| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7388146 |
Planar solar concentrator power module |
June 17, 2008 |
| A planar concentrator solar power module has a planar base, an aligned array of linear photovoltaic cell circuits on the base and an array of linear Fresnel lenses or linear mirrors for directing focused solar radiation on the aligned array of linear photovoltaic cell circuits. The c |
| 7196263 |
TPV cylindrical generator for home cogeneration using low NOx radiant tube burner |
March 27, 2007 |
| A cylindrical TPV generator uses low bandgap PV cells mounted on circuits in a polygonal array around an IR emitter. A low NOx radiant tube burner enables operation at low NOx. The combustion gases are completely contained within the radiant tube burner. A gap is provided between a r |
| 6538193 |
Thermophotovoltaic generator in high temperature industrial process |
March 25, 2003 |
| An emitter for use with a generator has a tube closed at one end, heated from its outside with a water-cooled photovoltaic converter array mounted inside for glass-melting application. Several TPV tubes may be inserted through holes in the insulation into the port sections between the |
| 6489553 |
TPV cylindrical generator for home cogeneration |
December 3, 2002 |
| 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 |
| 6486392 |
Hydrocarbon fired thermophotovoltaic electric generator insert having low bandgap cells for use |
November 26, 2002 |
| A hydrocarbon thermophotovoltaic (TPV)electric generator insert has applications as a replacement burner to retrofit existing appliances. The retrofitted appliance is thus upgraded to either a cogeneration or self-powered unit. The design of the TPV burner insert is independent of th |
| 6337437 |
Electric power generating lantern using forced air cooled low bandgap photovoltaic cells |
January 8, 2002 |
| A compact forced air cooled thermophotovoltaic generator includes a TPV converter assembly, a fan which is driven by electric power generated by the converter assembly and a housing for enclosing the assembly and fan. The assembly includes a fuel/air mixing tube, an infrared emitter |
| 6303853 |
Shingle circuits for thermophotovoltaic systems |
October 16, 2001 |
| A shingle circuit array and a method of assembling the shingle circuit is provided. The array has a shingle circuit with a substrate, an insulation film layer, a metal layer and TPV cells connected to the metal layer in series forming a shingle pattern with terraces. The substrate is of |
| 6284969 |
Hydrocarbon fired thermophotovoltaic furnace |
September 4, 2001 |
| The present invention is a hydrocarbon fired thermophotovoltaic furnace having a non-fused silica tube. In a preferred embodiment, the furnace has an infrared emitter tube having a top end and a bottom end and a substantially transparent non-fused silica window tube having a closed top |
| 6271461 |
Antireflection coated refractory metal matched emitters for use in thermophotovoltaic generators |
August 7, 2001 |
| Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) electric power generators have emitters with infrared (IR) outputs matched with usable wavelengths for converter cells. The emitters have durable substrates, optional refractory isolating layers, conductive refractory metal or inter-metallic emitter layers, and |
| 6232545 |
Linear circuit designs for solar photovoltaic concentrator and thermophotovoltaic applications u |
May 15, 2001 |
| A shingle circuit array and a method of assembling the shingle circuit is provided. The array has a shingle circuit with a substrate, an insulation film layer, a metal layer and TPV cells connected to the metal layer in series forming a shingle pattern with terraces. The substrate is of |
| 6218607 |
Compact man-portable thermophotovoltaic battery charger |
April 17, 2001 |
| A small and light cylindrical thermophotovoltaic generator uses gaseous fuels, a counter flow heat exchanger, regenerator and low bandgap photovoltaic cells. In the fuel injection system, with preheated air from a recuperator, fuel combustion begins immediately when the fuel and air |
| 6091018 |
Three-layer solid infrared emitter with spectral output matched to low bandgap thermophotovoltai |
July 18, 2000 |
| A three-layer solid infrared emitter having a spectral output matched to low bandgap TPV cells is provided. The three layers include inner and outer layers, and a core layer between the inner and outer layers. The core layer is of solid fiber reinforced undoped refractory oxide material. |
| 6057507 |
Coarse grain polycrystalline gallium antimonide thermophotovoltaic cell |
May 2, 2000 |
| A TPV cell apparatus with a base region of GaSb crystals. The GaSb crystals are of varying orientations and joined at grain boundaries. A surface region is provided on the GaSb crystals. The GaSb crystals are Tellurium doped N-type GaSb and the surface region is thin Zinc doped P-type Ga |
| 6037536 |
TPV fireplace insert or TPV indoor heating stove |
March 14, 2000 |
| The TPV generator unit insert has air circulation fans that supply air for both TPV cell cooling and heat transfer and room air circulation. Combustion air is supplied by a blower and mixed with natural gas or propane in a mixing chamber. Fuel and air mixing is enhanced by injecting |
| 5942047 |
Electric power generator including a thermophotovoltaic cell assembly, a composite ceramic emitt |
August 24, 1999 |
| A thermophotovoltaic generator apparatus includes a thermophotovoltaic converter assembly and a cooling fan positioned beneath the assembly for generating an updraft around the assembly. A fuel source is connected to the converter assembly by a fuel line. A new control system, which may |
| 5865906 |
Energy-band-matched infrared emitter for use with low bandgap thermophotovoltaic cells |
February 2, 1999 |
| A thermophotovoltaic generator includes an infrared cobalt oxide doped refractory ceramic emitter having a broad power band region which is matched with the energy conversion band of a low bandgap thermophotovoltaic cell receiver. The generator is provided with a heat source or is co |
| 5651838 |
Hydrocarbon fired room heater with thermophotovoltaic electric generator |
July 29, 1997 |
| A hydrocarbon fired room heater with thermophotovoltaic electric generator has high power outputs without cell overheating and failure. The unit includes a burner for generating a hydrocarbon flame, a catalytic emitter positioned in the hydrocarbon flame for emitting infrared radiation w |
| 5616186 |
Thermophotovoltaic electric generator using low bandgap photovoltaic cells with a hydrocarbon bu |
April 1, 1997 |
| A thermophotovoltaic generator provides a greater power output while maintaining a compact, simplistic structure. The generator includes a burner having adjustable fuel and air flows, an infrared radiation emitter suspended above the flame nozzle of the burner and a cylindrical receiver |
| 5551992 |
Thermophotovoltaic generator with low bandgap cells and hydrocarbon burner |
September 3, 1996 |
| A thermophotovoltaic generator includes a stainless steel heat exchanger, a ceramic heat exchanger, a mixing chamber, a combustion chamber, an igniter, an infrared radiation emitter with counterflow, and an array of thermophotovoltaic cells surrounding the emitter and tube. The generator |
| 5512109 |
Generator with thermophotovoltaic cells and hydrocarbon burner |
April 30, 1996 |
| Electric power generator has linear arrays of thermophotovoltaic cells spaced outwardly from a tubular IR emitter. Hot combustion products flow downward from a combustion zone between a central pillar and the IR emitter, and then upward between the emitter and a tubular IR transparent |
| 5505789 |
Line-focus photovoltaic module using solid optical secondaries for improved radiation resistance |
April 9, 1996 |
| A novel low-cost solar photovoltaic module using line-focus lenses and photovoltaic receivers incorporating high-performance photovoltaic cells is described. It consists of an array of linear arched Fresnel lenses with a linear photovoltaic cell receiver located along the focal line of e |
| 5439532 |
Cylindrical electric power generator using low bandgap thermophotovolatic cells and a regenerati |
August 8, 1995 |
| In the present invention, we describe a simple ceramic gas burner for use in a cylindrical thermophotovoltaic generator in which the burner and IR emitter section consist of three concentric ceramic tubes, with the largest tube being the outer exhaust tube. Fuel and a small amount of |
| 5403405 |
Spectral control for thermophotovoltaic generators |
April 4, 1995 |
| In the present invention, a thermophotovoltaic electric power generator is described. It contains low bandgap photovoltaic cells sensitive in the infrared out to at least 1.7 microns and a broadband infrared emitter with a shortpass IR filter located between the cells and the emitter to |
| 5401329 |
Thermophotovoltaic receiver assembly |
March 28, 1995 |
| In the present invention, we describe a generic interchangeable thermophotovoltaic (TPV) receiver assembly that can be incorporated in a variety of large or small TPV generators. Our TPV receiver assembly contains low bandgap TPV cells series connected along a line on a thermally con |
| 5389158 |
Low bandgap photovoltaic cell with inherent bypass diode |
February 14, 1995 |
| A photovoltaic (PV) cell with a single pn-junction is disclosed that is capable of functioning as both a current source and a bypass diode. The photovoltaic cell is made of material that has a low bandgap energy, 1.0 eV, or less. One version of the PV cell is formed of a GaSb wafer doped |
| 5383976 |
Compact DC/AC electric power generator using convective liquid cooled low bandgap thermophotovol |
January 24, 1995 |
| Multiple low bandgap GaSb photovoltaic cell strings are mounted around the perimeter of a cylinder in parallel with the cylinder axis. These cell strings face radially inward and receive infrared (IR) radiation from a ceramic axial emitter and efficiently convert this radiation into DC |
| 5344497 |
Line-focus photovoltaic module using stacked tandem-cells |
September 6, 1994 |
| A novel low-cost solar photovoltaic module using line-focus lenses and photovoltaic receivers incorporating high-performance tandem cell-stacks is described. It consists of an array of linear arched Fresnel lenses with a linear tandem-cell receiver located along the focal line of each le |
| 5217539 |
III-V solar cells and doping processes |
June 8, 1993 |
| Zinc diffusion procedures applicable for large scale manufacture of GaAs and GaSb cells used in tandem solar cells having a high energy conversion efficiency. The zinc doping and carrier concentration are restricted to be less than about 10.sup.19 /cm.sup.3 to obtain good light generated |
| 5123968 |
Tandem photovoltaic solar cell with III-V diffused junction booster cell |
June 23, 1992 |
| A photovoltaic cell array involving rows and columns of tandem or stacked solar cell units composed of GaSa/GaSb associated with a radiation collector have produced measured energy conversion efficiencies of 31% AMO. The booster GaSb cell is manufactured by a process which produces a |
| 5118361 |
Terrestrial concentrator solar cell module |
June 2, 1992 |
| Solar cells, particularly GaAs/GaSb tandem solar cells, are mechanically and electrically connected in the form of a string using a flexible circuit tape and mounted in optical alignment with solar energy concentrators in a module. A heat spreader body is attached to each cell unit a |
| 5096505 |
Panel for solar concentrators and tandem cell units |
March 17, 1992 |
| Solar cells, particularly GaAs/GaSb tandem solar cells, are mounted on a honeycomb light weight panel in optical alignment with solar energy concentrators mounted on a front panel side. The cells are mounted on metallized surfaces of the heat spreader that is attached to a panel wall |
| 5091018 |
Tandem photovoltaic solar cell with III-V diffused junction booster cell |
February 25, 1992 |
| A photovoltaic cell array involving rows and columns of tandem or stacked solar cell units composed of GaSa/GaSb associated with a radiation collector have produced measured energy conversion efficiencies of 31% AMO. The booster GaSb cell is manufactured by a process which produces a |
