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Design and performance analysis of a 500-W heat source for radioisotope thermophotovoltaic converters

2017; Wiley; Volume: 42; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/er.3889

1099-114X

Seong Jae Cheon, Ser Gi Hong, Jung Hun Lee, Young Suk Nam,

Thermal Expansion and Ionic Conductivity

International Journal of Energy ResearchVolume 42, Issue 2 p. 817-829 RESEARCH ARTICLE Design and performance analysis of a 500-W heat source for radioisotope thermophotovoltaic converters Seong Jae Cheon, Seong Jae Cheon Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Deogyeong-daero, GiHeung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 446-701 KoreaSearch for more papers by this authorSer Gi Hong, Corresponding Author Ser Gi Hong sergihong@khu.ac.kr orcid.org/0000-0002-9720-571X Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Deogyeong-daero, GiHeung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 446-701 Korea Correspondence Ser Gi Hong, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Deogyeong-daero, GiHeung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 446-701, Korea. Email: sergihong@khu.ac.krSearch for more papers by this authorJung Hun Lee, Jung Hun Lee Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Deogyeong-daero, GiHeung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 446-701 KoreaSearch for more papers by this authorYoung Suk Nam, Young Suk Nam Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Deogyeong-daero, GiHeung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 446-701 KoreaSearch for more papers by this author Seong Jae Cheon, Seong Jae Cheon Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Deogyeong-daero, GiHeung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 446-701 KoreaSearch for more papers by this authorSer Gi Hong, Corresponding Author Ser Gi Hong sergihong@khu.ac.kr orcid.org/0000-0002-9720-571X Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Deogyeong-daero, GiHeung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 446-701 Korea Correspondence Ser Gi Hong, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Deogyeong-daero, GiHeung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 446-701, Korea. Email: sergihong@khu.ac.krSearch for more papers by this authorJung Hun Lee, Jung Hun Lee Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Deogyeong-daero, GiHeung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 446-701 KoreaSearch for more papers by this authorYoung Suk Nam, Young Suk Nam Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Deogyeong-daero, GiHeung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 446-701 KoreaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 14 September 2017 https://doi.org/10.1002/er.3889Citations: 4Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Summary A radioisotope thermophotovoltaic (RTPV) system effectively converts the decay heat of radioisotopes into electricity via thermally radiated photons. In this work, a 500-W thermal heat source unit including 238PuO2 radioisotope fuel, shielding material, and selective emitter is designed from the viewpoint of radiation safety, thermal performance, and overall conversion efficiency by considering various shielding materials, fuel configurations, and packing factor (PF), defined as the ratio of fuel region volume to total heat source enclosure volume including fuel cladding and shield. The design study starts with a reference cubic configuration and extends to the more complicated configurations having separate cylindrical fuels. The results of the study showed that the heat source unit design suggested here can reduce the total radiation dose, peak neutron fluence, and maximum temperature using separate cylindrical fuel rods. For example, a design having a separated 3 × 3 cylindrical fuel rod array of 30% PF increases the overall efficiency by ~39% with similar maximum temperature and radiation doses in comparison with the reference heat source unit with a single cubic module and a 10% PF. This demonstrates the importance of the proper design of the RTPV heat source unit. Citing Literature Volume42, Issue2February 2018Pages 817-829 RelatedInformation