Photovoltaic power recovery system using metamaterial extended solar thermal light converter (MESTC)

摘要

A solar power harvesting system (300) includes a sunlight concentrating system 310, e.g., a heliostat, a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) converter (200) and a thermal power system (320). The TPV converter (200) includes a metamaterial emitter (100) formed on a box-like enclosure (110), and an associated photovoltaic (PV) cell (210). The sunlight concentrating system (310) directs the concentrated sunlight through an inlet opening (115) of the box-like enclosure (110) to heat the metamaterial emitter above 1000°K. Bull's eye structures (120) formed on outward-facing surfaces of the box-like enclosure (110) utilize concentric circular ridges (121-1,121-2,121-3) spaced at a fixed grating period that, when heated, generate a radiant energy beam having a peak emission wavelength roughly equal to the grating period. The PV cell (210) converts the radiant energy to produce primary electrical energy. Unconverted solar "waste" heat energy exits the box-like enclosure (110) and is converted by the thermal power system (320), e.g., using a steam generator, to produce secondary electrical energy.