Radiative micron-gap thermophotovoltaic system with transparent emitter

Abstract

A thermophotovoltaic panel assembly including a heat sink and a plurality of thermophotovoltaic modules mounted on the heat sink. Each thermophotovoltaic module includes a photovoltaic element separated from an emitter assembly by a gap. The emitter assembly includes an emitter and applies force towards the photovoltaic element to maintain the gap. The thermophotovoltaic panel assembly may also utilize a force application layer on the emitter and be bolted in place. A housing can be used for protection and to transfer energy to the emitter. The heat sink cantilevers into the housing to define a space between the thermophotovoltaic modules and the inner surface of the housing. Preferably, the housing maintains a vacuum and, in turn, the gap is evacuated. The heat sink can be monolithic and cooled with fluid pumped therethrough. The emitter may be transparent or at least partially transmissive.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A thermophotovoltaic panel assembly for use in a hot environment having ambient photons, the thermophotovoltaic panel assembly comprising:
 a module assembly having: a planar photovoltaic element with an effective energy wavelength spectrum for converting photons in the effective energy wavelength spectrum of the planar photovoltaic element into electricity, wherein a first portion of the ambient photons are in the effective energy wavelength spectrum and a second portion of the ambient photons are not in the effective energy wavelength spectrum; and an emitter assembly having a planar transmissive emitter element separated from the planar photovoltaic element by a micro-gap, wherein the planar transmissive emitter element has a transition that allows the first portion of ambient photons in the effective energy wavelength spectrum to pass from the hot environment therethrough to the planar photovoltaic element for conversion into electricity; and the planar transmissive emitter element absorbs the second portion of ambient photons outside the effective energy wavelength spectrum to heat the planar transmissive emitter element which emits radiated photons in the effective energy wavelength spectrum to the planar photovoltaic element for conversion into electricity.   
     
     
         27 . A thermophotovoltaic panel assembly comprising:
 a photovoltaic element with an effective spectrum for converting first photons in the effective spectrum into electricity; and   an emitter assembly separated from the photovoltaic assembly by a gap, wherein the emitter assembly allows the first photons in the effective spectrum to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         28 . A thermophotovoltaic panel assembly comprising:
 a heat sink; and   at least one thermophotovoltaic module mounted on the heat sink including: an emitter assembly; a photovoltaic assembly separated from the emitter assembly by a gap; and a fastener applying a force to maintain the gap.