The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 23, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 12, 1996
Mark K Goldstein, Del Mar, CA (US);
Aleksandr S Kushch, Poway, CA (US);
Quantum Group, Inc., San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
A thermophotovoltaic electric generating system provides high thermal to electric conversion efficiency by use of a sequence of matched radiation emitters and radiation collectors. The radiation emitters comprises ceramic materials which emit thermally stimulated quantum radiation in at least one characteristic wavelength bands when heated above a threshold temperature. By employing a sequence of selective emitters such as rare earth metal oxide, more than 50% of the radiation emitted from the surface can be concentrated in two or more characteristic wavelength bands. A sequence of corresponding photovoltaic device selectively absorbing and efficiently converting the radiation at the characteristic wavelength bands for high electric conversion efficiency in each zone, respectively. An overlying layer of the photovoltaic collector selectively absorbs at least one of such characteristic wavelength bands. A second underling PV material may be used to collect longer wave length photons from adjacent selective and non selective materials as the top layer may be transparent to longer wavelength band which is absorbed by an underlying photovoltaic layer. Preferably the emitter is a rare earth metal oxide. A ceramic tube burner may be used in an embodiment with preheated air, the outside of the tube having such a thermally stimulated quantum emitter. In addition the use of sequenced SELP may be used. A transparent fuel/oxidizer mixture distributive layer for combustion TPV system that provides photon transmission to the PV cells which are protected either on the back side of the distributive plenum or outside of this plenum if the back is also transparent. When PV cells are located inside of the distributive plenum, the incoming fuel/oxidizer mixture provides the PV cooling that enhances PV thermal management and heats the combustible mixture, so increasing overall efficiency. When PV cells are located outside of the distributive plenum the back side of this plenum may be made of band pass filter or coated with a reflective material that allows to pass only narrow band photons to PV cell.