Abstract An energy conversion system is provided for converting thermal radiation energy into electricity. The system includes a source of thermal energy and a silicon cell spaced from the thermal energy source. A radiating solid material is positioned between and spaced from the thermal energy source and the silicon cell. The radiating solid material is capable of radiating a major portion of the heat received from the thermal energy source in the spectral band where the silicon cell shows its maximum spectral response. An interference filter is positioned between the radiating solid material and the silicon cell. The interference filter has its maximum reflectivity in the strongest emission band regions of the radiating solid material which are outside the maximum spectral response band of the silicon cell. The interference filter also has its highest transmission in the wavelength region where the silicon cell has good spectral response. This invention relates to an energy conversion system for converting thermal radiation energy to useful electrical energy.
An energy conversion system according to claim 1 wherein the source of thermal energy is the heat from the combustion of a fossil fuel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
22 words
An energy conversion system according to claim 1 wherein the source of thermal energy is the heat from a solid propellant fuel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An energy conversion system according to claim 1 wherein the source of thermal energy is the heat from a radioisotope fuel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An energy conversion system according to claim 1 wherein the radiating solid material is a rare earth oxide selected from the group consisting of ytterbium oxide, erbium oxide, and thulium oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An energy conversion system according to claim 1 wherein said radiating solid material is ytterbium oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An energy conversion system according to claim 1 wherein said radiating solid material is erbium oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An energy conversion system according to claim 1 wherein said radiating solid material is thulium oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An energy conversion system according to claim 1 wherein the source of thermal energy is the heat from the combustion of a common fossil fuel and wherein the radiating solid material is a rare earth oxide selected from the group consisting of ytterbium oxide, erbium oxide, and thulium oxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
An energy conversion system according to claim 1 wherein the source of thermal energy is the heat from a solid propellant fuel and wherein the radiating solid material is a rare earth oxide selected from the group consisting of ytterbium oxide, erbium oxide, and thulium oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
An energy conversion system according to claim 1 wherein the source of thermal energy is the heat from a radioisotope fuel and wherein the radiating solid material is a rare earth oxide selected from the group consisting of ytterbium oxide, erbium oxide, and thulium oxide.