A thermophotovoltaic device includes at least one thermal radiator tube, a cooling tube concentrically disposed within each thermal radiator tube and an array of thermophotovoltaic cells disposed on the exterior surface of the cooling tube. A shell having a first end and a second end surrounds the thermal radiator tube. Inner and outer tubesheets, each having an aperture corresponding to each cooling tube, are located at each end of the shell. The thermal radiator tube extends within the shell b...

Solar power is concentrated onto an absorptive surface of a body to heat the body to thus result in infrared emissions. The wavelength spectrum of the infrared emissions is tailored to match the optimal incident wavelength spectrum of photovoltaic cells. This tailoring is accomplished by use of an infrared filter and/or a coating material on an emissions surface of the body. The photovoltaic cells, constructed to match the radiation spectrum of the infrared emissions, convert the infrared emissi...

A thermophotovoltaic generator includes an infrared cobalt oxide doped refractory ceramic emitter having a broad power band region which is matched with the energy conversion band of a low bandgap thermophotovoltaic cell receiver. The generator is provided with a heat source or is constructed for mounting on a heat source or for holding a heat source, such as a radioisotope. The generator is compatible with any heat source, including, but not limited to, a hydrocarbon flame, nuclear reactors, an...

The apparatus is a selective radiation emitter to be used in conjunction with a photocell for thermophotovoltaic generation of electricity from heat. One embodiment of the emitter is a layer of selectively radiating rare earth oxide bonded onto a heated base metal layer by the use of an intermediate thin layer of porous metal powder. Another embodiment is an emitter of a thick metal powder layer combined with a rare earth oxide which is formed into the voids in the metal powder structure and bon...

A hydrocarbon fired room heater with thermophotovoltaic electric generator has high power outputs without cell overheating and failure. The unit includes a burner for generating a hydrocarbon flame, a catalytic emitter positioned in the hydrocarbon flame for emitting infrared radiation when heated by the flame, a receiver positioned around the catalytic emitter for receiving the infrared radiation and for converting the infrared radiation to electric power, an exhaust chimney positioned adjacent...

A miniature thermo-photovoltaic (TPV) device for generation of electrical power for use in portable electronic devices. A TPV power source is constructed to provide a heat source chemical reactor capable of using various fuels, such as liquid hydrocarbons, including but not limited to propane, LPG, butane, alcohols, oils and diesel fuels to generate a source of photons. A reflector dish guides misdirected photon energy from the photon source toward a photovoltaic array. A thin transparent protec...

The invention increases the efficiency of energy conversion processes by providing a system including a thermal radiation source, a reflective surface, and an energy collector such that a photon flux emitted by the thermal radiation source is substantially isotropically reflected by the reflective surface. The thermal radiation source can include additional elements for selecting the angle and wavelengths of the emitted radiation, and the reflective surface may comprise a diffuse reflective surf...

A thermophotovoltaic generator provides a greater power output while maintaining a compact, simplistic structure. The generator includes a burner having adjustable fuel and air flows, an infrared radiation emitter suspended above the flame nozzle of the burner and a cylindrical receiver surrounding the emitter. The emitter is a conical infrared emitter connected to the burner by wires. The emitter is positioned above the burner nozzle such that the emitter is immersed in the generated hydrocarbo...

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...

Electric power generator has linear arrays of thermophotovoltaic cells spaced outwardly from a tubular IR emitter. Hot combustion products flow downward from a combustion zone between a central pillar and the IR emitter, and then upward between the emitter and a tubular IR transparent window. The cell arrays are spaced outward from a convection barrier tube and a short pass filter. A burner assembly at the top of the pillar has an alternating arrangement of accelerating air channels with large o...