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:
Dec. 03, 2002
Filed:
May. 30, 2001
Lewis M. Fraas, Issaquah, WA (US);
John E. Samaras, Seattle, WA (US);
Leonid M. Minkin, Seattle, WA (US);
JX Crystals Inc., Issaquah, WA (US);
Abstract
Our cylindrical TPV generator uses low bandgap PV cells mounted on circuits in a polygonal array around an IR emitter. The combustion gases are completely contained within the radiant tube burner. The PV array is mounted inside a leak-tight envelope cooled on its outer surface by either water or air flow. Flanges on either end of this PV array container allow for hermetic seals. A folded back coaxial emitter support tube provides a long path length limiting thermal conduction along its cylindrical wall from the very hot emitter section to the cooled seal flange. In our improved cylindrical TPV generator, we provide for a low temperature catalytic after-burn by providing a perforated turnaround plate coupling between the inner disk stack and the outer disk stack. This perforated turnaround plate provides a small amount of combustion air for the after-burn. A catalyst coating can be provided on the hotter surface of the outer finned disks. The after-burn occurs in the outer finned disk stack. Additional features are incorporated in our cylindrical TPV generator to provide for high conversion efficiency.