Principal Investigator Ivan Celanovic
Devices that statically convert heat into electricity—without moving parts—have been the subject of human curiosity for nearly two centuries. However, low efficiency and high costs have hindered widespread and large scale acceptance of many static energy conversion devices and systems. Our mission is to change this notion and to demonstrate that viable, high-performance and low-cost static energy generation devices and systems are practical. One of the examples of a static energy conversion system that we have been working on are Thermophotovoltaics (TPV).
Thermophotovoltaics (TPV) is a static power conversion system that converts radiant heat into electricity by means of photovoltaic cell. Thermal energy is first converted into radiant heat or photons by means of thermal emitter and then photons are converted into electricity in a photovoltaic diode.
Depending on the heat source and application we can identify several types of TPV systems:
(*) portable power generation (gaseous or liquid fuel depending on application),(*) residential cogenerated heat and electricity (any type of liquid or gaseous fuel),(*) radioisotope power systems for flagship deep space exploration missions (radioisotope source),(*) industrial heat regeneration (waste heat form industrial processes), and(*) solar-thermophotovoltaic power generators (solar radiation).
The goal of this project is to demonstrate a 20 W portable multi-fuel (or should I say almost any fuel) thermophotovoltaic electrical power generator, for applications in portable power generation (for consumer electronics (laptops, cell-phones etc.), remote sensing, as an electricity source in remote and undeveloped regions and further). With energy density of 400 Wh/kg, which is more than 2.5 times higher than the best Li-ion batteries today, our system would for the same amount of electric energy stored as a battery will be 2.5 times lighter.
Main advantages to of a TPV portable power generator are: static energy generation (meaning virtually noise and vibration free), multi-fuel operation, ruggedness, and possibility for additional heat and/or cooling generation. When you combine these features with latest advances in photonics and low-bandgap semiconductor materials which have enabled high TPV conversion efficiencies, you get a wonderful power generation technology such as TPV.