# US 2013/0153010 A1 · Combustor for thermophotovoltaic power systems

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- Number: US 2013/0153010 A1
- Document ID: US20130153010A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/466,396
- Filed: 2012-05-08
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16
- Assignees: National Cheng Kung University
- Inventors: YUEH-HENG LI; GUAN-BANG CHEN; YEI-CHIN CHAO; TSARNG-SHENG CHENG; CHIH-YUNG WU
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153010A1

## CPC

- F23D 3/40: the capillary action taking place in one or more rigid porous bodies
- H02S 10/30: Thermophotovoltaic systems (photovoltaic cells specially adapted for conversion or sensing of infrared [IR] radiation H10F10/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00)
- F23M 2900/05004: Special materials for walls or lining
- F23M 2900/13003: Energy recovery by thermoelectric elements, e.g. by Peltier/Seebeck effect, arranged in the combustion plant
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- F23D: BURNERS
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- F23M: CASINGS, LININGS, WALLS OR DOORS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, e.g. FIREBRIDGES; DEVICES FOR DEFLECTING AIR, FLAMES OR COMBUSTION PRODUCTS IN COMBUSTION CHAMBERS; SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR COMBUSTION APPARATUS; DETAILS OF COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A combustor for thermaophotovoltaic power systems includes a chamber body pervious to light and a metal porous medium as well as an emitter tube disposed inside the chamber body, respectively. By using a mixed liquid fuel to penetrate through the porous medium to form a fuel-film on the surface thereof and injecting the air into the chamber body, the contact surface of the fuel and the air is increased for promoting the thermal conduction and thoroughly vaporizing the liquid fuel to attain the flame stabilization. Further, the material of metal carbonyl can be added into the liquid fuel to efficiently increase the intensity of the flame luminescence after the burning reaction, and the radiation of the emitter tube combines with the radiation of the flame luminescence to increase the luminosity and enhance the electricity conversion efficiency.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A combustor for said thermophotovoltaic power systems, said thermophotovoltaic power systems includes a combustor and a photovoltaic: ceil array disposed in relation to said combust or;
wherein said combustor comprises a chamber body made of a material pervious to light and a porous medium as well as an emitter tube respectively disposed inside said chamber body; said emitter tube being disposed above said porous medium, and said porous medium being made of a metal material which allows a mixed liquid fuel to penetrate therethrough, said chamber body having a chamber room defined therein, a fuel inlet port connecting to said porous medium and allowing an introduction of said mixed liquid fuel, and an air inlet port communicating with said chamber room and allowing an entry of air, said liquid fuel penetrating through said porous medium to form a fuel-film while injecting said air into said chamber body so that a radiation of flame luminescence generated by burning said liquid fuel and an emitter incandescence brought about by heating said emitter tube are emanated from said chamber body to said photovoltaic cell array for converting said radiation into electricity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The combustor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mixed liquid fuel is made by mixing liquid hydrocarbon fuels and metal carbonyl,

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The combustor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said, chamber body is made of quartz.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The combustor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said chamber body is made of quartz.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The combustor as claimed, in claim 1, wherein said metal porous medium is formed into a conical shape,

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The combustor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said metal porous medium is formed into a conical shape.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The combustor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said emitter tube is made of silicon carbide,

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The combustor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said emitter tube is made of silicon carbide.