power density, greatly expands the range of applications for TPV generators, spanning from microscale to large-scale.
A TPV system has a longer operational time and operates at a lower radiator heating temperature as compared to a solar photovoltaic system.
The TPV system comprises four essential components:
- A fuel combustion generator that produces heat energy
- A radiator that transforms this heat energy into a specific emission spectrum
- A filter that precisely aligns the emission spectrum with a TPV cell
- A TPV cell that effectively converts photon radiation into electrical energy
Also See: Solar Thermal Vs Photovoltaic – An Overview
Working Principle of Thermophotovoltaic System
The thermophotovoltaic cells harness the power of radiant energy from a generator and transform it into electrical energy through a TPV system. The power generator harnesses energy from different heating sources and transfers it to the radiator, resulting in some heat loss.
The next step involves the radiator generating radiant power that is then directed toward the PV cells through the filter. This filter serves the purpose of narrowing down the emission band originating from the radiator.
The radiated energy emitted by the radiator should surpass the bandgap of PV cells in terms of power. However, any photons with energy lower than the bandgap of PV cells will cause losses. The purpose of recuperating these photons is to maintain heat and decrease the heating source at the desired radiator temperature. The conversion of optical signals to electrical signals is used to measure the output power of PV cells.
Also Read: What is Concentrated Photovoltaics?
