Journal
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume 110, Issue 14, Pages 5309-5314Publisher
NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1301004110
Keywords
catalytic combustion; micro generator; thermal radiation
Categories
Funding
- US Army Research Office through the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies [W911NF-07-D-0004]
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Solid State Solar Thermal Energy Conversion Energy Research Frontier Center of the Department of Energy [DE-SC0001299]
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The challenging problem of ultra-high-energy-density, high-efficiency, and small-scale portable power generation is addressed here using a distinctive thermophotovoltaic energy conversion mechanism and chip-based system design, which we name the micro-thermophotovoltaic (mu TPV) generator. The approach is predicted to be capable of up to 32% efficient heat-to-electricity conversion within a millimeter-scale form factor. Although considerable technological barriers need to be overcome to reach full performance, we have performed a robust experimental demonstration that validates the theoretical framework and the key system components. Even with a much-simplified mu TPV system design with theoretical efficiency prediction of 2.7%, we experimentally demonstrate 2.5% efficiency. The mu TPV experimental system that was built and tested comprises a silicon propane microcombustor, an integrated high-temperature photonic crystal selective thermal emitter, four 0.55-eV GaInAsSb thermophotovoltaic diodes, and an ultra-high-efficiency maximum power-point tracking power electronics converter. The system was demonstrated to operate up to 800 degrees C (silicon microcombustor temperature) with an input thermal power of 13.7W, generating 344 mW of electric power over a 1-cm(2) area.
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