US4776895A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiband emitter matched to multilayer photovoltaic collector
Assignee: Quantum Group Inc
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Filing: 1987-06-02
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Granted: 1988-10-11
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Expires: 2007-06-02
Abstract
Abstract A thermophotovoltaic electric generating system provides high thermal to electric conversion efficiency by use of matched radiation emitter and radiation collector. The radiation emitter comprises ceramic materials which emit thermally stimulated quantum radiation in at least two characteristic wavelength bands when heated above a threshold temperature. By employing a low emissivity ceramic doped with 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 multilayer photovoltaic device selectively absorbs the radiation at the characteristic wavelength bands for high electric conversion efficiency. An overlying layer of the photovoltaic collector selectively absorbs at least one of such characteristic wavelength bands and is transparent to another wavelength band which is absorbed by an underlying photovoltaic layer. Preferably the emitter is a porous fiber matrix surface combustion burner comprising primarily aluminum oxide, from 8 to 20% yttrium oxide, and a minor amount of 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark K. Goldstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:58
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02S; H02S10/00; H02S10/30; H02S99/00; H10; H10F; H10F19/00; H10F19/40; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A thermophotovoltaic electric power generating system comprising: a ceramic emitter comprising a metal oxide having a low emissivity in about the same range as the emissivity of aluminum oxide, gallium oxide, thorium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, and at least one thermally stimulated quantum emitter material for emitting radiation in at least two wavelength bands when heated above a threshold temperature; and a multilayer photovoltaic collector matched to the emitter for selectively absorbing radiation in the same wavelength bands emitted by the emitter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A thermophotovoltaic electric power generating system comprising: a ceramic emitter comprising a metal oxide having a low emissivity in about the same range as the emissivity of aluminum oxide, gallium oxide, thorium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, and at least one thermally stimulated quantum emitter material for emitting radiation in at least two wavelength bands when heated above a threshold temperature; and a multilayer photovoltaic collector matched to the emitter for selectively absorbing radiation in the same wavelength bands emitted by the emitter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the emitter comprises oxides of metals having unfilled inner electron shells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the emitter comprises at least one rare earth metal oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as recited in claim 3 wherein, the emitter comprises a minor amount of erbium oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the emitter is primarily an oxide of at one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, yttrium, zirconium, and thorium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the emitter comprises primarily aluminum oxide, from 8 to 20% yttrium oxide, and a minor amount of rare earth metal oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the emitter further comprises a minor amount of an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium and tin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each active layer of the photovoltaic collector selectively absorbs at least one characteristic wavelength band of radiation and is transparent to radiation in other wavelength bands.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A thermophotovoltaic electric power generating system comprising: an emitting surface comprising a low emissivity ceramic and including at least one thermally stimulated quantum emitting material; means for heating the surface to a sufficient temperature for stimulating such material to emit radiation in at least two characteristic wavelength bands; and a photovoltaic device having band gaps for selectively absorbing and converting to electric current radiation in said characteristic wavelength bands.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
A thermophotovoltaic electric power generating system comprising: an emitting surface comprising a low emissivity ceramic and including at least one thermally stimulated quantum emitting material; means for heating the surface to a sufficient temperature for stimulating such material to emit radiation in at least two characteristic wavelength bands; and a photovoltaic device having band gaps for selectively absorbing and converting to electric current radiation in said characteristic wavelength bands.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the emitting surface comprises primarily an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and yttrium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the surface further comprises a minor amount of a rare earth metal oxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 11, wherein the surface further comprises an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium and tin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as recited in claim 11, wherein the surface comprises from 8 to 20% yttrium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the emitting surface comprises a porous surface combustion burner.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the porous surface combustion burner comprises ceramic fibers including at least one rare earth metal oxide adjacent to its outer surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the photovoltaic device comprises a plurality of layers of photovoltaic material wherein at least the upper layer selectively absorbs radiation of one characteristic wavelength band and is transparent to radiation of the other characteristic wavelength and the underlying layer absorbs the other characteristic wavelength band.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as recited in claim 9 wherein the emitting surface comprises a nonporous ceramic tube having a thermally stimulated quantum emitting material on at least its outer surface and means for supporting combustion inside the tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the ceramic tube comprises a layer of at least one rare earth metal oxide on the outer surface.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for generating electricity comprising: heating a ceramic surface to a sufficient temperature to emit quantum radiation in at least two characteristic wavelength bands, the ceramic surface comprising primarily an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, yttrium, zirconium and thorium, and a minor amount of an oxide of a metal with unfilled inner electron shells; and selectively absorbing the characteristic wavelength bands in successive layers of a photovoltaic device for converting the radiation to electric current.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for generating electricity comprising: heating a ceramic surface to a sufficient temperature to emit quantum radiation in at least two characteristic wavelength bands, the ceramic surface comprising primarily an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, yttrium, zirconium and thorium, and a minor amount of an oxide of a metal with unfilled inner electron shells; and selectively absorbing the characteristic wavelength bands in successive layers of a photovoltaic device for converting the radiation to electric current.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 19 comprising: forming the ceramic surface to contain sufficient metal with unfilled inner electron shells to emit more than 50% of the radiation as thermally stimulated quantum radiation;
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 19 comprising forming the ceramic surface to include a rare earth metal oxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-11 | 1992-04-11 | 1992-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-11 | 1996-04-11 | 1996-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-11 | 2000-04-11 | 2000-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |