Micro-combustion power system with metal foam heat exchanger

• US 20110023927A1
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PFG Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Irvine Sensors Corp., Medhat Azzazy Ying Hsu Itzhak Sapir
• Inventors: Azzazy, Medhat, Hsu, Ying, Sapir, Itzhak
• Application Number:
  US12/800,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20110023927A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/205
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 13/00 Apparatus in which combustion takes place in the presence of catalytic material in a fluidised bed of catalytic particles F23C10/01; radiant gas burners using catalysis for flameless combustion F23D14/18
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 2900/03001 Miniaturized combustion devices using fluid fuels
• CPC Class Codes: F23M 2900/13003 Energy recovery by thermoelectric elements, e.g. by Peltier/Seebeck effect, arranged in the combustion plant
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction

Abstract

A micro-combustion power system is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the invention is comprised of a housing that further comprises two flow path volumes, each having generally opposing flow path directions and each generally having opposing configurations.

Each flow path volume comprises a pre-heating volume having at least one pre-heating heat exchange structure. Each flow path volume further comprises a combustion volume having a combustion means or structure such as a catalytic material disposed therein Further, each flow path volume comprise a post-combustion volume having at least one post-combustion heat exchange structure.

One or more thermoelectric generator means is in thermal communication with at least one of the combustion volumes whereby thermal energy generated by an air/fuel catalytic reaction in the combustion volume is transferred to the thermoelectric generator to convert same to electrical energy for use by an external circuit.

In a second embodiment, a micro-combustion power system device is disclosed comprising a housing defining a flow path volume wherein the flow path volume comprises a pre-heating volume having a pre-heating heat exchange structure disposed therein. The embodiment further comprises a combustion volume with combustion means and a post-combustion volume having a post-combustion heat exchange structure disposed therein. Further, the embodiment comprises a thermoelectric generator means with its first surface in thermal communication with the combustion volume and its second surface in thermal communication with heat radiator means such as a reticulated metal foam heat exchange structure.

Claims

1. A micro-combustion power system device comprising:

a housing defining a flow path volume,

said flow path volume comprising a pre-heating volume having a pre-heating heat exchange structure disposed therein,

a combustion volume comprising combustion means,

a post-combustion volume having a post-combustion heat exchange structure disposed therein,

a thermoelectric generator means having a first surface and a second surface,

said first surface in thermal communication with said combustion volume and said second surface in thermal communication with a heat pipe structure and a heat radiation means.

2. The micro-combustion power system device of claim 1 wherein said heat radiation means is comprised of a reticulated metal foam structure.

3. The micro-combustion power system device of claim 1 further comprising a fuel and air pressurization means for directing an air/fuel mixture through said flow path volume.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said thermoelectric generator means in is thermal communication with said reticulated metal foam heat exchange structure by means of a heat pipe structure.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said air/fuel mixture is comprised of a liquid hydrocarbon.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said fuel is selected from the group consisting of JP-8, gasoline, kerosene, butane, hydrogen and propane.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein said fuel valving means is comprised of a capillary force vaporizer.

8. The device of claim 3 wherein said fuel valving means is comprised of an orifice having a predetermined geometry.

9. The device of claim 3 wherein said fuel valving means is comprised of a fuel injector.

10. The device of claim 3 wherein said fuel valving means is comprised of a micro-shut off valve.

11. The device of claim 3 wherein said fuel valving means is comprised of a micro-nozzle.

12. The device of claim 3 wherein said combustion means is comprised of a platinum material.

13. The device of claim 3 wherein said thermoelectric generating means is comprised of a lead telluride material.

14. The device of claim 3 wherein said thermoelectric generating means is comprised of a bismuth telluride material.

15. The device of claim 3 wherein said thermoelectric generating means is comprised of a lead telluride material and a bismuth telluride material.

16. The device of claim 3 wherein said pre-heating heat exchange structure and said post-combustion heat exchanger structure are in thermal communication whereby heat from said post-combustion heat exchange structure is transferred to said pre-heating heat exchange structure.

17. The device of claim 3 further comprising a thermally insulative frame structure.