Spectral control for thermophotovoltaic generators
US5403405A · kind A · utility
36Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1993 |
| Grant date | Apr 4, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/52
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In the present invention, a thermophotovoltaic electric power generator is described. It contains low bandgap photovoltaic cells sensitive in the infrared out to at least 1.7 microns and a broadband infrared emitter with a shortpass IR filter located between the cells and the emitter to recycle the nonuseful IR back to the emitter. Several specific IR filter designs as well as filter/cell and filter/emitter combinations are described all of which improve the overall generator conversion efficiency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.