STUDY OF A THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERTER.
Abstract
Components for a portable thermophotovoltaic energy converter have been investigated experimentally and theroretically. Using a newly designed reflectance goniometer, reflectance values were measured for specular front-surface gold-on-germanium (98.3%), for specular front-surface germanium and rear-surface germanium-gold combined (92.7%), and for a rougher scattering front-surface gold-on-germanium (97.4%). It appears that adequately transparent germanium cells can be made with a 4% long-wavelength transmission loss per round trip, with acceptable Fermi and doping levels. Neither gallium antimonide nor indium arsenide shows promise as an alternative to germanium. For burner mantle materials, SiC shows promise. The reflectance measurements on Cr-CoFe oxide-stained alumina indicate that the emissivity may be as high as 0.95; stained oxides may therefore also be suitable. Design studies for a burner with 30% stack loss were completed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0431557