Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Cells
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-15
2001-04-17
Chapman, Mark (Department: 1753)
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Cells
Reexamination Certificate
active
06218607
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a small and light cylindrical thermophotovoltaic (TPV) generator using gaseous fuels, a counter flow heat exchanger and low band gap photovoltaic cells.
In the new fuel injection system, with preheated air from a recuperator, fuel combustion begins immediately when the fuel and air first meet. Therefore, for a very hot and compact burn, complete and rapid fuel and air mixing is required. That is accomplished with a venturi to neck down the air flow and a chemically etched jet shim disk which creates over 150 small fuel jet streams.
In the new emitter geometric configuration, it is important to have good hot gas energy transfer to the IR (infrared) emitter. Four new alternate emitter configurations accomplish the transfer.
In the photovoltaic converter assembly, it is important to have good spectral control, good high rate but light weight heat removal and high current carrying capability, while maintaining low parasitic IR absorption. A modular photovoltaic converter circuit is complete with series connected low band gap filtered cells, a heat spreader and high current carrying mirror shielded interconnects.
An efficient but light weight and short heat exchanger which is fairly easy to fabricate is accomplished by inserting an array of angled vanes through slits in a simple cylinder.
These and further and other objects and features of the invention are apparent in the disclosure, which includes the above and ongoing written specification, with the claims and the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3433676 (1969-03-01), Stein
patent: 3751303 (1973-08-01), Kittl
patent: 4234352 (1980-11-01), Swanson
patent: 4707560 (1987-11-01), Hottel et al.
patent: 4776895 (1988-10-01), Goldstein
patent: 5312521 (1994-05-01), Fraas et al.
patent: 5356487 (1994-10-01), Goldstein et al.
patent: 5383976 (1995-01-01), Fraas et al.
patent: 5401329 (1995-03-01), Fraas et al.
patent: 5403405 (1995-04-01), Fraas et al.
patent: 5439532 (1995-08-01), Fraas
patent: 5512109 (1996-04-01), Fraas et al.
patent: 5551992 (1996-09-01), Fraas
patent: 5560783 (1996-10-01), Hamlen
patent: 5616186 (1997-04-01), Fraas et al.
patent: 5865906 (1999-02-01), Ferguson et al.
E. Kittle, Design Analysis of IPV-Generator System, Proc. 25th Annual Power Sources Conf. May 1972, pp. 106-110.
D.G. Pelka, Natural Gas-Fired Thermophotovoltaic System, Proc. 32nd International Power Sources Conf. Jun. 1986, pp. 110-123.
M.D. Morgan, Radioisotope Thermal Photovoltaic Application of the GaSb,Solar Cell,10.,Space Photovoltaic Research and Technology Conference, Nov. 1989, pp. 349-358.
H. Hofler, Selective Emitters for Thermophotovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion, Solar Cells, 10.(1983) pp. 257-271.
A.C. Day, Application of the GaSb Solar Cell in Isotope-Heated Power Systems, Conference Record, 21st IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, May 1990, pp. 1320-1325.
L.D. Woolf, Optimum Efficiency of Single and Multiple Bandgap Cells in Thermalphotovoltaic Energy Conversion, Solar Cells, 19(1986-1987) pp. 19, 31.
Fraas Lewis M.
Mulligan William P.
Samaras John E.
Chapman Mark
Creighton Wray James
JX Crystals Inc.
Narasimhan Meera P.
LandOfFree
Compact man-portable thermophotovoltaic battery charger does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Compact man-portable thermophotovoltaic battery charger, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Compact man-portable thermophotovoltaic battery charger will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2461113