Mtpv Power Corporation

David Mather

Paul Greiff

Eric L Brown

Brian N Hubert

Bin Zhang

Bruno A Nardelli

Shannon J Kovar

Timothy R Schuyler

Trace W Cody

Christopher W Melanson

A thermophotovoltaic panel assembly including a heat sink and a plurality of thermophotovoltaic modules mounted on the heat sink. Each thermophotovoltaic module includes a photovoltaic element separated from an emitter assembly by a gap. The emitter assembly includes an emitter and applies force towards the photovoltaic element to maintain the gap. The thermophotovoltaic panel assembly may also utilize a force application layer on the emitter and be bolted in place. A housing can be used for protection and to transfer energy to the emitter. The heat sink cantilevers into the housing to define a space between the thermophotovoltaic modules and the inner surface of the housing. Preferably, the housing maintains a vacuum and, in turn, the gap is evacuated. The heat sink can be monolithic and cooled with fluid pumped therethrough. The emitter may be transparent or at least partially transmissive.

Radiative micron-gap thermophotovoltaic system with transparent emitter

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

David Mather