Apparatus and method for converting artificially generated radiant energy to electrical energy

• US 6,372,979 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Foy Streetman
• Original Assignee: Foy Streetman
• Inventors: Streetman, Foy
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/609,587
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 136/253, 136/244, 136/246, 136/251, 136/259, 136/250
• US Class Current: 136/253
• CPC Class Codes: F23M 2900/13004 Energy recovery by thermo-photo-voltaic [TPV] elements arranged in the combustion plant
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/30 Thermophotovoltaic systems photovoltaic cells specially adapted for conversion or sensing of infrared [IR] radiation H01L31/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for generating electrical energy. The apparatus consists of a housing; particularly, a housing having a spherical surface; a natural gas light for generating radiation capable of being converted to electrical energy; and a plurality of photovoltaic cells for converting the radiation by the natural gas light to electrical energy.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting artificially generated radiant energy to electrical energy comprising:

a housing;

means for artificially generating radiant energy capable of being converted to electrical energy; and

a plurality of photovoltaic cells for receiving and converting said artificially generated radiant energy to electrical energy wherein said plurality of photovoltaic cells include at least one layer of photovoltaic cells in the form of transparent or translucent spheres.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing has a spherical inner surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for artificially generating said radiant energy is a natural gas light.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said gas light comprises a mantle and a means for supplying natural gas to said gas light.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said housing in transparent to external radiant energy.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing is made of glass, ceramic or metal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said housing has a solid structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said housing has an open cell structure.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of photovoltaic cells are mounted on at least a portion of the inner surface of said housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said housing has a reflective surface on at least a portion of the inner surface of said housing free of photovoltaic cells, wherein said reflective surface reflects radiant energy in said housing to said photovoltaic cells mounted on at least said portion of the inner surface of said housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing further includes means for magnifying said radiant energy.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of photovoltaic cells are in the form of flexible panels.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photovoltaic cells are in the form of transparent spheres and said plurality, of photovoltaic cells includes two or more layers of said transparent spheres each layer being of a size distinct from adjacent layers.

14. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means for artificially generating radiant energy capable of being converted to electrical energy is used to complement radiant energy generated by sunlight.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said housing and said reflective inner surface are transparent to external radiation.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising:

a catalytic heater or burner capable of generating said radiant energy; and

means for powering said catalytic heater or burner.

16. An apparatus for converting artificially generated radiant energy to electrical energy comprising:

a housing having a spherical inner surface;

a natural gas light for generating radiant energy capable of being converted to electrical energy wherein said natural gas light is used to complement sunlight in generating radiant energy capable of being converted to electrical energy;

a plurality of photovoltaic cells on at least a portion of the inner surface of said housing, for receiving said radiant energy and converting said radiant energy to electrical energy; and

means for supplying natural gas to said natural gas light.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said plurality of photovoltaic cells covers the entire inner surface of said housing and said natural gas light for generating said radiant energy is located in the interior of said housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said housing further includes magnifying means for intensifying said radiant energy.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 further including means for supplying oxygen to said natural gas light.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said housing has a reflective surface on a portion of an inner surface of said housing free of photovoltaic cells.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said natural gas light is located in the interior of said housing wherein said radiant energy is reflected to and/or directed to said photovoltaic cells.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said natural gas light is located exteriorly said housing wherein said radiant energy is directed through a radiation-transparent portion of said housing free of photovoltaic cells.

24. A method for converting artificially generated radiant energy to electrical energy comprising:

providing a housing having a spherical inner surface, said inner surface having disposed thereon a plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein at least one layer of said photovoltaic cells is in the form of transparent or translucent spheres;

providing a natural gas light capable of generating radiant energy in said housing; and

directing said radiant energy generated by said natural gas light to said plurality of photovoltaic cells to convert said radiant energy to electrical energy, wherein said radiant energy is used to complement natural sunlight to provide electrical energy.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said natural gas light comprises a mantle and a means for supplying natural gas to said gas light.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said gas light is interposed interiorly said housing, and said photovoltaic cells are mounted on at least a portion of the inner surface of said housing.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said housing further includes a reflective surface on at least a portion of said inner surface free of photovoltaic cells wherein said radiant energy is reflected from said reflective surface to said photovoltaic cells.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said housing further includes magnifying means wherein said radiant energy contacting said magnifying means in intensified.

29. An apparatus for converting artificially generated radiant energy to electrical energy comprising:

a housing having a spherical inner surface;

a natural gas light disposed in said housing for artificially generating radiant energy capable of being converted to electrical energy;

means for supplying natural gas to said natural gas light; and

a plurality of photovoltaic cells on said spherical inner surface of said housing, said plurality of photovoltaic cells including at least one layer of photovoltaic cells in the form of transparent or translucent spheres for receiving and converting said artificially generated radiant energy to electrical energy, wherein said artificially generated radiant energy is used to complement sunlight in generating said radiant energy capable of being converted to electrical energy.