A power generator is described that provides at least one of electrical and thermal power comprising (i) at least one reaction cell for reactions involving atomic hydrogen hydrogen products identifiable by unique analytical and spectroscopic signatures, (ii) a molten metal injection system comprising at least one pump such as an electromagnetic pump that provides a molten metal stream to the reaction cell and at least one reservoir that receives the molten metal stream, and (iii) an ignition system comprising an electrical power source that provides low-voltage, high-current electrical energy to the at least one steam of molten metal to ignite a plasma to initiate rapid kinetics of the reaction and an energy gain. In some embodiments, the power generator may comprise: (v) a source of H.sub.2 and O.sub.2 supplied to the plasma, (vi) a molten metal recovery system, and (vii) a power converter capable of (a) converting the high-power light output from a blackbody radiator of the cell into electricity using concentrator thermophotovoltaic cells or (b) converting the energetic plasma into electricity using a magnetohydrodynamic converter.

A thermophotovoltaic generator uses conveniently available liquid hydrocarbon fuels. The fuels are controllably heated and vaporized before ignition to avoid residue and deposits as a result of liquid fuel being prematurely exposed to high temperatures of combustion causing unwanted breakdowns, producing power robbing residues and deposits. Heating fuel and air to right temperatures for ignition is accomplished by drawing combustion air over an exhaust chamber, through a regenerator and through a passage surrounding an IR filter. A separate cooling fan drives air through photovoltaic cell array fins over the recuperator and the exhaust in counterflow to the combustion air.

A system including a first cylindrical structure embedded into a second cylindrical structure. The first cylindrical structure includes a combustion chamber. The first cylinder additionally includes a plurality of plasmonic materials on an outer wall of the first cylindrical structure. The second cylindrical structure includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells on an inner wall of the second cylindrical structure. A radius of the second cylindrical structure is greater than a radius of the first cylindrical structure.

A machine, method of making, and method of using, along with necessary intermediates, illustratively, by way of a method, there can be a method of generating electrical power, the method including: inputting air, including adjusting flow rate of the air; inputting fuel, including throttling flow rate of the fuel, wherein: the fuel flow rate and the air flow rate are in stoichiometric proportions for combustion, and the fuel is comprised of at least one hydrocarbon, alcohol, or both; combusting a mixture of the fuel and a portion of the air with the remainder of the air to produce heat, wherein: prior to the combusting: combining the portion of the air with the fuel to produce the mixture that, when heated, stoichiometrically forms syngas; heating the mixture with the heat from the combusting; heating the remainder of the air with the heat from the combusting; and during the combusting, matching the remainder of the air with at least one of flow rate, pressure drop, and flow velocity of the mixture; generating electromagnetic emissions from the heat; harvesting the electromagnetic emissions with photovoltaic elements to produce electrical power; processing exhaust gasses produced during the combusting, wherein heat released from the processing is transferred into the mixture and the remainder of the air before the combusting, and the processing removes one or more pollutants from the exhaust gasses; measuring the oxygen content of the exhaust gasses before the processing in ensuring the stoichiometric proportions.

Method, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, article, and improvements thereto, with particular regard to chemically heated hot emitter electric generators, and support thereof. Illustratively, there can be a machine including: a first computer system including a digital computer operably associated with an input device, a memory, and an output device, the computer programmed to carry out operations including: receiving, as information input at said input device, input representing chemically heated hot emitter electromagnetic emissions; computing, from said input, output that can be used for, or to facilitate, operation of chemically heated hot emitter generators.

A thermo-photovoltaic system including an infrared radiation emitter including a body including a first external surface and a second external surface, the first and second external surfaces being distinct, the first external surface facing a concentrator for receiving a concentrated solar radiation, the second external surface facing a thermo-photovoltaic cell, and the body further including at least one gas and/or liquid combustion chamber therein, and an igniter is provided for causing combustion in the combustion chamber.

A solid-state energy conversion device in combination with an ultra-high energy density buoyant combustor generating high radiant, and high emissivity heat achieves ultra-high energy conversion efficiency and ultra-high radiant/emissive flame preferably creating electromagnetic waves, hot carriers, photons, phonons and/or plasmons created within the high buoyancy combustor to achieve high energy conversion rates. The buoyant combustor can alternatively operate void of the solid-state energy conversion to replace a traditional burner for boiler/furnace.