IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v260y2022ics0360544222020667.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Trade-off between the near-field heat transfer and the space charge effect in graphene-anode thermionic energy converters

Author

Listed:
  • Liang, Tao
  • Chen, Jingyi
  • Chen, Xiaohang
  • Su, Shanhe
  • Chen, Jincan

Abstract

The high work function of electrode materials inhibits the improvement of the performance of thermionic energy converters. Space charge effect and near-field heat transfer are also significant factors restricting the thermoelectric conversion capability. A micro-scale graphene-anode thermionic energy converter is proposed, in which a monolayer graphene sheet is placed on the substrate as the collector. The effects of both the space charge effect and the near-field heat transfer in the vacuum gap of the device are discussed based on Poisson's equation and the framework of fluctuation electrodynamics. Expressions for the power output density and efficiency of the system are derived. The systemic performance characteristics are comprehensively analyzed by optimizing main parameters. The results show that the electrode temperatures, current density, and energy fluxes in each portion are significantly regulated by the voltage output and the distance between the electrodes. There is a trade-off between the near-field heat transfer and the space charge effect so that the system can achieve optimum performance. The maximum values of the power output density and efficiency of the proposed system are, respectively, enhanced by 2.135% and 8.824% compared to those of the metal-thermionic energy converter. The optimal selection criteria of key parameters are determined, providing valuable guidance for actual operation.

Suggested Citation

  • Liang, Tao & Chen, Jingyi & Chen, Xiaohang & Su, Shanhe & Chen, Jincan, 2022. "Trade-off between the near-field heat transfer and the space charge effect in graphene-anode thermionic energy converters," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:260:y:2022:i:c:s0360544222020667
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.125174
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544222020667
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2022.125174?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liang, Tao & Hu, Cong & Fu, Tong & Su, Shanhe & Chen, Jincan, 2022. "The maximum efficiency enhancement of a solar-driven graphene-anode thermionic converter realizing total photon reflection," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PA).
    2. Rahman, Ehsanur & Nojeh, Alireza, 2020. "Harvesting solar thermal energy with a micro-gap thermionic-thermoelectric hybrid energy converter: Model development, energy exchange analysis, and performance optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    3. Wang, Yuan & Su, Shanhe & Liu, Tie & Su, Guozhen & Chen, Jincan, 2015. "Performance evaluation and parametric optimum design of an updated thermionic-thermoelectric generator hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P2), pages 1575-1583.
    4. Ehsanur Rahman & Alireza Nojeh, 2021. "Semiconductor thermionics for next generation solar cells: photon enhanced or pure thermionic?," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Mehmood, Haris & Nasser, Hisham & Zaidi, Syed Muhammad Hassan & Tauqeer, Tauseef & Turan, Raşit, 2022. "Physical device simulation of dopant-free asymmetric silicon heterojunction solar cell featuring tungsten oxide as a hole-selective layer with ultrathin silicon oxide passivation layer," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 188-201.
    6. Lin, Chungwei & Wang, Bingnan & Teo, Koon Hoo & Zhang, Zhuomin, 2018. "A coherent description of thermal radiative devices and its application on the near-field negative electroluminescent cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 177-186.
    7. Dasari, Bhagya Lakshmi & Nouri, Jamshid M. & Brabazon, Dermot & Naher, Sumsun, 2017. "Graphene and derivatives – Synthesis techniques, properties and their energy applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 766-778.
    8. Peng, Wanli & Gonzalez-Ayala, Julian & Su, Guozhen & Chen, Jincan & Hernández, Antonio Calvo, 2021. "Solar-driven sodium thermal electrochemical converter coupled to a Brayton heat engine: Parametric optimization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 260-271.
    9. Han, Yuan & Zhang, Houcheng & Hu, Ziyang & Hou, Shujin, 2021. "An efficient hybrid system using a graphene-based cathode vacuum thermionic energy converter to harvest the waste heat from a molten hydroxide direct carbon fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Lingen & Shi, Shuangshuang & Ge, Yanlin & Feng, Huijun, 2023. "Ecological function performance analysis and multi-objective optimization for an endoreversible four-reservoir chemical pump," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    2. Huang, Jialuo & Xia, Shaojun & Chen, Lingen, 2024. "Optimal configurations of ammonia decomposition reactor with minimum power consumption and minimum heat transfer rate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    3. Chen, Lingen & Shi, Shuangshuang & Ge, Yanlin & Feng, Huijun, 2023. "Power density performances and multi-objective optimizations for an irreversible Otto cycle with five specific heat models of working fluid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Liang, Tao & Hu, Cong & Fu, Tong & Su, Shanhe & Chen, Jincan, 2022. "The maximum efficiency enhancement of a solar-driven graphene-anode thermionic converter realizing total photon reflection," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PA).
    2. Han, Yuan & Zhang, Houcheng & Hu, Ziyang & Hou, Shujin, 2021. "An efficient hybrid system using a graphene-based cathode vacuum thermionic energy converter to harvest the waste heat from a molten hydroxide direct carbon fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    3. Shabani, Adib & Mehrpooya, Mehdi & Pazoki, Maryam, 2023. "Modelling and analysis of a novel production process of high-pressure hydrogen with CO2 separation using electrochemical compressor and LFR solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 776-799.
    4. Groenewald, Roelof E., 2022. "Impact of Coulomb scattering on argon plasma based thermionic converter performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    5. Hofsink, Jordy & Singh, Abhishek K., 2024. "Sodium thermal electrochemical converter coupled with organic Rankine cycle and thermochemical heat storage for power-heat-power application," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    6. Chen, Xiaohang & Wang, Yuan & Zhao, Yingru & Zhou, Yinghui, 2016. "A study of double functions and load matching of a phosphoric acid fuel cell/heat-driven refrigerator hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 359-365.
    7. Liang, Qi & He, Ya-Ling & Ren, Qinlong & Zhou, Yi-Peng & Xie, Tao, 2018. "A detailed study on phonon transport in thin silicon membranes with phononic crystal nanostructures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 731-741.
    8. Liao, Tianjun & Lin, Jian & Tao, Chuanyi & Lin, Bihong, 2020. "Exploiting the waste heat in graphene-based thermionic energy converter by means of thermophotovoltaic cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1715-1722.
    9. Han, Yuan & Gao, Wenzhi & Qin, Yanzhou, 2024. "Conceptual design and multi-objective optimization of a hybrid system based on direct ammonia protonic ceramic fuel cell and alkali metal thermal electric converter," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    10. Da, Yun & Xuan, Yimin & Li, Qiang, 2016. "From light trapping to solar energy utilization: A novel photovoltaic–thermoelectric hybrid system to fully utilize solar spectrum," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 200-210.
    11. Behzad ranjbar, & Mehrpooya, Mehdi & Marefati, Mohammad, 2021. "Parametric design and performance evaluation of a novel solar assisted thermionic generator and thermoelectric device hybrid system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 194-210.
    12. Mohammadnia, Ali & Ziapour, Behrooz M. & Sedaghati, Farzad & Rosendahl, Lasse & Rezania, Alireza, 2021. "Fan operating condition effect on performance of self- cooling thermoelectric generator system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    13. Han, Chaoling & Chen, Zhenqian, 2021. "Study on the synergism of thermal transport and electrochemical of PEMFC based on N, P co-doped graphene substrate electrode," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    14. Abdollahipour, Armin & Sayyaadi, Hoseyn, 2021. "Thermal energy recovery of molten carbonate fuel cells by thermally regenerative electrochemical cycles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    15. Aljaghtham, Mutabe & Celik, Emrah, 2022. "Design of cascade thermoelectric generation systems with improved thermal reliability," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    16. Xu, Haoran & Chen, Bin & Tan, Peng & Cai, Weizi & Wu, Yiyang & Zhang, Houcheng & Ni, Meng, 2018. "A feasible way to handle the heat management of direct carbon solid oxide fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 881-890.
    17. Rahmad Syah & Afshin Davarpanah & Mahyuddin K. M. Nasution & Faisal Amri Tanjung & Meysam Majidi Nezhad & Mehdi Nesaht, 2021. "A Comprehensive Thermoeconomic Evaluation and Multi-Criteria Optimization of a Combined MCFC/TEG System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-29, November.
    18. Chen, Lingen & Lorenzini, Giulio, 2023. "Heating load, COP and exergetic efficiency optimizations for TEG-TEH combined thermoelectric device with Thomson effect and external heat transfer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    19. Piadehrouhi, Forough & Ghorbani, Bahram & Miansari, Mehdi & Mehrpooya, Mehdi, 2019. "Development of a new integrated structure for simultaneous generation of power and liquid carbon dioxide using solar dish collectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 938-959.
    20. Jia Yu & Qingshan Zhu & Li Kong & Haoqing Wang & Hongji Zhu, 2020. "Modeling of an Integrated Thermoelectric Generation–Cooling System for Thermoelectric Cooler Waste Heat Recovery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-10, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:260:y:2022:i:c:s0360544222020667. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.