Research on micro-thermophotovoltaic power generators with different emitting materials

Abstract

As part of an effort to develop a micro-thermophotovoltaic (micro-TPV) power generator, a series of experiments are carried out to test the performance of a prototype micro-TPV power generator with different emitting materials. The micro combustor is one of the most important components of the micro-TPV system. In this work, we present experimental results of two kinds of micro cylindrical combustors made of SiC and platinum. Owing to the catalytic effect of platinum, the temperature along the wall of the micro platinum combustor is much higher than that of the SiC combustor under the same testing conditions. When the flow rate of hydrogen is 4.2 g h -1, and H 2/air ratio is 0.9, the maximum output powers of the micro-TPV power generator are 0.81 W and 0.78 W for the micro SiC combustor and the micro platinum combustor, respectively. © 2005 IOP Publishing Ltd.