Photoelectric conversion efficiencies for InGaAs photovoltaic cells illuminated by composite selective emitters
- Auburn Univ., AL (United States). Space Power Inst.
Thermophotovoltaics (TPV) is the term applied to the technique for energy conversion whereby the energy emitted by an incandescent source is converted to electrical energy by a photovoltaic cell. One of the approaches used in TPV is selective emission used in conjunction with a low bandgap photovoltaic cell, such as InGaAs. Because the alloying fraction of indium and gallium can be varied, the energy bandgap of InGaAs cells can be varied. This allows more of the infrared spectrum to be utilized in the photoconversion process in the InGaAs cells for lowering bandgaps. Conversion efficiencies of InGaAs photovoltaic cells have been reported under various illumination conditions. However, their efficiencies have not been reported using composite selective emitters. This paper reports the conversion efficiencies of three different InGaAs cells with bandgaps of 0.75, 0.66, and 0.6 eV which have been illuminated with four different composite selective emitters. The composite selective emitters consist of rare earth oxides in a fibrous structural material matrix which, upon heating, radiate in a narrow band centered at certain wavelengths in the infrared region of the spectrum. The rare earth oxides are in a fibrous form with an 8 {micro}m diameter which results in low off-band emissions. The composite selective emitters have been developed at Auburn University and have been reported in previous topical papers. The three different rare earth oxides used in this paper are erbium oxide, thulium oxide, and holmium oxide which have narrow band emissions centered at 1.5, 1.8, and 2.0 {micro}m in wavelength, respectively. The conversion efficiencies of the three InGaAs cells under composite selective emitter emission will be compared to that of a blackbody-like emitter.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Department of the Army, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 435556
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960805-; TRN: IM9710%%214
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 31. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Washington, DC (United States), 9-14 Aug 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 31. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference. Volume 2: Conversion technologies, electro-chemical technologies, Stirling engines, thermal management; Chetty, P.R.K.; Jackson, W.D.; Dicks, E.B. [eds.]; PB: 867 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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