Thermophotovoltaic systems
AssigneeR & D Technologies, Inc.
InventorDarryl L. Noreen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system converts thermal or radiant heat into electricity for use in a variety of applications. The TPV system and method efficiently generate electric power through the combustion of fossil fuels with little or no nitrogen oxides or other undesirable combustion by-products. Combustion temperatures are kept at about 1,700.degree. C. or lower while burning a reactant mixture having an air/fuel ratio of greater than about 3:1. Heat from combustion products can be recycled and recuperated without concern for excessive increases in combustion temperature and subsequent combustor/emitter degradation.
Claims95
A thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system comprising:
- a) an insulated housing containing a porous ceramic matrix and having a combustion zone for supporting combustion of a reactant mixture and for emitting radiant energy in response to said combustion;
- b) means for injecting an incoming reactant mixture into said ceramic matrix;
- c) photochemical ignition source means for emitting ignition photons and means for delivering said photons to said combustion zone in said ceramic matrix to ignite said reactants and propagate a combustion flame within said ceramic matrix;
- d) photocell means for receiving and converting said radiant energy into electricity;
- and
- e) heat recovery means for recovering heat of combustion and for preheating said reactant mixture.
A Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system capable of operating with substantially reduced nitrogen-containing emissions, comprising:
- a) a combustion chamber for combustion of a fuel;
- b) a porous ceramic combustor/emitter for supporting combustion of a reactant mixture and for emitting radiant energy in response to said combustion;
- c) means for introducing a reactant mixture into said combustor/emitter;
- d) photochemical ignition means for emitting fuel igniting photons and means for delivering said photons to a predetermined location in said combustion chamber to ignite said fuel and to generate a combustion flame within said combustion chamber;
- e) photocell means for receiving and converting said radiant energy into electricity;
- f) heat exchanger means for cooling said photocells and reclaiming photocell heat loss;
- g) heat recovery means for receiving and recycling hot exhaust from said combustion chamber;
- h) membrane means for selectively delivering pure oxygen as the oxidant;
- and
- i) insulation means for minimizing system heat loss.
A thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system comprising:
- (a) a housing containing an emitter for emitting radiant energy in response to combustion and a combustion zone for supporting combustion of at least one reactant;
- (b) means for injecting incoming reactant into said combustion zone;
- (c) ignition means to ignite said reactant and propagate a combustion flame within said combustion zone;
- (d) photocell means for receiving and converting said radiant energy into electricity;
- (e) heat recovery means for recovering heat of combustion and for preheating a reactant, an oxidant, or a mixture thereof;
- and
- (f) membrane means for selectively delivering oxygen as an oxidant.
The thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system of claim, 31 wherein said emitter comprises hollow-core microtubes.
A thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system comprising:
- (a) a chamber containing an emitter made of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramics and metals, and a combustion zone for supporting combustion of at least one reactant;
- (b) means for providing a reactant mixture into said combustion zone, said reactant mixture having an oxidant/fuel ratio greater than about 3:1;
- (c) ignition means to ignite said reactant mixture and propagate a combustion flame within said combustion zone;
- (d) photocell means for receiving and converting radiant energy into electricity;
- (e) heat recovery means for recovering heat of combustion and for preheating a reactant, an oxidant or a mixture thereof;
- and
- (f) membrane means for selectively delivering oxygen as an oxidant.
A thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system comprising:
- (a) a chamber containing an emitter made of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramics and metals, and a combustion zone for supporting combustion of a reactant;
- (b) means for providing a reactant mixture into said combustion zone, said reactant mixture having an air/fuel ratio of greater than about 3:1;
- (c) photochemical ignition source means for emitting ignition photons and means for delivering said photons to said combustion zone to ignite said reactant and propagate a combustion flame;
- (d) photocell means for receiving and converting radiant energy into electricity;
- and
- (e) heat recovery means for recovering heat of combustion and for preheating a reactant, an oxidant or a mixture thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.