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US 11,277,090 B1Granted
Multi fuel thermophotovoltaic generator incorporating an omega recuperator
AssigneeJX Crystals Inc.
InventorLewis M. Fraas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermophotovoltaic generator uses conveniently available liquid hydrocarbon fuels. The fuels are controllably heated and vaporized before ignition to avoid residue and deposits as a result of liquid fuel being prematurely exposed to high temperatures of combustion causing unwanted breakdowns, producing power robbing residues and deposits. Heating fuel and air to right temperatures for ignition is accomplished by drawing combustion air over an exhaust chamber, through a regenerator and through a passage surrounding an IR filter. A separate cooling fan drives air through photovoltaic cell array fins over the recuperator and the exhaust in counterflow to the combustion air.
Claims15
A portable fuel thermophotovoltaic (TPV) generator, further comprising:
- a liquid fuel inlet,
- a liquid fuel vaporizing chamber connected to the liquid fuel inlet,
- a liquid fuel heater connected to the liquid fuel vaporizing chamber,
- a heated air inlet,
- a mixing chamber connected to the liquid fuel vaporizing chamber and the heated air inlet,
- a combustion chamber connected to the mixing chamber,
- a continuing combustion chamber connected to the combustion chamber,
- a combustion product outlet connected to the continuing combustion chamber,
- a recuperator connected to the combustion product outlet,
- a combustion air supply connected to the recuperator and a heated air outlet from the recuperator connected to the heated air inlet,
- an exhaust chamber connected to the recuperator,
- an IR emitter surrounding the continuing combustion chamber,
- an IR filter spaced from and surrounding the IR emitter,
- a window spaced from and surrounding the IR filter,
- the heated air inlet further comprising a space between the IR filter and the window through which heated air passes to the heated air inlet, and
- a thermophotovoltaic array surrounding the window.
13 more elements
A portable fuel thermophotovoltaic (TPV) generator, further comprising:
- a fuel inlet,
- a heated air inlet,
- a mixing chamber connected to the fuel inlet and the heated air inlet,
- a combustion chamber connected to the fuel inlet and the heated air inlet,
- a continuing combustion chamber connected to the combustion chamber,
- a combustion product outlet connected to the continuing combustion chamber,
- a recuperator connected to the combustion product outlet,
- an air supply connected to the recuperator and a heated air outlet connected to the recuperator,
- an exhaust chamber connected to the recuperator,
- an IR emitter surrounding the continuing combustion chamber,
- an IR filter spaced from and surrounding the IR emitter,
- a window spaced from and surrounding the IR filter,
- the heated air inlet further comprising a space between the IR filter and the window through which the heated air passes to the heated air inlet, and
- a thermophotovoltaic array surrounding the window, further comprising a conic catalyst pillar mounted in the continuing combustion chamber near the recuperator and configured for directing IR toward the IR emitter and directing exhaust gas into an exhaust side of the recuperator.
11 more elements
A method comprising providing a photovoltaic generator, further comprising:
- blowing combustion air over an exhaust chamber and through a recuperator and through an annular space between a window and an IR filter into a mixing chamber,
- cooling the annular space and heating the combustion air,
- flowing a liquid hydrocarbon fuel into a vaporizing chamber,
- heating the vaporizing chamber and flowing vaporized hydrocarbon fuel and the heated combustion air into the mixing chamber, and mixing the vaporized hydrocarbon fuel and the heated combustion air in the mixing chamber,
- flowing the mixed vaporized liquid hydrocarbon fuel and the heated combustion air into an ignition chamber,
- igniting the mixed vaporized liquid hydrocarbon fuel and heated combustion air in the ignition chamber, and igniting the mixed vaporized liquid hydrocarbon fuel and the heated combustion air,
- flowing the ignited mixed vaporized liquid hydrocarbon fuel and the heated combustion air into a combustion chamber and producing heat therein,
- heating and radiating the IR emitter surrounding a combustion chamber,
- filtering IR and passing useful IR from the IR filter to a photovoltaic cell array surrounding the window, and
- generating electricity with the photovoltaic array.
7 more elements
A portable fuel thermophotovoltaic (TPV) generator, further comprising:
- a fuel inlet,
- a heated air inlet,
- a mixing chamber connected to the fuel inlet and the heated air inlet,
- a combustion chamber connected to the fuel inlet and the heated air inlet,
- a continuing combustion chamber connected to the combustion chamber,
- a combustion product outlet connected to the continuing combustion chamber,
- a recuperator connected to the combustion product outlet,
- an air supply connected to the recuperator and a heated air outlet connected to the recuperator,
- an exhaust chamber connected to the recuperator,
- an IR emitter surrounding the continuing combustion chamber,
- an IR filter spaced from and surrounding the IR emitter,
- a window spaced from and surrounding the IR filter,
- the heated air inlet further comprising a space between the IR filter and the window through which the heated air passes to the heated air inlet, and
- a thermophotovoltaic array surrounding the window, further comprising passing the combusting hot air and fuel over a conic catalyst pillar and directing heat and radiation to the IR emitter from the pillar.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.