Accession Number:

AD1009330

Title:

Conjunction of Photovoltaic and Thermophotovoltaic Power Production in Spacecraft Power Systems

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

Naval Postgraduate School Monterey United States

Personal Author(s):

• Thomas,Matthew J.

Report Date:

2015-09-01

Pagination or Media Count:

113.0

Abstract:

This research examines the potential for the conjunction between photovoltaic PV and thermophotovoltaic TPV technologies for spacecraft power production. There is sufficient overlap between the sources of energy used for these devices and the function of the devices themselves that either PVs or TPVs could gain improvements inefficiency from the integration of the other type of device, or that a hybrid device could be developed. As a proof of concept, a GaAs PV cell and GaSb TPV cell were modeled in a tandem design using Silvaco ATLAS, with varying-PV cell substrate thicknesses, and simulated under the AM0 spectrum to determine the potential range of efficiency gains for a PV device integrated with a TPV device. The same design was then tested under a 2000 K blackbody spectrum-to approximate use in a radioisotope thermoelectric generator RTG-to determine if similar efficiency gains could be seen for a TPV device integrated with a PV device. The possible gains with a PV-TPV design underAM0 are clear, potentially resulting in cells with a 30-34 percent overall efficiency. The possible gains for a PV-TPV device utilizing a blackbody spectrum are less clear, and would benefit from further design and investigation.

Descriptors:

• GALLIUM ANTIMONIDES
• Spacecraft
• solar cells
• energy production
• space systems
• electric power production
• semiconductors
• radioactive decay
• efficiency

Subject Categories:

• Electric Power Production and Distribution
• Manned Spacecraft

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE