5 papers
Reversibilities and irreversibilities in thermoelectric energy conversion
Tom Markvart
Similarly to Thomson, we consider the thermoelectric generator at open circuit as a classical heat engine. It is shown that, as long as the Thomson coefficient is nonzero, the oper…
Thermomechanical model of solar cells
Tom Markvart
The paper considers a model for the solar cell as a mechanical open-cycle thermodynamic engine where the chemical potential is produced in an isochoric process corresponding to the…
Solar cells and thermoelectric generators as finite-time chemical heat engines
Tom Markvart
This paper shows a fundamental thermodynamic similarity between thermoelectric and photovoltaic energy converters which, at open circuit, can be represented as isochoric engines ge…
Thermodynamic limit on the open circuit voltage of solar cells
Tom Markvart
A new thermodynamic limit for the open circuit voltage of solar cells that includes thermalization is obtained in terms of photon entropy. A simple graphical construction makes it…
Hot carrier solar cells by adiabatic cooling
Tom Markvart
Hot carrier solar cell is proposed where charge carriers are cooled adiabatically in the charge transport layers adjoining the absorber. The device resembles an ideal thermoelectri…