Solar thermophotovoltaic efficiency potentials : surpassing photovoltaic device efficiencies
Name
813047546-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
2.97 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
57bab951e17f501505a3c6fe714ed6c1
Author(s)
Barnes, Kathryn M
Advisor(s)
Sang-Gook Kim.
Alternative Title
Solar TPV efficiency potentials : surpassing PV device efficiencies
Date Issued
2012
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Solar energy has gained more attention in recent years due to increased concerns about the continued use of fossil fuels. Solar energy is a form of renewable energy, and solar energy technology does not release greenhouse gases responsible for climate change. While photovoltaic (PV) cells, which convert sunlight into electrical energy, are becoming more widely used, they are limited in their ability to convert sunlight into electricity. One of the limitations of PV energy generation is caused by the fact that only a limited portion of the energy spectrum of sunlight contributes to electricity generation. Solar thermophotovoltaics (TPV) aim to improve the efficiency with which sunlight can be converted to electrical energy by converting solar energy to thermal energy first before generating electrical energy with a PV cell. Instead of direct illumination by sunlight, the sunlight is absorbed by an intermediate material and then reemitted as a means of energy spectrum control, which in theory allows for more photons to generate useful electrical energy. The efficiency of solar TPV systems have been modeled. These models demonstrate that solar TPV devices have a higher potential efficiency than PV device counterparts. Yet, solar TPV devices are not yet suitable for any sustainable use, and there are many engineering challenges that need to be overcome in order to cross over from theory into practical use.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 41-42).
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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