DOI: 10.1615/ICHMT.2011.TMNN-2011
ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-271-3
ISSN: 2642-5386
PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF NANOSCALE-GAP THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES
RÉSUMÉ
The performance characteristics of nanoscale-gap thermophotovoltaic (nano-TPV) power generators are investigated via a coupled near-field thermal radiation, charge and heat transport formulation. A nano-TPV device consisting of a tungsten radiator, maintained at 2000 K, and cells made of indium gallium antimonide is considered; the thermal management system is modeled assuming a convective boundary with a fluid temperature fixed at 293 K. Results reveal that in order to maintain the cell at room temperature, a heat transfer coefficient as high as 105 Wm−2K−1 is required for nanometer-size vacuum gaps. In future studies, near-field radiation spectral conditions leading to optimal performance characteristics of the device will be investigated.