461 research outputs found
Thermophotovoltaic energy conversion and latent heat thermophotovoltaic batteries
No full textSLB ‘s physics community webinar, online, April 20th 2023. Speakers: Alejandro Datas and Rodolphe Vaillon
Embracing thermophotovoltaic electricity: Pathways to market adoption
No full textThermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion has gained significant attention in recent years, leading to the funding of numerous research and business initiatives, particularly in Europe and the US. This growing interest stems for the remarkable efficiency of TPV devices, which can convert radiant heat directly into electricity with efficiencies exceeding 40 %. This positions TPV as the most efficient solid-state heat engine, with the potential to outperform traditional turbogenerators. This article explores the techno-economic parameters essential for the profitability of TPV systems and examines their primary applications and future research challenges. It begins by outlining the key factors influencing TPV viability, including electric power density, cost per unit area, and TPV cell efficiency. Using the levelized cost of electricity as a central framework, the study identifies suitable applications for TPV technology, emphasizing its potential in military and space applications, waste heat recovery, and thermal energy storage. Finally, the article addresses ongoing research challenges, detailing innovations in TPV technology that could significantly reduce costs and expand its applicability across a wider range of heat source temperatures. The study concludes that the development of TPV batteries—systems that store surplus electricity as ultra-high-temperature heat and reconvert it into electricity using TPV technology—represents a unique opportunity for TPV to move beyond niche applications and toward broader commercial viability
Thermophotovoltaic conversion of heat stored at ultra-high temperature
No full textInvited seminar at IUSTI (Institut Universitaire des Systèmes Thermiques Industriels), Marseille, France, April 13th 2023. Speaker: Rodolphe Vaillon.Based on the photovoltaic effect to produce electricity, thermophotovoltaics (TPV) is quite similar to solar photovoltaics (PV), but with some notable differences. While the latter technology is well established, the development of the former faces specific challenges, but has recently benefited from strong advances and new opportunities. This new momentum is linked to the development of solar-to-heat-to-power (usually called Solar TPV) converters and more recently of power-to-heat-to-power converters. In both cases, a key point is that energy can be efficiently stored under the form of heat, thus allowing to alleviate the intermittency of solar and wind power generation. The storage of latent or sensible heat at ultra-high temperature (1000 to 2400 °C), at high density and low cost [1], is the backbone of the advent of the so-called TPV "batteries" [2] (see e.g. the example of Fig. 1). To start with, the presentation will provide the basic principles of thermophotovoltaics [3, 4]. The differences of TPV conversion with respect to solar PV conversion (Fig. 2) will be described, by highlighting some advantages (tuning of the spectrum of the thermal radiation emitter, photon recycling toward the emitter, increased power density) and some drawbacks (primary energy conversion and heat losses). Then the most promising applications envisioned as part of the transition to carbon-free renewable electricity generation will be introduced. It will be explained how the concomitant development of low-cost thermal energy storage [1] and highly-efficient (> 40%) thermophotovoltaic cells [5] is currently accelerating research on power-to-heat-to-power and solar-to-heat-to-power TPV batteries. Then, an analysis of the state-of-the-art of TPV devices developed and characterized in a laboratory-setting will be proposed. It will be shown that there is a relation between optimum operating temperature of the thermal radiation emitter and bandgap of the photovoltaic cell. The presentation will conclude with a short introduction to advanced concepts, research pathways and associated challenges, and networking initiatives [6] to continue to advance the field.[1] A. Datas, Ultra high temperature thermal energy storage for dispatchable power generation, Encyclopedia of Energy Storage 2, 141-150, 2022.[2] A. Datas et al., Latent heat thermophotovoltaic batteries, Joule 6, 418-443, 2022.[3] T. Burger et al., Present efficiencies and future opportunities in thermophotovoltaics, Joule 4, 1660-1680, 2020.[4] A. Datas & R. Vaillon, Thermophotovoltaic energy conversion, Chapter 11 in: Ultra-High Temperature Thermal Energy Storage, Transfer and Conversion, Woodhead Publishing, 285-308, 2021.[5] A. LaPotin et al., Thermophotovoltaic efficiency of 40%, Nature 604.7905, 287-291, 2022.[6] Team-project TREE: https://tree.ies.umontpellier.fr; iTPV network: https://itpv.ies.umontpellier.fr. Last access on 03/22/2023
Thermophotovoltaics for solar/power-to-heat-to power energy conversion
No full textInvited seminar at PROMES (PROcédés Matériaux et Energie Solaire) laboratory, Odeillo and Perpignan, France, Feb. 13 & 14 2023. Speaker: Rodolphe Vaillon.Based on the photovoltaic effect to produce electricity from thermal radiation, thermophotovoltaics (TPV) has recently benefited from strong advances and new opportunities. This new momentum is linked to the development of solar-to-heat-to-power (usually called Solar TPV) converters and more recently of power-to-heat-to-power converters. In both cases, a key point is that energy can be efficiently stored under the form of heat, thus allowing to alleviate the intermittency of solar and wind power generation. The storage of latent or sensible heat at ultra-high temperature (> 1000 °C), at high density and low cost [1], is the backbone of the advent of the so-called TPV "batteries" [2] (see e.g. the example of Fig. 1).To start with, the presentation will provide the basic principles of thermophotovoltaics [3, 4]. The differences of TPV conversion with respect to solar PV conversion (Fig. 2) will be described, by highlighting some advantages (tuning of the spectrum of the thermal radiation emitter, photon recycling toward the emitter, increased power density) and some drawbacks (primary energy conversion and heat losses). Then the most promising applications envisioned as part of the transition to carbon-free renewable electricity generation will be introduced. It will be explained how the concomitant development of low-cost thermal energy storage [1] and highly-efficient (> 40%) thermophotovoltaic cells [5] is currently accelerating research on power-to-heat-to-power and solar-to-heat-to-power TPV batteries. Then, an analysis of the state-of-the-art of TPV devices developed and characterized in the laboratory will be proposed. It will be shown that there is a relation between optimum operating temperature of the thermal radiation emitter and bandgap of the photovoltaic cell. The presentation will conclude with a short introduction to advanced concepts, research pathways and associated challenges, and networking initiatives [6] to continue to advance the field. Figure 1: Possible implementation of a latent heat TPV battery (from [1]).Figure 2: Solar photovoltaics versus thermophotovoltaics (from [4]).[1]A. Datas, Ultra high temperature thermal energy storage for dispatchable power generation, Encyclopedia of Energy Storage 2, 141-150, 2022.[2] A. Datas et al., Latent heat thermophotovoltaic batteries, Joule 6, 418-443, 2022.[3]T. Burger et al., Present efficiencies and future opportunities in thermophotovoltaics, Joule 4, 1660-1680, 2020.[4] A. Datas & R. Vaillon, Thermophotovoltaic energy conversion, Chapter 11 in: Ultra-High Temperature Thermal Energy Storage, Transfer and Conversion, Woodhead Publishing, 285-308, 2021.[5]A. LaPotin et al., Thermophotovoltaic efficiency of 40%, Nature 604.7905, 287-291, 2022.[6]Team-project TREE: https://tree.ies.umontpellier.fr; iTPV network: https://itpv.ies.umontpellier.fr. Last access on 12/21/2022
Thermophotovoltaics for solar/power-to-heat-to power energy conversion
No full textInvited seminar at PROMES (PROcédés Matériaux et Energie Solaire) laboratory, Odeillo and Perpignan, France, Feb. 13 & 14 2023. Speaker: Rodolphe Vaillon.Based on the photovoltaic effect to produce electricity from thermal radiation, thermophotovoltaics (TPV) has recently benefited from strong advances and new opportunities. This new momentum is linked to the development of solar-to-heat-to-power (usually called Solar TPV) converters and more recently of power-to-heat-to-power converters. In both cases, a key point is that energy can be efficiently stored under the form of heat, thus allowing to alleviate the intermittency of solar and wind power generation. The storage of latent or sensible heat at ultra-high temperature (> 1000 °C), at high density and low cost [1], is the backbone of the advent of the so-called TPV "batteries" [2] (see e.g. the example of Fig. 1).To start with, the presentation will provide the basic principles of thermophotovoltaics [3, 4]. The differences of TPV conversion with respect to solar PV conversion (Fig. 2) will be described, by highlighting some advantages (tuning of the spectrum of the thermal radiation emitter, photon recycling toward the emitter, increased power density) and some drawbacks (primary energy conversion and heat losses). Then the most promising applications envisioned as part of the transition to carbon-free renewable electricity generation will be introduced. It will be explained how the concomitant development of low-cost thermal energy storage [1] and highly-efficient (> 40%) thermophotovoltaic cells [5] is currently accelerating research on power-to-heat-to-power and solar-to-heat-to-power TPV batteries. Then, an analysis of the state-of-the-art of TPV devices developed and characterized in the laboratory will be proposed. It will be shown that there is a relation between optimum operating temperature of the thermal radiation emitter and bandgap of the photovoltaic cell. The presentation will conclude with a short introduction to advanced concepts, research pathways and associated challenges, and networking initiatives [6] to continue to advance the field. Figure 1: Possible implementation of a latent heat TPV battery (from [1]).Figure 2: Solar photovoltaics versus thermophotovoltaics (from [4]).[1]A. Datas, Ultra high temperature thermal energy storage for dispatchable power generation, Encyclopedia of Energy Storage 2, 141-150, 2022.[2] A. Datas et al., Latent heat thermophotovoltaic batteries, Joule 6, 418-443, 2022.[3]T. Burger et al., Present efficiencies and future opportunities in thermophotovoltaics, Joule 4, 1660-1680, 2020.[4] A. Datas & R. Vaillon, Thermophotovoltaic energy conversion, Chapter 11 in: Ultra-High Temperature Thermal Energy Storage, Transfer and Conversion, Woodhead Publishing, 285-308, 2021.[5]A. LaPotin et al., Thermophotovoltaic efficiency of 40%, Nature 604.7905, 287-291, 2022.[6]Team-project TREE: https://tree.ies.umontpellier.fr; iTPV network: https://itpv.ies.umontpellier.fr. Last access on 12/21/2022
Thermophotovoltaics for solar/power-to-heat-to power energy conversion
No full textInvited seminar at PROMES (PROcédés Matériaux et Energie Solaire) laboratory, Odeillo and Perpignan, France, Feb. 13 & 14 2023. Speaker: Rodolphe Vaillon.Based on the photovoltaic effect to produce electricity from thermal radiation, thermophotovoltaics (TPV) has recently benefited from strong advances and new opportunities. This new momentum is linked to the development of solar-to-heat-to-power (usually called Solar TPV) converters and more recently of power-to-heat-to-power converters. In both cases, a key point is that energy can be efficiently stored under the form of heat, thus allowing to alleviate the intermittency of solar and wind power generation. The storage of latent or sensible heat at ultra-high temperature (> 1000 °C), at high density and low cost [1], is the backbone of the advent of the so-called TPV "batteries" [2] (see e.g. the example of Fig. 1).To start with, the presentation will provide the basic principles of thermophotovoltaics [3, 4]. The differences of TPV conversion with respect to solar PV conversion (Fig. 2) will be described, by highlighting some advantages (tuning of the spectrum of the thermal radiation emitter, photon recycling toward the emitter, increased power density) and some drawbacks (primary energy conversion and heat losses). Then the most promising applications envisioned as part of the transition to carbon-free renewable electricity generation will be introduced. It will be explained how the concomitant development of low-cost thermal energy storage [1] and highly-efficient (> 40%) thermophotovoltaic cells [5] is currently accelerating research on power-to-heat-to-power and solar-to-heat-to-power TPV batteries. Then, an analysis of the state-of-the-art of TPV devices developed and characterized in the laboratory will be proposed. It will be shown that there is a relation between optimum operating temperature of the thermal radiation emitter and bandgap of the photovoltaic cell. The presentation will conclude with a short introduction to advanced concepts, research pathways and associated challenges, and networking initiatives [6] to continue to advance the field. Figure 1: Possible implementation of a latent heat TPV battery (from [1]).Figure 2: Solar photovoltaics versus thermophotovoltaics (from [4]).[1]A. Datas, Ultra high temperature thermal energy storage for dispatchable power generation, Encyclopedia of Energy Storage 2, 141-150, 2022.[2] A. Datas et al., Latent heat thermophotovoltaic batteries, Joule 6, 418-443, 2022.[3]T. Burger et al., Present efficiencies and future opportunities in thermophotovoltaics, Joule 4, 1660-1680, 2020.[4] A. Datas & R. Vaillon, Thermophotovoltaic energy conversion, Chapter 11 in: Ultra-High Temperature Thermal Energy Storage, Transfer and Conversion, Woodhead Publishing, 285-308, 2021.[5]A. LaPotin et al., Thermophotovoltaic efficiency of 40%, Nature 604.7905, 287-291, 2022.[6]Team-project TREE: https://tree.ies.umontpellier.fr; iTPV network: https://itpv.ies.umontpellier.fr. Last access on 12/21/2022
Thermionic-enhanced near-field thermophotovoltaics for medium-grade heat sources
Get PDFConversion of medium-grade heat (temperature from 500 to 1000 K) into electricity is important in applications such as waste heat recovery or power generation in solar thermal and co-generation systems. At such temperatures, current solid-state devices lack either high conversion efficiency (thermoelectrics) or high-power density capacity (thermophotovoltaics and thermionics). Near-field thermophotovoltaics (nTPV) theoretically enables high-power density and conversion efficiency by exploiting the enhancement of thermal radiation between a hot emitter and a photovoltaic cell separated by nanometric vacuum gaps. However, significant improvements are possible only at very small gap distances (<100 nm) and when ohmic losses in the photovoltaic cell are negligible. Both requirements are very challenging for current device designs. In this work, we present a thermionic-enhanced near-field thermophotovoltaic (nTiPV) converter consisting of a thermionic emitter (graphite) and a narrow bandgap photovoltaic cell (InAs) coated with low-workfunction nanodiamond films. Thermionic emission through the vacuum gap electrically interconnects the emitter with the front side of the photovoltaic cell and generates an additional thermionic voltage. This avoids the use of metal grids at the front of the cell and virtually eliminates the ohmic losses, which are unavoidable in realistic nTPV devices. We show that nTiPV operating at 1000 K and with a realizable vacuum gap distance of 100 nm enables a 10.7-fold enhancement of electrical power (6.73 W/cm2) and a 2.8-fold enhancement of conversion efficiency (18%) in comparison with a realistic nTPV device having a series resistance of 10 mΩ·cm2.This work was partially funded by the project AMADEUS, which has received funds from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, FET-OPEN action, under Grant Agreement No. 737054. The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the REA nor the European Commission is responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. A. Datas acknowledges postdoctoral fellowship support from the Spanish "Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación" program (IJCI-2015-23747). R. Vaillon is thankful to the Instituto de Energía Solar at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid for hosting him and acknowledges the partial funding from the French National Research Agency (ANR) under Grant No. ANR-16-CE05-0013. The authors acknowledge Daniele Trucchi and Alessandro Bellucci for the suggestion of using nanodiamond films as transparent low-workfunction coatings for the emitter and the PV cell
The AMADEUS Project: Overview and Future Prospects
No full textPresentation at the First International Workshop on Ultra High Temperature Thermal Energy Storage, Transfer, and Conversion (UHTES), 14-15 Nov. 2019 (Madrid, Spain).</p
Opening Session at the First International Workshop on Ultra High Temperature Thermal Energy Storage, Transfer, and Conversion
No full textPresentation at the First International Workshop on Ultra High Temperature Thermal Energy Storage, Transfer, and Conversion (UHTES), 14-15 Nov. 2019 (Madrid, Spain).</p
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