An apparatus and method for producing heat and electricity including a burner to produce radiant heat. A thermal-to-electric conversion device is integrated with the burner and proximate to the radiant heat. The conversion device provides a first side disposed toward the radiant heat and a second side disposed toward a cooling fluid flow path, such as combustion air for the burner or a media to be heated by the burner.

To protect the surface of a member exposed to a high-temperature environment and detect surface temperature or heat flow distribution, this magnetic thermoelectric conversion element, which is provided on the surface of a support in contact with a heat source, has: a magnetic body; an electromotive body which is magnetically coupled to the magnetic body and has electrical conductivity; and a heat-resistant metal oxide film covering the magnetic body and the electromotive body.

This disclosure generally relates to lightweight thermionic microengines for aerial vehicles. The aerial vehicles include a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes a combustor. The propulsion system further includes a thermionic generator that receives heat from the combustor and generates electricity. The propulsion system further includes one or more propulsion motors that receive the electricity generated by the thermionic generator. The propulsion motors may provide power to one or more propellers to generate lift and thrust for a UAV.

A gas-fired instantaneous water heater including a thermoelectric generator (TEG) and a heat pump that is powered by the TEG to improve efficiency compared to existing water heaters. Water to be heated is circulated through the heat pump, TEG heat exchanger, and primary heat exchanger to produce a stream of heated water. An adjustable firing rate permeable matrix radiant burner is included, in which natural gas and air are combusted to produce combustion products, including heat. The combustion products are condensed in a condensing system to produce cooled and dry exhaust gas.

A heating apparatus using liquefied gas includes: a combustion unit where the liquefied gas is combusted in a vaporized state; a vaporization unit providing a vaporization space in which the liquefied gas supplied from a fuel receiving unit receiving the liquefied gas is vaporized and thermally separated from the combustion unit; and a thermoelectric element unit including a high-temperature input unit maintaining a high-temperature state by the combustion unit and a low-temperature input unit maintaining a relatively lower temperature than the high-temperature input unit by the liquefied gas vaporized in the vaporization unit and generating power by using a temperature difference between the high-temperature input unit and the low-temperature input unit, and the vaporization unit maintains a low-temperature state by using vaporization of the liquefied gas and is thermally separated from the combustion unit so as to prevent a temperature from rising by the combustion unit to increase power generation efficiency of the thermoelectric element unit.

A power generation system for use with a gas fired appliance including a main burner and a gas supply line includes a pilot burner assembly for igniting gas supplied to the main burner and a controller. The pilot burner assembly includes a thermo-electric device configured to convert thermal energy into electrical energy, and a pilot guard. The pilot guard has a first end defining a gas inlet and a second end defining a gas outlet. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the thermo-electric device, and control the supply of gas to the main burner based on the signal. The controller is powered by electrical energy generated by the thermo-electric device. The thermo-electric device has an internal resistance matched to a load resistance of the controller to facilitate maximum power transfer between the thermo-electric device and the controller.

An energy conversion device to provide thermal energy and electric energy for a gas burner, comprising: an energy converter configured to provide thermal energy for a gas burner ring in which gas is burned, the energy converter having at least one thermoelectric element configured to convert a portion of the thermal energy into electric energy using a thermoelectric material.

The field of present invention generally relates to furnaces that combine fuel production with both thermal and electrical energy production. They also are capable of using carbon emission as part of the production process. More particularly, the present invention produces a combustible gas that, within the internal workings of the present invention, can efficiently be burned at relatively lower temperatures and pressures without the production of high levels of pollutants. Further, the present invention can receive what are ordinarily wasteful carbon emissions for use in the production of more desirable outputs. The foregoing characteristics, along with the limited size of the elements needed to practice the present invention, make it conducive for use as and in connection with, among other things, residential furnaces and other heating systems, including, for example, heat exchangers and residential hot water tanks. In short, the present invention involves the production of a combustible fuel gas, and of thermal and electric energy, and the productive use of carbon emissions. This production is accomplished through the interconnected use of water electrolysis, catalysts, storage means, regulation, and mean of reusing materials to increase production efficiencies.

A device and system for energy generation using plasma incineration and further, for producing electricity by hydrogen gas generation and combustion.

A system configured to generate heat when supplied with a first fuel or a second fuel can include a fuel supply line operatively connected to a fuel source. A valve assembly can be operatively connected to the fuel supply line. A main burner can be operatively connected to the valve assembly. A thermoelectric generating system can be configured to transform heat to electricity. A first pilot burner can include at least one of a first thermocouple and a first Fe-ion sensor. A second pilot burner can include at least one of a second thermocouple and a second Fe-ion sensor. A printed circuit board (PCB) can be operatively connected to the valve assembly and the first and second pilot burners. The PCB can be configured to control operation of the valve assembly based on information received from at least one of the first and second pilot burners.