An Ultra Compact High Efficiency Thermo-Photovoltaic System for Electricity Generation

Abstract

In this work, a compact thermo-photovoltic system has been designed and analyzed. The novel system uses a certain gas as an emitter of electromagnetic radiation with discrete wavelengths, this feature eliminates one of the most important factors that lower the efficiency of the ordinary solar systems. Moreover, mathematical expressions predicting the overall efficiency were derived. The mathematical expression indicates that the system’s efficiency does not depend on the concentration factor or the solar intensity, However, the only terms that control the efficiency are the absorptivity, the sink reservoir temperature (solar panel temperature) and the source temperature (the absorber temperature). Further, for the purpose of increasing the system’s performance, it was proposed to decrease the sink temperature by connecting the system to cooling fins that extend to reach the frost layer in the underground which offers an invariable temperature along the year. The proposed design can be utilized in open areas where it can be irradiated by the solar flux. In addition to that, it can be used in some industrial furnaces which offer high temperatures that would dramatically increases the systems efficiency reaching the theoretical predictions. As a case study the use of the mercury vapor as an emitter where discussed and an estimate of the system efficiency indicated that it may, theoretically, reach 85%. The costs of such a system is found to be relatively high, but taking into consideration the high efficiency of the system and the utilization of the waste heat in industrial furnaces, the cost of such a system may be justified.

Keywords

• Renewable Energy; Solar Energy; Thermo-photovoltic

Kaynakça

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