A thermophotovoltaic generator incorporating a two-stage combustor for providing heat to a thermophotovoltaic cell. Combustor parts include a partial oxidation reactor, which functions catalytically to convert a hydrocarbon fuel and a first supply of an oxidant into a gaseous partial oxidation product; and further include downstream thereof, a deep oxidation reactor including a premixer plenum fluidly connected to a heat spreader comprising a porous matrix, such as a ceramic foam. Functionally, the deep oxidation reactor converts the gaseous partial oxidation product and a second supply of oxidant into complete combustion products. Heat produced by the two-stage combustor generates radiative energy from a photon emitter, which is directly converted to electricity in a photovoltaic diode cell.

A plaque for a radiant heating system can include a main body defining an outer surface and a plurality of pores defined within the main body, wherein at least some of the plurality of pores are disposed in a non-parallel relationship with at least some others of the plurality of pores, or wherein at least some of the pores are parallel with each other. A burner assembly including a plurality of adjacently arranged plaques reduces the ignition time and delay for adjacent plaques after the central plaque has been ignited.

A plaque for a radiant heating system can include a main body defining an outer surface and a plurality of pores defined within the main body, wherein at least some of the plurality of pores are disposed in a non-parallel relationship with at least some others of the plurality of pores, or wherein at least some of the pores are parallel with each other. A burner assembly including a plurality of adjacently arranged plaques reduces the ignition time and delay for adjacent plaques after the central plaque has been ignited.

A thermophotovoltaic generator incorporating a two-stage combustor for providing heat to a thermophotovoltaic cell. Combustor parts include a partial oxidation reactor, which functions catalytically to convert a hydrocarbon fuel and a first supply of an oxidant into a gaseous partial oxidation product; and further include downstream thereof, a deep oxidation reactor including a premixer plenum fluidly connected to a heat spreader comprising a porous matrix, such as a ceramic foam. Functionally, the deep oxidation reactor converts the gaseous partial oxidation product and a second supply of oxidant into complete combustion products. Heat produced by the two-stage combustor generates radiative energy from a photon emitter, which is directly converted to electricity in a photovoltaic diode cell.

The technical field includes machine, manufacture, process, and product produced thereby, as well as necessary intermediates, which pertain to power sources, units thereof, computer systems used to facilitate operation of one or more power sources.

The technical field includes machine, manufacture, process, and product produced thereby, as well as necessary intermediates, which pertain to power sources, units thereof, computer systems used to facilitate operation of one or more power sources.

A fuel nozzle assembly includes one or more tapered fuel nozzles. Each tapered fuel nozzle includes an acute trailing edge or tip at a top portion of the fuel nozzle. One or more fuel orifices are arranged proximate the acute trailing edge or tip. A tapered fuel nozzle having a toroidal airfoil structure includes a fuel channel to distribute a fuel to the fuel orifice(s). The fuel nozzle assembly may be provided as part of a burner system, including a perforated flame holder, and associated method, in which the fuel nozzle assembly is oriented to direct fuel form the fuel orifices toward the perforated flame holder.

Methods and devices for gas mixture combustion on a surface of a permeable matrix are provided which produce or result in surface stabilized combustion (SSC) with increasing amounts of radiation energy emitted by the matrix surface and decreasing concentrations of pollutant components in the combustion products. The gas mixture is fed to a burner that includes a permeable matrix material having a first thermal conductivity and configured to preheat the combustible gas mixture as it travels through the matrix. The burner includes a plurality of thermal elements having a thermal conductivity higher than and disposed in thermal transfer communication with the matrix base material. The permeable matrix base material forms a combustion surface with at least a portion of the thermal elements exposed above the combustion surface. The gas mixture is combusted at or near exit pores and channels formed at the permeable matrix material combustion surface.

Methods and devices for gas mixture combustion on a surface of a permeable matrix are provided which produce or result in surface stabilized combustion (SSC) with increasing amounts of radiation energy emitted by the matrix surface and decreasing concentrations of pollutant components in the combustion products. The gas mixture is fed to a burner that includes a permeable matrix material having a first thermal conductivity and configured to preheat the combustible gas mixture as it travels through the matrix. The burner includes a plurality of thermal elements having a thermal conductivity higher than and disposed in thermal transfer communication with the matrix base material. The permeable matrix base material forms a combustion surface with at least a portion of the thermal elements exposed above the combustion surface. The gas mixture is combusted at or near exit pores and channels formed at the permeable matrix material combustion surface.

A portable heater can include a housing including a base and an enclosure and a burner assembly disposed within the enclosure, the burner assembly including a heating surface, wherein the enclosure and the heating surface are rotatable, with respect to the base, between a first rotational position and a second rotational position. In some examples, the heating surface is a curved surface. In some examples, a tilt switch is provided that has a position that is independent of the rotational position of the enclosure. The portable heater can also include temperature control features for maintaining fuel tank temperature at an improved operating condition.