Development of a cogenerating thermophotovoltaic powered combination hot water heater/hydronic boiler
- Quantum Group, Inc., 11211 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego, California 92121 (United States)
A cogenerating thermophotovoltaic (TPV) device for hot water, hydronic space heating, and electric power generation was developed, designed, fabricated, and tested under a Department of Energy contracted program. The device utilizes a cylindrical ytterbia superemissive ceramic fiber burner (SCFB) and is designed for a nominal capacity of 80 kBtu/hr. The burner is fired with premixed natural gas and air. Narrow band emission from the SCFB is converted to electricity by single crystal silicon (Si) photovoltaic (PV) arrays arranged concentrically around the burner. A three-way mixing valve is used to direct heated water to either the portable water storage tank, radiant baseboard heaters, or both. As part of this program, QGI developed a microprocessor-based control system to address the safety issues, as well as photovoltaic power management. Flame sensing is accomplished via the photovoltaics, a technology borrowed from QGI{close_quote}s Quantum Control{trademark} safety shut-off system. Device testing demonstrated a nominal photovoltaic power output of 200 W. Power consumed during steady state operation was 33 W, with power drawn from the combustion air blower, hydronic system pump, three-way switching valve, and the control system, resulting in a net power surplus of 142 W. Power drawn during the ignition sequence was 55 W, and a battery recharge time of 1 minute 30 seconds was recorded. System efficiency was measured and found to be more than 83{percent}. Pollutant emissions at determined operating conditions were below the South Coast Air Quality Management District{close_quote}s (California) limit of 40 ng/J for NOx, and carbon monoxide emissions were measured at less than 50 dppm. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 577787
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9705119-; ISSN 0094-243X; TRN: 9723M0025
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 401, Issue 1; Conference: 3. NREL conference on thermophotovoltaic (TPV) generation of electricity, Colorado Springs, CO (United States), 18-21 May 1997; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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