Syngas Applied to Micro Thermophotovaltic Power System Assemble with Stirling Engine

Abstract

Micro thermophotovoltaic is a potential power generation for human. Despite the low conversion of TPV system, combined heat and power system could be used to increase the overall efficiency by reusing the waste energy exhausted from TPV system. A micro combustor was designed to investigate the flame behavior through a platinum tube. Fuel, which premixed with CO, H2, CH4 and air were delivered to the micro combustor. By adjusting the ratio of H2 to CO, several flame behavior appears. Irradiance and wall temperature were measured to find out the best operation condition for PV cell to produce electricity. At last, the TPV system could assemble with a Stirling engine to capture the waste heat from TPV system. Water is the working fluid for the cooling system of Stirling engine. By absorbing the waste exhaust heat to heat up the Stirling engine, power and hot water could generated by Stirling engine simultaneously. Eventually, the overall efficiency are able to increase by assembling the Stirling engine.