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System performance of a solar thermophotovoltaic system for space and terrestrial application

Conference ·
OSTI ID:163415
; ;  [1]; ; ;  [2]
  1. McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, Huntington Beach, CA (United States)
  2. NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH (United States)

Solar thermophotovoltaics (STPV) potentially have high system power efficiency together with other attractive attributes for both space and terrestrial applications. This paper presents a summary of work that has been conducted by NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) and McDonnell Douglas Aerospace (MDA). The paper discusses analytical modeling and subsystem testing, laboratory, and field testing that has been conducted. The features which make solar thermophotovoltaics attractive for both space and terrestrial applications are discussed. Based upon these investigations and the work of others, a conceptual design has been formulated, and an estimate of system performance is presented. This estimate indicates a solar thermophotovoltaics system can result in competitive energy costs for the utility electrical market applications and a high power-to-mass ratio for space power applications.

OSTI ID:
163415
Report Number(s):
CONF-950729--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English