Patent ID: 6489553
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: H02S,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
A thermophotovoltaic generator comprising a burner, a combustion air guide leading to the burner, a burner or combustion tube extending upwards around the burner, an infrared emitter spaced outward from the burner tube, a photovoltaic cell array spaced outward from the emitter, an exhaust guide connected to the generator for exhausting combustion gasses, a recuperator connected to the combustion air guide and to the exhaust guide for preheating combustion air with exhaust gasses, the recuperator having fins extending into the combustion air guide and into the exhaust guide, the recuperator further comprising dual disk recuperator stacks, a fold-back emitter support tube extending between the dual disk recuperator stacks, a perforated turn around plate separating the combustion air guide from the exhaust guide for leaking the combustion air into the exhaust guide, catalyst coatings on at least some of the fins extending into the exhaust guide and cooperating with leaked combustion air for completing combustion of the exhaust gasses.