Heat-to-Light-to-Electricity Conversion (HLEC) for Nuclear Reactor Applications
December 2, 2024
From the essay
Heat-to-Light-to-Electricity Conversion (HLEC) offers a transformative approach to converting thermal energy from nuclear reactors into electricity. By leveraging high-temperature thermal radiation, advanced optical systems, and photovoltaic (PV) technology, HLEC eliminates the need for mechanical components and promises high efficiency, compactness, and safety. This paper explores the detailed physics, processes, material properties, computational modeling, system designs, challenges, and economic analysis of HLEC technology, with a focus on its application in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and micro-nuclear reactors operating at temperatures of ~800°C or more.
Adapted from PDF pages 1.