A thermophotovoltaic generator includes a stainless steel heat exchanger, a ceramic heat exchanger, a mixing chamber, a combustion chamber, an igniter, an infrared radiation emitter with counterflow, and an array of thermophotovoltaic cells surrounding the emitter and tube. The generator possesses both high conductance for the combustion gases and efficient heat transfer from the hot combustion gases to the emitter. The thermophotovoltaic cells have an IR response at least out to 1.7 microns and are fitted with simple dielectric filters. The emitter is an SiC spine disc emitter that is surrounded by at least one fused silica heat shield. Preferably, the thermophotovoltaic cells are GaSb cells, the infrared radiation emitter is a SiC blackbody emitter, and the dielectric filter is designed to transmit for wavelengths less than 1.7 microns and to reflect wavelengths between 1.7 and 4.0 microns. The filter can transmit again beyond 4.0 microns where the fused silica heat shields have suppressed the emitted energy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 08/393,919 filed Feb. 24, 1995, which was a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 08/260,910 filed Jun. 15, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,532 which was a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 08/047,477 filed Apr. 19, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,976, which was a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 07/906,452 filed Jun. 30, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,521. These earlier applications and their listed references are incorporated herein by reference.
A thermophotovoltaic power generating apparatus that heats an emitter by a combustion gas produced by fuel and air, and converts light radiated from the emitter into electric power by using photoelectric conversion elements. An air pipe is disposed in an internal hollow portion of the emitter, and a combustion gas supplier for supplying the combustion gas toward the emitter is disposed outside the emitter. The photoelectric conversion elements that receive radiated light are disposed further outside of the emitter. Therefore, residual heat of the combustion gas that has heated the emitter is utilized to heat the air needed for the combustion of fuel, and light radiated from the heated emitter is received by the photoelectric conversion elements. Thus, electric power generating efficiency can be improved.
A thermophotovoltaic generator apparatus includes a thermophotovoltaic converter assembly and a cooling fan positioned beneath the assembly for generating an updraft around the assembly. A fuel source is connected to the converter assembly by a fuel line. A new control system, which may include a non-metallic electrode for flame sensing and, regulates flow of fuel from the fuel source to the converter assembly. A housing encloses the cooling fan and the converter assembly. The converter assembly includes a fuel injector cup having a fuel inlet connected to the fuel source and a fuel outlet. A combustion chamber is positioned above the cup for receiving fuel from the fuel outlet and for allowing hydrocarbon combustion. A combustion fan is positioned between the cup and the cooling fan for generating an updraft into the combustion chamber. An infrared emitter is positioned around the combustion chamber for emitting infrared radiation when heated by combustion gases resulting from the hydrocarbon combustion. The emitter includes infrared emitter further comprises a first refractory, infrared transparent ceramic material layer, a second refractory, infrared transparent ceramic material layer, a reinforcing material layer sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer, and a doped, refractory, infrared transparent ceramic matrix material layer positioned over the second layer.
A thermally integrated burner/emitter/recuperator (BER) for a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) electric generator achieves improved energy efficiency using either liquid or gaseous fuels. A mixed ceramic and metallic alloy heat exchanger, together with a high temperature emitter, achieves increased energy density in a compact and lightweight assembly.
The invention teaches a method and apparatus for the generation of electric power by recycling the heat generated by various industrial processes. Thermophotovoltaic cells are used to convert the heat radiated from the industrial apparatus used to perform the various processes into electricity. Arrays of thermophotovoltaic cells placed around the apparatus, which may optionally be surrounded by an infrared (IR) emitter. The emitter serves to convert the IR radiation of the initial heat source into IR radiation having a more uniform wavelength. The cell arrays are spaced outward from a convection barrier tube and a short pass filter that may be placed around the IR emitter. A heat sink may be placed outside of the perimeter formed by the array of thermophotovoltaic cells, this serves to cool the thermophotovoltaic arrays, and also increases the power density of the cells, which in turn improves the power generation capacity of the array.
A thermophotovoltaic power generating apparatus has a combustor for burning a fuel upon supply of the fuel and air, an emitter heated by passage therein of combustion gas produced in the combustor, and a photoelectric conversion element that converts light radiated from the emitter into electric power, the combustor being provided between the emitter and the conversion element. Preferably, the emitter is disposed above the combustor, and the photoelectric conversion element is disposed below the combustor. With this structure, combustion gas does not reside in the combustion chamber, but is discharged via the emitter disposed above the combustor. Combustion becomes stable, and the emitter is efficiently heated, so that energy radiated from the emitter surface increases.
