Memorias de investigación
Artículos en revistas:
Global optimization of solar thermophotovoltaic systems
Año:2012

Áreas de investigación
  • Tecnología electrónica y de las comunicaciones

Datos
Descripción
In this paper, we present a theoretical model based on the detailed balance theory of solar thermophotovoltaic systems comprising multijunction photovoltaic cells, a sunlight concentrator and spectrally selective surfaces. The full system has been de?ned by means of 2n+ 8 variables (being n the number of sub-cells of the multijunction cell). These variables are as follows: the sunlight concentration factor, the absorber cut-off energy, the emitter-to-absorber area ratio, the emitter cut-off energy, the band-gap energy(ies) and voltage(s) of the sub-cells, the re?ectivity of the cells? back-side re?ector, the emitter-to-cell and cell-to-cell view factors and the emitter-to-cell area ratio. We have used this model for carrying out a multi-variable system optimization by means of a multidimensional direct-search algorithm. This analysis allows to ?nd the set of system variables whose combined effects results in the maximum overall system ef?ciency. From this analysis, we have seen that multijunction cells are excellent candidates to enhance the system ef?ciency and the electrical power density. Particularly, multijunction cells report great bene?ts for systems with a notable presence of optical losses, which are unavoidable in practical systems. Also, we have seen that the use of spectrally selective absorbers, rather than blackbody absorbers, allows to achieve higher system ef?ciencies for both lower concentration and lower emitter-to-absorber area ratio. Finally, we have seen that sun-to-electricity conversion ef?ciencies above 30% and electrical power densities above 50 W/cm2 are achievable for this kind of systems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Internacional
Si
JCR del ISI
Si
Título de la revista
Progress in Photovoltaics
ISSN
1062-7995
Factor de impacto JCR
5,789
Información de impacto
Volumen
DOI
10.1002/pip.2202
Número de revista
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Grupos de investigación, Departamentos, Centros e Institutos de I+D+i relacionados
  • Creador: Grupo de Investigación: Semiconductores III-V
  • Centro o Instituto I+D+i: Instituto de Energía Solar
  • Departamento: Electrónica Física