Solar energy conversions: solar-electric thermophotovoltaic systems and solar-powered gas lasers

Yesil, O

Title: Solar energy conversions: solar-electric thermophotovoltaic systems and solar-powered gas lasers

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Abstract

This paper deals with conversions of solar energy efficiently into electricity and into gas laser radiation. In the first section, a review study of the possibility of a solar-electric thermophotovoltaic (TPV) device has been done. In a proposed extension of the TPV concept, a Cassagranian optical system concentrates solar radiation to heat a blackbody cavity to 2400/sup 0/K. A double-layer solar cell, GaAs and Si, forming the cylindrical surface concentric to the blackbody cavity, receives the blackbody radiation and converts it into electricity efficiently. A cell conversion efficiency of 50% or more would be possible with the TPV system. The second section explores the concept of blackbody radiation pumping of gas laser media as a step toward utilization of solar energy as a laser pumping source. To demonstrate this concept, an experiment was performed in which various gas mixtures of CO/sub 2/ and He were exposed to 1500/sup 0/K thermal radiation for brief periods of time. A gain coefficient of 2.8 x 10/sup -3/cm/sup -1/ has been measured at 10.6..mu.. and 1 Torr of pressure. At 2 Torr and 0.5 Torr, the measured optical gain is less than that at 1 Torr. A simple analytical model was used to describemore »« less

Authors:: Yesil, O

Publication Date:: Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

Research Org.:: Boeing Commercial Airplane Company Seattle, Washington

OSTI Identifier:: 6888749

Report Number(s):: CONF-801210-
Journal ID: CODEN: ALESD

Resource Type:: Conference

Journal Name:: Alternative Energy Sources; (United States)

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 3; Conference: 3. Miami international conference on alternative energy sources, Miami Beach, FL, USA, 15 Dec 1980

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 42 ENGINEERING; GAS LASERS; GAIN; OPTICAL PUMPING; SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION; LASER RADIATION; THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERTERS; GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS; SILICON SOLAR CELLS; BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS; BLACKBODY RADIATION; CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS; CASSEGRAINIAN CONCENTRATORS; CAVITY RECEIVERS; EFFICIENCY; HELIUM; LOW PRESSURE; PRESSURE DEPENDENCE; VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE; AMPLIFICATION; CONVERSION; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; ELEMENTS; ENERGY CONVERSION; EQUIPMENT; FLUIDS; GASES; LASERS; NONMETALS; PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS; PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS; PUMPING; RADIATIONS; RARE GASES; SOLAR CELLS; SOLAR CONCENTRATORS; SOLAR EQUIPMENT; SOLAR RECEIVERS; 140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion; 140909 - Solar Thermal Utilization- Miscellaneous Solar Applications- (1980-); 420300 - Engineering- Lasers- (-1989)

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                    Yesil, O. Solar energy conversions: solar-electric thermophotovoltaic systems and solar-powered gas lasers.  United States: N. p., 1980. 
        Web.

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                    Yesil, O. Solar energy conversions: solar-electric thermophotovoltaic systems and solar-powered gas lasers.  United States.

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                    Yesil, O. 1980.  
        "Solar energy conversions: solar-electric thermophotovoltaic systems and solar-powered gas lasers".  United States.

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@article{osti_6888749,

  title        = {Solar energy conversions: solar-electric thermophotovoltaic systems and solar-powered gas lasers},

  author       = {Yesil, O},

  abstractNote = {This paper deals with conversions of solar energy efficiently into electricity and into gas laser radiation. In the first section, a review study of the possibility of a solar-electric thermophotovoltaic (TPV) device has been done. In a proposed extension of the TPV concept, a Cassagranian optical system concentrates solar radiation to heat a blackbody cavity to 2400/sup 0/K. A double-layer solar cell, GaAs and Si, forming the cylindrical surface concentric to the blackbody cavity, receives the blackbody radiation and converts it into electricity efficiently. A cell conversion efficiency of 50% or more would be possible with the TPV system. The second section explores the concept of blackbody radiation pumping of gas laser media as a step toward utilization of solar energy as a laser pumping source. To demonstrate this concept, an experiment was performed in which various gas mixtures of CO/sub 2/ and He were exposed to 1500/sup 0/K thermal radiation for brief periods of time. A gain coefficient of 2.8 x 10/sup -3/cm/sup -1/ has been measured at 10.6..mu.. and 1 Torr of pressure. At 2 Torr and 0.5 Torr, the measured optical gain is less than that at 1 Torr. A simple analytical model was used to describe the rate of change of energy distribution of the vibrational modes of CO/sub 2/ and to predict the gain. There is a good agreement between prediction and experiment.},

  doi          = {},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6888749},
  journal      = {Alternative Energy Sources; (United States)},
number       = ,

  volume       = 3,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1980},

  month        = {Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1980}

}

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