EAGER: Project TPV: An open-source platform for modeling and design of thermophotovoltaics

热光伏因能快速、高效地响应远程和突发的电力需求而成为一种具有广泛应用前景的热机。通过发展热能电储存和分布式热电联产，高效率热电联产可促进太阳能和风能等可再生能源的发展。作为电池的替代品，TES是电网规模储电最实惠的方法之一。另一方面，分布式热电联产是集中式发电厂的一种很有前途的替代方案，集中式发电厂浪费了大约三分之二的一次能源，提供的调度能力有限。光学和光伏材料的最新进展推动了TPV的实用化。然而，进一步的进展需要更全面地了解当前TPV设计的哪些方面是有利的，以及哪些方面仍有改进的机会。这对于TPV来说是具有挑战性的，因为它具有广阔的应用空间、广泛的运行条件以及缺乏方便设计的可用建模工具。通过开发一个开放获取平台来解决这些障碍是该项目的目标。TPV项目将促进探索-设计-报告的闭环过程。用户可以与该平台互动，探索通过将每个转化步骤与其各自的实验特定热力学极限进行比较而确定的领先方法。有意义的比较将使研究人员了解当前TPV的哪些方面是有利的，并将改进从一个材料系统转化到另一个材料系统，从而加速该领域的进展。设计模块将允许用户使用TPV准一维模拟工具(TPV-Q1D)预测现有和假设架构的性能。TPV-Q1D将促进对TPV电池能量损失机制的基本了解，并通过考虑可变发射极参数、掺杂剂介导的寄生吸收、空间相关的光激发和复合以及纳米结构层来弥补开放访问工具中的现有差距。报告模块将允许用户上传他们的实验测量结果，包括黑暗和照明的电流-电压特性以及发射器和电池的光谱特性。经项目组核实后，这些数据将在EXPLORE模块中可用，从而结束设计循环。为了让更广泛的社区参与进来，指导性学习活动将向用户展示如何与TPV项目互动，以了解多年来导致重大改进的基本能源转换步骤和设计原则。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Thermophotovoltaics (TPVs) have emerged as a promising heat engine for a wide range of applications because they can respond quickly and efficiently to remote and sudden electricity demands. High-efficiency TPVs could facilitate the growth of renewable sources such as solar and wind through the development of thermal-energy electrical storage (TEES) and distributed combined heat and power (CHP). As an alternative to batteries, TEES is one of the most affordable approaches for grid-scale storage of electricity. Distributed CHP, on the other hand, is a promising alternative to centralized power plants that waste approximately two-thirds of primary energy and offer limited dispatchability. Recent progress in optical and photovoltaic materials have advanced TPVs toward practical implementation. However, further progress requires a more complete understanding of which aspects of current TPV designs are favorable and where opportunities for improvements remain. This is challenging for TPVs because of the broad application space, wide range of operating conditions, and a lack of available modeling tools that facilitate design. Addressing these barriers through the development of an open-access platform is the goal of this project. Project TPV will facilitate an Explore-Design-Report closed-loop process. Users can interact with the platform to Explore leading approaches which have been identified by comparing each conversion step to its respective, experiment-specific thermodynamic limit. Meaningful comparisons will allow researchers to learn which aspects of current TPVs are favorable and to translate improvements from one material system to another, accelerating progress in the field. The Design module will let users predict the performance of existing and hypothetical architectures using a TPV quasi-one-dimensional simulation tool (TPV-Q1D). TPV-Q1D will advance fundamental understanding of energy loss mechanisms in TPV cells and bridge the existing gap in open-access tools by accounting for variable emitter parameters, dopant-mediated parasitic absorption, spatially dependent photoexcitation and recombination, and nanostructured layers. The Report module will allow users to upload the results of their experimental measurements, including dark and illuminated current-voltage characteristics and spectral properties of emitters and cells. Upon verification by the project team, these data will become available in the Explore module, closing the design loop. To engage the broader community, guided learning activities will show users how to interact with Project TPV to understand fundamental energy conversion steps and design principles that have led to major improvements over the years.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.