Conjunction of photovoltaic and thermophotovoltaic power production in spacecraft power systems

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dc.contributor.advisorMichael, Sherif
dc.contributor.authorThomas, Matthew J.
dc.contributor.departmentSystems Academic Group
dc.contributor.departmentSystems Academic Groupen_US
dc.contributor.secondreaderPorter, Matthew
dc.dateSep-15
dc.date.accessioned2015-11-06T18:22:51Z
dc.date.available2015-11-06T18:22:51Z
dc.date.issued2015-09
dc.description.abstractThis research examines the potential for the conjunction between photovoltaic (PV) and thermophotovoltaic (TPV) technologies for spacecraft power production. There is sufficient overlap between the sources of energy used for these devices and the function of the devices themselves that either PVs or TPVs could gain improvements in efficiency from the integration of the other type of device, or that a hybrid device could be developed. As a proof of concept, a GaAs PV cell and GaSb TPV cell were modeled in a tandem design using Silvaco ATLAS, with varying PV cell substrate thicknesses, and simulated under the AM0 spectrum to determine the potential range of efficiency gains for a PV device integrated with a TPV device. The same design was then tested under a 2000 K blackbody spectrum—to approximate use in a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG)—to determine if similar efficiency gains could be seen for a TPV device integrated with a PV device. The possible gains with a PV-TPV design under AM0 are clear, potentially resulting in cells with a 30–34% overall efficiency. The possible gains for a PV-TPV device utilizing a blackbody spectrum are less clear, and would benefit from further design and investigation.en_US
dc.description.distributionstatementApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
dc.description.serviceLieutenant, United States Navyen_US
dc.description.urihttp://archive.org/details/conjunctionofpho1094547338
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10945/47338
dc.publisherMonterey, California: Naval Postgraduate Schoolen_US
dc.rightsThis publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.en_US
dc.subject.authorphotovoltaicen_US
dc.subject.authorPVen_US
dc.subject.authorthermophotovoltaicen_US
dc.subject.authorTPVen_US
dc.subject.authorgallium arsenideen_US
dc.subject.authorGaAsen_US
dc.subject.authorgallium antimonideen_US
dc.subject.authorGaSben_US
dc.subject.authorradioisotope thermoelectric generatoren_US
dc.subject.authorRTGen_US
dc.subject.authorblackbody spectrumen_US
dc.subject.authortandem cellen_US
dc.subject.authordual-junctionen_US
dc.subject.authorSilvaco ATLASen_US
dc.titleConjunction of photovoltaic and thermophotovoltaic power production in spacecraft power systemsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dspace.entity.typePublication
etd.thesisdegree.disciplineSpace Systems Operationsen_US
etd.thesisdegree.grantorNaval Postgraduate Schoolen_US
etd.thesisdegree.levelMastersen_US
etd.thesisdegree.nameMaster of Science in Space Systems Operationsen_US
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