Patent ID: 9356218
Filing Date: 2016-05-31
CPC Classification: G21H,H01G,H01L,H02N,H02S,Y02E,Y02P

Claim Text:
1. An internally heated energy generating system, comprising: a concentrated solar power (CSP) thermal absorber comprising at least one heating unit and a light transparent reservoir comprising a material transparent to sunlight rays, wherein the at least one heating unit is a resistive heating unit, wherein the at least one heating unit heats, at any time of the day, the CSP thermal absorber to at least a temperature sufficient such that the CSP thermal absorber functions efficiently, wherein the CSP thermal absorber comprises: a housing that includes a thermal barrier, wherein the thermal barrier divides the interior of the housing into a hot chamber and a cold chamber; the light-transparent reservoir located in the hot chamber of the housing, wherein the light-transparent reservoir contains a liquid alkali metal; at least one alkali metal thermal-to-electric converter (AMTEC) cell disposed within the thermal barrier such that one end of the AMTEC cell is located in the cold chamber and another end of the AMTEC cell is located in the hot chamber; and an artery return channel that allows for the liquid alkali metal to return from the cold chamber to the hot chamber.