Performance evaluation of an integrated system of a vacuum thermionic energy converter and a thermophotovoltaic cell

Wenchao Sun, Yuewu Huang and Xingguo Chen

Renewable Energy, 2024, vol. 232, issue C

Abstract: For the enhancement of energy efficiency, a novel coupled system integrating a vacuum thermionic energy converter (VTEC) and a thermophotovoltaic cell (TPVC) is put forward for recycling the waste heat of the VTEC anode for the production of extra power. The mathematical formulations of the power output, energy efficiency, and exergy efficiency for the coupled system are deduced in consideration of the multi-irreversibilities. The working temperature for the VTEC anode can be found by figuring out the energy balance equation. Additionally, the results of the calculations indicate that the coupled system is capable of achieving a maximal output power density of up to 3.8 W cm−2 and a maximal energy efficiency of 23 %. This performance is not only 3.5 and 1.5 times that of VTEC alone, but also shows that the coupling system exhibits excellent performance under the same operating conditions. Finally, the effects of VTEC operating temperature, anode work function, TPVC voltage output, and the cathode electron affinity on the system performance are discussed. The findings of the research confirm that the present coupled system is a very potential way of utilizing energy and can provide a theoretical basis for designing and operating the actual VTEC-TPVC coupled system.

Keywords: Vacuum thermionic energy converter; Thermophotovoltaic cell; Thermionic emission; Work function; Performance evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:232:y:2024:i:c:s0960148124011157

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.121047

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