Thermophotovoltaic and Thermionic Power Systems with Film Concentrators

The primary objective of Phase I was to determine the feasibility of demonstrating critical subsystems and components of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) and thermionic (TI) power systems that use thin-film solar concentrators. Based on design, performance, and technology readiness evaluations, key hardware elements were identified for both electrical, power generation approaches and a thin-film concentrator assembly that are viable for validation testing. The Phase II work will validate the performance of critical elements of solar TPV and TI power systems. These elements are: a preshaped thin-film primary concentrator with inflatable support structure; the TPV receiver-emitter with a band gap solar cell array; and the TI thermal receiver with integral cylindrical inverted converter and secondary concentrator.