Near-Field Thermophotovoltaic Energy Conversion: Progress and Opportunities
Rohith Mittapally, Ayan Majumder, Pramod Reddy, Edgar Meyhöfer
Abstract
Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion is a promising power-generation technology for converting heat to electricity. Recent studies have explored TPV devices featuring nanoscale gaps, which take advantage of near-field effects that enable much larger radiative fluxes and power density. The authors review the physics of near-field thermal radiation, and assess theoretical and experimental advances in predicting and validating near-field enhancements of power output and efficiency in TPV devices. Their discussion of the near-field photonic heat engines presented here will help to guide future engineering solutions in developing practical near-field energy-conversion devices.
Topics & Concepts
ThermophotovoltaicEnergy transformationEngineering physicsField (mathematics)Electricity generationRadiant energyPhotonicsRadiative coolingThermal radiationEnergy conversion efficiencyElectricityAerospace engineeringPower (physics)Materials sciencePhysicsRadiationElectrical engineeringOptoelectronicsCommon emitterEngineeringOpticsMeteorologyQuantum mechanicsMathematicsThermodynamicsPure mathematicsThermal Radiation and Cooling TechnologiesQuantum Electrodynamics and Casimir EffectAdvanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics