Analytical models for radiative heat transfer in Radioisotope Thermophotovoltaic (RTPV) cell

Prabodh Panindre, Narges Susan Mousavi Kh., Sunil Kumar

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

A Radioisotope Thermophotovoltaic (RTPV) Cell is a device used to convert heat energy into electrical energy. The electric generation capacity of RTPV cell depends on the radiative heat transfer between its two surfaces: the emitter surface heated by radioisotope thermal source and the receiving photovoltaic (PV) cell surface. The spectral directional surface properties and the surface temperatures of emitter and PV cell surface play important roles in quantifying the radiative heat flux of RTPV cell. This paper establishes the required analytic flat plate solutions to calculate the radiative heat flux of RTPV cell. The results obtained using the analytic solutions developed in this study have been qualitatively validated with the results of numerical simulations performed by a commercially available software. The effect of the surface temperatures and emitter surface coating on RTPV cell capacity is also studied and analyzed by both the methods. The results obtained from both the methods show that PV cell surface temperature has negligible effect on RTPV cell capacity as compared to the emitter surface temperature. Also, the radiative heat flux of RTPV cell with coated emitter is found to be significantly higher than that of RTPV cell with uncoated emitter surface. The analytical methods can be used to estimate the net radiative heat flux of RTPV cell for different surface temperatures and are independent of the dimensions of RTPV cell.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationEnergy Systems Analysis, Thermodynamics and Sustainability; Combustion Science and Engineering; Nanoengineering for Energy
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Pages945-952
Number of pages8
EditionPARTS A AND B
ISBN (Print)9780791854907
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
EventASME 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 2011 - Denver, CO, United States
Duration: Nov 11 2011Nov 17 2011

Publication series

NameASME 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 2011
NumberPARTS A AND B
Volume4

Other

OtherASME 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDenver, CO
Period11/11/1111/17/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanical Engineering

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