Patent ID: 7060891

Claim:
A thermophotovoltaic generator apparatus comprising: a burner that is supplied with a fuel and an air, and that burns the fuel; an emitter heated by a combustion heat produced by the burner; a photoelectric conversion cell that converts a radiant light from the emitter into electric power; a cell holder portion that holds the photoelectric conversion cell; a cooling device that causes a cooling liquid, said liquid comprising at least two kinds of liquids, a first of the at least two kinds of liquids having a greater specific gravity and a lower boiling point than a second of said at least two kinds of liquid, to receive heat from the photoelectric conversion cell by contacting the cooling liquid and a back surface of the cell holder portion with each other; and a cooling chamber; wherein a surface of the cell holder portion that contacts the cooling liquid is a non-horizontal surface; wherein said first liquid is provided at a lower level than said second liquid; wherein when said first liquid boils, a first portion of a first vapor therefrom absorbs heat from said second liquid; and wherein a second portion of said first vapor is cooled in the cooling chamber and returns to said lower level as liquid.