Abstract
Recently, a number of research initiatives have focused on thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells as a means of generating electricity from infra-red radiation. This may be from waste heat, as in the hybrid car which uses TPV technology to charge its battery, or it may involve co-generation of electricity from processes where heat is the primary product. One example is the provision of electrical power from the burner of a domestic boiler in a remote location. In this article, the principles of TPV technology are outlined and its present capabilities discussed. An analysis is made of the efficiency that can be achieved now and in the future and the cost of implementing the technology for different applications. The potential of TPV for domestic, space and military applications is discussed.
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