Portable thermo-photovoltaic power source
Abstract
A miniature thermo-photovoltaic (TPV) device for generation of electrical power for use in portable electronic devices. A TPV power source is constructed to provide a heat source chemical reactor capable of using various fuels, such as liquid hydrocarbons, including but not limited to propane, LPG, butane, alcohols, oils and diesel fuels to generate a source of photons. A reflector dish guides misdirected photon energy from the photon source toward a photovoltaic array. A thin transparent protector sheet is disposed between the photon source and the array to reflect back thermal energy that cannot be converted to electricity, and protect the array from thermal damage. A microlens disposed between the protector sheet and the array further focuses the tailored band of photon energy from the photon source onto an array of photovoltaic cells, whereby the photon energy is converted to electrical power. A heat recuperator removes thermal energy from reactor chamber exhaust gases, preferably using mini- or micro-bellows to force air and fuel past the exhaust gases, and uses the energy to preheat the fuel and oxidant before it reaches the reactor, increasing system efficiency. Mini- or micro-bellows force ambient air through the system both to supply oxidant and to providemore »
- Inventors:
-
- Idaho Falls, ID
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 870779
- Patent Number(s):
- 5593509
- Application Number:
- 08/406,236
- Assignee:
- Lockheed Idaho Technologies Company (Idaho Falls, ID)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02S - GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-RED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-94ID13223
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- portable; thermo-photovoltaic; power; source; miniature; tpv; device; generation; electrical; electronic; devices; constructed; provide; heat; chemical; reactor; capable; various; fuels; liquid; hydrocarbons; including; limited; propane; lpg; butane; alcohols; oils; diesel; generate; photons; reflector; dish; guides; misdirected; photon; energy; photovoltaic; array; transparent; protector; sheet; disposed; reflect; thermal; converted; electricity; protect; damage; microlens; focuses; tailored; band; cells; whereby; recuperator; removes; chamber; exhaust; gases; preferably; mini-; micro-bellows; force; air; fuel; past; preheat; oxidant; reaches; increasing; efficiency; ambient; supply; cooling; finally; insulator; super; reduce; consumption; cool; touch; hand-held; provide cooling; chemical reactor; photon energy; photovoltaic power; thermal damage; liquid hydrocarbon; liquid hydrocarbons; photovoltaic cells; ambient air; exhaust gases; power source; electrical power; thermal energy; heat source; electronic devices; photovoltaic cell; exhaust gas; diesel fuel; reactor chamber; photovoltaic array; reactor capable; electronic device; photon source; fuel consumption; /136/
Citation Formats
Zuppero, Anthony C, Krawetz, Barton, Barklund, C Rodger, and Seifert, Gary D. Portable thermo-photovoltaic power source. United States: N. p., 1997.
Web.
Zuppero, Anthony C, Krawetz, Barton, Barklund, C Rodger, & Seifert, Gary D. Portable thermo-photovoltaic power source. United States.
Zuppero, Anthony C, Krawetz, Barton, Barklund, C Rodger, and Seifert, Gary D. Tue .
"Portable thermo-photovoltaic power source". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870779.
@article{osti_870779,
title = {Portable thermo-photovoltaic power source},
author = {Zuppero, Anthony C and Krawetz, Barton and Barklund, C Rodger and Seifert, Gary D},
abstractNote = {A miniature thermo-photovoltaic (TPV) device for generation of electrical power for use in portable electronic devices. A TPV power source is constructed to provide a heat source chemical reactor capable of using various fuels, such as liquid hydrocarbons, including but not limited to propane, LPG, butane, alcohols, oils and diesel fuels to generate a source of photons. A reflector dish guides misdirected photon energy from the photon source toward a photovoltaic array. A thin transparent protector sheet is disposed between the photon source and the array to reflect back thermal energy that cannot be converted to electricity, and protect the array from thermal damage. A microlens disposed between the protector sheet and the array further focuses the tailored band of photon energy from the photon source onto an array of photovoltaic cells, whereby the photon energy is converted to electrical power. A heat recuperator removes thermal energy from reactor chamber exhaust gases, preferably using mini- or micro-bellows to force air and fuel past the exhaust gases, and uses the energy to preheat the fuel and oxidant before it reaches the reactor, increasing system efficiency. Mini- or micro-bellows force ambient air through the system both to supply oxidant and to provide cooling. Finally, an insulator, which is preferably a super insulator, is disposed around the TPV power source to reduce fuel consumption, and to keep the TPV power source cool to the touch so it can be used in hand-held devices.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 14 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Tue Jan 14 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}