Maximal near-field radiative heat transfer between two plates

Institut Pprime, CNRS-Université de Poitiers-ENSMA, Département Fluides, Thermique, Combustion, ENSIP-Bâtiment de mécanique, 2 rue Pierre Brousse, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France

^a e-mail: elyes.nefzaoui@univ-poitiers.fr

Received: 2 April 2013
Revised: 26 June 2013
Accepted: 12 July 2013
Published online: 27 September 2013

Abstract

Near-field radiative transfer is a promising way to significantly and simultaneously enhance both thermo-photovoltaic (TPV) devices power densities and efficiencies. A parametric study of Drude and Lorentz models performances in maximizing near-field radiative heat transfer between two semi-infinite planes separated by nanometric distances at room temperature is presented in this paper. Optimal parameters of these models that provide optical properties maximizing the radiative heat flux are reported and compared to real materials usually considered in similar studies, silicon carbide and heavily doped silicon in this case. Results are obtained by exact and approximate (in the extreme near-field regime and the electrostatic limit hypothesis) calculations. The two methods are compared in terms of accuracy and CPU resources consumption. Their differences are explained according to a mesoscopic description of nearfield radiative heat transfer. Finally, the frequently assumed hypothesis which states a maximal radiative heat transfer when the two semi-infinite planes are of identical materials is numerically confirmed. Its subsequent practical constraints are then discussed. Presented results enlighten relevant paths to follow in order to choose or design materials maximizing nano-TPV devices performances.