Thermophotovoltaic Cells - A Critical Link in the Solar Energy Process

Thermophotovoltaic cells are absolutely critical parts of the solar energy conversion process. If there weren't any thermophotovoltaic cells, then getting efficient solar energy from the sun would be much more difficult, if not nearly impossible. Yet most people have never heard of these cells and have no idea what they are or how they work.

A thermophotovoltaic cell is a device that concentrates gathered sunlight into an absorber. This absorber heats up to a very high temperature, and then it emits thermal radiation. That thermal radiation coming from the cell is used as the energy source for a photovoltaic cell (these are much better known over thermophotovoltaic cells) and that photovoltaic cell is designed to maximize the efficiency of the unit in converting thermal radiation into usable electric energy.

Thermophotovoltaic cells are part of the thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion process. This is the process by which a direct conversion takes place from gathered solar heat to electricity through the use of photons. This may sound complicated, but it is actually fairly simple. A basic TPV system consists of two pieces: a thermal emitter, and a photovoltaic diode cell. Those are the absolute necessary bases for a TPV energy conversion set up.

A thermophotovoltaic cell is that device where TPV energy conversion takes place. TPV cells will be used in any place where solar energy conversion is being done on a large scale because by using TPV technology, the conversion of sunlight into actual usable electricity is more efficient. This means more power for the same amount of sunlight, which is why this process, and this technology, is so useful.

The thermo-photovoltaic cell is still technology in improvement- and development stages. For example, there are several models of these TPV cells that have patents pending as the various competing energy companies rush against each other and vie for better and more efficient TPV designs to give them and edge over their competitors.

While photovoltaic cells are better known to the common public as part of the solar energy process, there is definitely a strong future in thermophotovoltaic cells as long as they continue to make solar energy more efficient.