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 liquid fuel portable heater (100) comprises: a combustion chamber (101) having a fuel inlet with a nebuliser (13); an electric pump (10) having an inlet (11) for suctioning said liquid fuel from a tank (6), and an outlet (12) connected to said nebuliser (13); a control unit (20) configured so that, when the heater (100) is turned on, said control unit (20) supplies the electric pump with a sequence of pulses (115, 115) with a non-zero voltage, and pause intervals (116) with a substantially zero voltage alternating with said pulses, wherein the average duration of the pulses (115, 115) is less than the average duration of the pause intervals (116). In addition, a method for controlling an electric power supply of a fuel electric pump (10) of a liquid fuel portable heater by means of an electric control unit (20) configured to control said electric power supply, comprising a step of electrically supplying said pump, once the heater is turned on, with a sequence of pulses (115, 115) with a non-zero voltage, and pause intervals (116) with a substantially zero voltage alternating with said pulses, wherein the average duration of the pulses (115, 115) is less than the average duration of the pause intervals (116).

A system for operating a damper comprises a flue pipe assembly, and a damper movable between an open position and a closed position within the flue pipe assembly. At least one thermoelectric generator is coupled to a surface of the flue pipe assembly. Operation of the damper is achieved by the thermoelectric generator harvesting thermal energy from the flue pipe assembly and converting it into usable electrical energy for actuation of the damper.

A pilot burner assembly includes a bracket, a thermo-electric device configured to be connected to the bracket, and a unitary pilot guard. The bracket includes a first plate and a second plate spaced from the first plate. Each of the first and second plates have a pilot guard aperture defined therein. The pilot guard has a first end defining a gas inlet configured to receive a gas supply line, and a second end defining a gas outlet. The pilot guard includes an elongate body and a pilot hood disposed at the second end, and is configured be inserted into the pilot guard apertures. The pilot guard further includes a first retention element configured to cooperate with a second retention element on the gas supply line to maintain a connection between the pilot guard and the gas supply line.

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.

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for generating and delivering electricity and/or hot water for combined heat and power (CHP) using one or more fuels. In many embodiments, the system can be used to provide efficient electrical, heating and cooling utilities to a residential household or group of households. Embodiments of the system can be configured for specific heat flow, while minimizing losses and maximizing total system efficiency. Embodiments also provide for stackable energy generation modules allowing the system to be placed in or nearby a residence to provide power to the residence. Embodiments also provide a control system which can be configured to monitor household electrical usage and dynamically regulate the system to operate at maximum efficiency as well as sell power to an external grid.

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.

This invention provides a portable combustion device that provides a cleaner combustion, provides a more efficient overall combustion through the use of a fan that directs a predetermined volume of airflow over the combustible fueltypically wood or similar cellulose-based biological solids and provides a cooking surface that is a grill top. The combustion device has a combustion chamber into which the fuel source is placed for combustion. Mounted to the side of the combustion chamber is a housing that encloses the TEG, which generates an electrical output, based on a difference in temperature on opposing sides. Mounted onto the TEG housing and protruding into the combustion chamber through a small passageway is a heat-conducting probe and heat-conducting probe base unit.

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for generating and delivering electricity and/or hot water for combined heat and power (CHP) using one or more fuels. In many embodiments, the system can be used to provide efficient electrical, heating and cooling utilities to a residential household or group of households. Embodiments of the system can be configured for specific heat flow, while minimizing losses and maximizing total system efficiency. Embodiments also provide for stackable energy generation modules allowing the system to be placed in or nearby a residence to provide power to the residence. Embodiments also provide a control system which can be configured to monitor household electrical usage and dynamically regulate the system to operate at maximum efficiency as well as sell power to an external grid.

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.