Thermoelectric field burner

A liquid-fueled self-powered thermoelectric field burner operable to combust any liquid selected from the group consisting of gasoline, kerosene, ethanol, methanol, diesel fuel, and mixtures thereof and to start up at an ambient temperature as low as about -20.degree. F. comprising a preheat burner formed with enclosing walls, means for supplying combustion air and atomized liquid fuel as a mixture to said preheat burner in a start-up mode until said walls reach a predetermined temperature, first ignition means for igniting said mixture of atomized liquid fuel and combustion air in said preheat burner, means for switching off said first ignition means and interrupting the flow of liquid fuel so as to momentarily stop combustion in said preheat burner after said walls reach said predetermined temperature, a main burner communicating with said preheat burner, means for introducing a premix of air and atomized liquid fuel within said enclosing walls of said preheat burner after said combustion therein has been interrupted whereby said fuel is vaporized, second ignition means for igniting said premix of air and atomized liquid fuel near said main burner, means for operating said main burner in a steady-state mode by combustion of said premix of air and vaporized fuel, a plurality of thermoelectric converters arrayed about said main burner, and means for transferring heat from said main burner during steady-state operation thereof to said thermoelectric converters to generate electric power.