Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Cells
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-01
2001-03-20
Diamond, Alan (Department: 1753)
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Cells
C136S246000, C431S253000, C431S328000, C431S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06204442
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thermophotovoltaic generator having a solid body, located in a combustion chamber, whose surface is excited to a state of radiation by a combusting air-fuel mixture delivered to the combustion chamber by a delivery unit, with the radiation striking a photocell which then generates electrical energy; and also having an exhaust pipe which conducts the hot combustion gases away from the combustion chamber.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The fuel supply systems of radiant burners are currently designed so that the fuel is supplied to the solid body from the inside or from behind, is burned on the surface of the solid body, and excites the latter to a state of radiation. The resulting combustion gases are discharged to the outside through the exhaust pipe. One example of this is the known solid bed burner.
The use of a radiant burner of this type in a thermophotovoltaic generator currently causes problems in that the hot combustion gases flow to the photocell. For this reason, it is necessary to take protective action such as cooling the photocell and shielding it with a pane of quartz glass to prevent the photocell from overheating.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to design a thermophotovoltaic generator that uses a radiant burner so that the photocells used to generate power are not located in the direction of hot combustion gas flow, as is usually the case at present, thus making it possible to greatly reduce the cost of the measures currently needed to protect the photocell against the hot combustion gases.
To achieve this object, a thermophotovoltaic generator according to the present invention is provided in which a premixing chamber is closed to the outside by a porous solid body. A photocell is positioned opposite the solid body and upstream from the latter in the premixing chamber. A reflector is located downstream from the solid body and opposite the latter outside the premixing chamber so that it reflects the radiation produced by the combustion of the air-fuel mixture on the solid body back to the solid body in the direction opposite the flow of the combustion gases. The air-fuel mixture is delivered to the premixing chamber by the delivery unit so that the non-combusted air-fuel mixture flows onto and around the photocell from behind, thus cooling it.
The present invention is based on reversing the direction of fuel flow and the direction of radiation. As a result, the photocell does not come into contact with hot combustion gases, but instead is actively cooled by the cold air-fuel mixture flowing around it. This makes it possible to considerably reduce the cost of protecting the photocell against the hot combustion gases.
According to one embodiment of the thermophotovoltaic generator, the photocell and the reflector can be constructed as flat parts and arranged on parallel planes.
In an alternative embodiment, a largely cylindrical combustion chamber can be provided, with the photocell and reflector positioned on lateral cylinder surfaces that are arranged coaxially to one another.
In this case, it is advantageous to position the photocells on an inner cylinder surface and the reflector on an outer cylinder surface surrounding the inner cylinder surface. Between them, in the equally cylindrical combustion chamber, is then located the porous solid body, which, except for its porosity, can be completely closed off.
The thermophotovoltaic generator according to the present invention, in which the photocell is cooled by the air-fuel mixture flowing to it, can be implemented in a variety of embodiments, for example in a radial, axial, or other geometrical arrangement.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4707560 (1987-11-01), Hottel et al.
patent: 5044939 (1991-09-01), Dehlsen
patent: 5356487 (1994-10-01), Goldstein et al.
patent: 5383976 (1995-01-01), Fraas et al.
patent: 5772793 (1998-06-01), Ashcroft et al.
patent: 5942047 (1999-08-01), Fraas et al.
patent: 198 15 094 (1999-10-01), None
D. Burger et al., “Low-Bandgap Thermophotovoltaic System Design”, Aug. 8, 1993, Aerospace Power, Conversion Technology, Electrochemical Conversion, Atlanta, Aug. 8-13, 1993, vol. 1, Nr. Conf. 28, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, pp. 1.1045-1.1049.
Burger et al, “Low-Bandgap Thermophotovoltaic System Design,” Aerospace Power, Conversion Technology, Electrochemical Conversion, Atlanta, Aug. 1993, pp. 1.1045-1.1049.
Diamond Alan
Kenyon & Kenyon
Robert & Bosch GmbH
LandOfFree
Thermophotovoltaic generator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Thermophotovoltaic generator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Thermophotovoltaic generator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2474467