Laboratory development TPV generator

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.49683· OSTI ID:285293

Holmquist, G A; Wong, E M ^[1]; Waldman, C H ^[2]

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1. Quantum Group, Inc., 11211 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego, California 92121 (United States)
2. Consultant, P.O. Box 231157, Encinitas, California 92023-1157 (United States)

A laboratory model of a TPV generator in the kilowatt range was developed and tested. It was based on methane/oxygen combustion and a spectrally matched selective emitter/collector pair (ytterbia emitter-silicon PV cell). The system demonstrated a power output of 2.4 kilowatts at an overall efficiency of 4.5{percent} without recuperation of heat from the exhaust gases. Key aspects of the effort include: (1) process development and fabrication of mechanically strong selective emitter ceramic textile materials; (2) design of a stirred reactor emitter/burner capable of handling up to 175,000 Btu/hr fuel flows; (3) support to the developer of the production silicon concentrator cells capable of withstanding TPV environments; (4) assessing the apparent temperature exponent of selective emitters; and (5) determining that the remaining generator efficiency improvements are readily defined combustion engineering problems that do not necessitate breakthrough technology. The fiber matrix selective emitter ceramic textile (felt) was fabricated by a relic process with the final heat-treatment controlling the grain growth in the porous ceramic fiber matrix. This textile formed a cylindrical cavity for a stirred reactor. The ideal stirred reactor is characterized by constant temperature combustion resulting in a uniform reactor temperature. This results in a uniform radiant emission from the emitter. As a result of significant developments in the porous emitter matrix technology, a TPV generator burner/emitter was developed that produced kilowatts of radiant energy. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 285293
• Report Number(s): CONF-9507247--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 358; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
METHANE
POWER GENERATION
POWER RANGE 01-10 KW
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERTERS