Thermodynamic performance bounds for radiative heat engines
Maxime Giteau, Michela F. Picardi, Georgia T. Papadakis
Abstract
Heat engines capable of delivering both high power output and high efficiency are earnestly sought after, but a fundamental trade-off generally exists between the two metrics. This study highlights the exact nature of this trade-off for engines that exchange heat radiatively with a hot source. The authors also show that this trade-off is less restrictive compared to linear heat engines, especially at high temperatures. This work is particularly relevant for thermophotovoltaics, offering a complete characterization of their performance bounds.
Topics & Concepts
Work (physics)Radiant heatHeat engineRadiative transferEnvironmental sciencePower (physics)Computer scienceThermodynamicsPhysicsMaterials scienceQuantum mechanicsComposite materialThermal Radiation and Cooling TechnologiesAdvanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanicssolar cell performance optimization