Accession Number:

ADA326281

Title:

Man Portable TPV Generator System.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 22 Dec 95-21 Dec 96,

Corporate Author:

QUANTUM GROUP INC SAN DIEGO CA

Personal Author(s):

• Chen, K. C.
• Goldstein, Mark K.

Report Date:

1997-04-30

Pagination or Media Count:

37.0

Abstract:

An 112 Watts electrical output thermophotovoltaic generator was fabricated. The generator consists of a propane supply, an atmospheric combustion burner, an ytterbia emitter mantle, a fused silica absorption filter and twelve silicon concentrator arrays cooled by circulating water. The fuel to electric power conversion is 1-2. To provide extra power needed for cooling, a pre-mix combustion design capable of generating 140-180 Watts of power was made. The condition for photovoltaic cooling was evaluated by measuring heat flux. The maximum heat rejection was 2.3 Wsq cm for atmospheric combustion design, and 5.5 Wsq cm for pre-mix combustion design. The heat transfer of several PV-heat sink assemblies under different air flow velocities and ambient air temperatures was calculated. The result showed that it is feasible to use a forced-air multi-channel heat sink to cool PV cell, provided that the generator has sufficient air flow velocity, blower power and operates at no higher than 40 deg C ambient air temperature. To improve the generator portability, shock absorbers were used to lessen impact force on the emitter mantle and demonstrated a six-folds increase in vertical drop distance. Filament winding process was explored for making robust emitter structures. Self-supporting emitter structures were successfully fabricated.

Descriptors:

• *MANPORTABLE EQUIPMENT
• *ELECTRIC GENERATORS
• *PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
• FILAMENT WOUND CONSTRUCTION
• FUSED SILICA
• ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION
• HEAT FLUX
• HEAT SINKS
• SOL GEL PROCESSES

Subject Categories:

• Electric Power Production and Distribution

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE