Conversion of heat energy to electrical energy using thermophotovoltaic cells

摘要

A heat source 2 produces heat radiation of a broad band spectrum. A rare earth (Ytterbia/Erbia) selective emitter (4) absorbs the heat radiation from the heat source and reradiates narrow band radiation. The narrow band radiation is absorbed by thermophotovoltaic cells 6 that contain multiple quantum well structures and convert the narrow band radiation into electrical energy.