Numerical investigation of key parameters of the porous media combustion based Micro-Thermophotovoltaic system

Power generation with porous media driven Micro-Thermophotovoltaic (MTPV) was investigated and effects of changes to key parameters of the system investigated. The micro combustor had the dimensions of length-15 mm, width-10 mm, height-1 mm and wall thickness of 0.5 mm. The distance between the outside wall of combustor and the TPV cell was fixed at 1 mm. Variation in distance from 1 to 6 mm between the outside wall of the combustor and the thermophotovoltaic cell (TPV cell) caused a reduction of 13.75% and 1.4% in the radiation heat transfer efficiency and the TPV cell conversion efficiency respectively. An increase in the mixture flow rate from 300 mL/min to 1800 mL/min caused an increase in the radiation heat transfer efficiency, TPV cell conversion efficiency and the total system efficiency. As the flow rate increased, the system's power output also increased. At 600 mL/min, the output power was 560 mW but rose to 3.2 W at the flow rate of 1800 mL/min. The cooling load of the system showed a linear growth as the flow rate increased. At 1800 mL/min the cooling load of the system was 12.4 W which is three times the cooling load at 900 mL/min.