# Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) Cell Array Assembly Research

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/w911nf-17-s-0003-specialnotice-tpv-cell-thermophotovoltaic-tpv-cell-array-assembly-research/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/333476

> Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command offered grants of up to $350,000 to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make one award. Applications closed on June 11, 2021.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | W911NF-17-S-0003-SPECIALNOTICE-TPV-CELL |
| Agency | Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | June 11, 2021 |
| Award ceiling | $350,000 |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | 1 |
| Total funding | not stated |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 12.431 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Reference Special Notice and BAA W911NF-17-S-0003

## What the grant funds

The aim of this Special Notice under the ARL BAA (W911NF‐17‐S‐0003), under Grants.gov Opportunity W911NF‐17‐S‐0003‐SPECIALNOTICE‐TPV-CELL, is to fund an entity to collaborate with ARL to research Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) Cell Array assembly concepts for use on the ARL experimental test stand to produce electric output. ARL has assembled TCAs in-house in the past, but seeks entities with other approaches, more experience, and better equipment to collaborate with on this research. ARL will collaborate with the awardee on an improved design. The awardee will assemble proof of principle TCAs using TPV cells provided by ARL. The TCA will be tested by ARL on the ARL experimental test stand. ARL will then feedback the test data and work with the awardee to further improve the design. It is envisioned a few iterations of this process will lead to an optimized design to determine the limits of the TCA on overall ARL experimental test stand efficiency. The primary components of the ARL experimental test stand include a BER, TPV cell array (TCA), and Cavity. The BER is made up of a cylindrical counter flow burner with a cylindrical emitter tube covering one end of the burner with a recuperator attached to the other end of the burner. One end of the emitter is closed off with a thermally insulating lid. The outer surface of the emitter is heated to ~1100 Celsius and the burner surfaces are also at high temperatures. The TCA is made up of TPV cells mounted on heat sinks that surround the outside of the emitter. The TPV cell array and heat sinks fits inside a tubular housing with a cooling fan mounted on one end. Air from the cooling fan flows in the direction of the axis of the tubular housing through the heat sinks. The Cavity is the space between the Emitter and the TPV Cells and the Cavity design involves the interaction of the emitter surface, TPV surface, and possibly special reflectors, endcaps, and/or non-imaging optical filters. The current ARL TCA design has 108 TPV cells with each cell measuring 0.87 cm x 0.85 cm. It also includes a -circuit board with score marks to allow the circuit board to bend to create a 9 facet 180 degree semicircle. This semicircle has 54 TPV cells attached using thermally conductive epoxy. Heat sink fins are epoxied to the backside of the circuit board (see Figure 2). The axial length of the area covered by TPV cells on each facet is 53.5 mm.

## Questions people ask

### Is W911NF-17-S-0003-SPECIALNOTICE-TPV-CELL still open?

No. It closed on June 11, 2021. A newer notice is open: W911NF26S1000, closes April 9, 2027 (153 days left).

### Who can apply for Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) Cell Array Assembly Research?

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) Cell Array Assembly Research?

Closed June 11, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $350,000 each.

### Who has won Basic Scientific Research grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were University of Maryland, College Park, General Dynamics Robotic Systems Inc, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The program made 3,478 awards worth $2.8 billion in that time.