Thermophotovoltaic receivers comprising extruded cores and integrated submount assemblies supporting thermophotovoltaic cells
Described herein are thermophotovoltaic receivers comprising cores and integrated submount assemblies with thermophotovoltaic cells as well as thermophotovoltaic systems (e.g., energy-storage systems) comprising such receivers. Specifically, a core comprises a set of gas supply channels, a set of gas return channels, a coolant supply channel, and a coolant return channel, such that this core and all channels are formed by extrusion (e.g., aluminum). The core also comprises four faces such that a set of thermophotovoltaic modules is positioned on each face and thermally coupled to the core. The gas channels are used to form sweeping gas curtains over each face and thermophotovoltaic modules, thereby protecting the modules from undesirable condensation deposits. The coolant channels circulate the cooling fluid through the core, thereby maintaining the core and module temperature within the desired temperature ranges. In some examples, modules are equiped with heat sinks, fluidically coupled to the coolant channels.
1 . A thermophotovoltaic (TPV) receiver having a primary axis, the TPV receiver comprising:
a TPV core, wherein:
the TPV core comprises a set of gas supply channels, a set of gas return channels, a coolant supply channel, and a coolant return channel, each extending along the primary axis,
the TPV core further comprises core faces, each extending substantially parallel to the primary axis,
the TPV core further comprises a set of coolant supply ports and a set of coolant return ports, extending substantially perpendicular to the primary axis, and
each of the set of coolant supply ports and the set of coolant return ports extends between and fluidically couples the coolant supply channel and one of the core faces; and
TPV modules, each attached to the core faces, wherein:
each of the TPV modules comprises a heat sink and a TPV integrated submount assembly,
the heat sink faces the TPV core and comprises an internal coolant channel fluidically coupled to the coolant supply channel and a coolant return channel using the set of coolant supply ports and the set of coolant return ports, thereby allowing to circulate a liquid coolant between the TPV core and the TPV modules, and
the TPV integrated submount assembly comprises TPV cells.
2 . The TPV receiver of claim 1 , wherein each fluidical coupling between the internal coolant channel and one of the set of coolant supply ports and the set of coolant return ports is formed by a rubber gasket shielded from environment by a corresponding one of the TPV modules.
3 . The TPV receiver of claim 1 , wherein the TPV core is formed from extruded aluminum.
4 . The TPV receiver of claim 1 , wherein each of the set of gas supply channels, the set of gas return channels, the coolant supply channel, and the coolant return channel are formed from extruding the TPV core.
5 . The TPV receiver of claim 1 , wherein each of the core faces supports two or more of the TPV modules arranged along the primary axis.
6 . The TPV receiver of claim 1 , further comprising a leading zone and a tailing zone, offset relative to the leading zone along the primary axis, wherein:
the TPV modules comprise a first set of TPV cells positioned at the leading zone,
the TPV modules further comprise a second set of TPV cells positioned at the tailing zone and offset relative to the first set of TPV cells along the longitudinal axis, and
the second set of TPV cells has a lower bandgap than the first set of TPV cells.
7 . The TPV receiver of claim 6 , wherein:
the second set of TPV cells has a bandgap between 0.3-0.8 eV, and
the first set of TPV cells has a bandgap greater than 1 eV.
8 . The TPV receiver of claim 1 , wherein the TPV integrated submount assembly further comprises an integrated submount comprising thermally-conductive pads thermally coupled to TPV cells.
9 . The TPV receiver of claim 8 , wherein the TPV integrated submount assembly further comprises a dielectric layer supporting the thermally-conductive pads.
10 . The TPV receiver of claim 9 , wherein the TPV integrated submount assembly further comprises a metal core supporting the dielectric layer and attached to the heat sink.
11 . The TPV receiver of claim 8 , wherein:
each of the TPV cells comprises a mechanical handle having a thermal conductance of at least 200 W/m-K, and
the mechanical handle is bonded to the integrated submount.
12 . The TPV receiver of claim 11 , wherein the mechanical handle has a thickness of at least 50 micrometers.
13 . The TPV receiver of claim 11 , wherein the mechanical handle is bonded to the thermally-conductive pads of the integrated submount.
14 . The TPV receiver of claim 1 , further comprising gas directors, wherein:
each attached to a corresponding corner of the TPV core such that each of the TPV modules is positioned between two of the gas directors,
a first one of the two of the gas directors is fluidically coupled to one in the set of gas supply channels, and
a second one of the two of the gas directors is fluidically coupled to one in the set of gas return channels.
15 . The TPV receiver of claim 14 , wherein each of the gas directors is configured to interlock with the corresponding corner of the TPV core.
16 . The TPV receiver of claim 14 , wherein each of the gas directors comprises a set of gas direction channels offset relative to each other along the primary axis.
17 . The TPV receiver of claim 14 , wherein the two of the gas directors are configured to generate a laminar flow over the TPV cells of a corresponding one of the TPV modules.
18 . The TPV receiver of claim 17 , wherein each of the gas directors is configured to generate the laminar flow over the TPV cells of at least two of the TPV modules positioned on different ones of the core faces.