DR. WILLIAM P MULLIGAN, M.D.
Medical Practice at Trenton St, Seattle, WA

6284969, Sep 4, 2001

Aug 20, 1998

9/496513

Lewis M. Fraas - Issaquah WA
William P. Mulligan - Seattle WA
John E. Samaras - Seattle WA
Lucian G. Ferguson - Seattle WA

JX Crystals Inc. - Issaquah WA

H01L 3100

136253

The present invention is a hydrocarbon fired thermophotovoltaic furnace having a non-fused silica tube. In a preferred embodiment, the furnace has an infrared emitter tube having a top end and a bottom end and a substantially transparent non-fused silica window tube having a closed top end. The window tube is positioned concentrically around the infrared emitter tube, and the infrared emitter tube is in fluid communication with the window tube. The window tube is preferably composed of Lucalox (alumina or Chromolux), magnesia, yterria, titania, spinel, stablized zirconia or yterria alumina garnet. In another preferred embodiment, the furnace has a radiator tube having a top end and a bottom end and an infrared emitter tube having a closed top end. The infrared emitter tube is positioned concentrically around the radiator tube, and the radiator tube is in fluid communication with the infrared emitter tube. Fluid flows from the inner tube to the outer tube.

6218607, Apr 17, 2001

May 15, 1998

9/079395

William P. Mulligan - Seattle WA
John E. Samaras - Seattle WA
Lewis M. Fraas - Issaquah WA

JX Crystals Inc. - Issaquah WA

H01L 3100

136253

A small and light cylindrical thermophotovoltaic generator uses gaseous fuels, a counter flow heat exchanger, regenerator and low bandgap photovoltaic cells. In the fuel injection system, with preheated air from a recuperator, fuel combustion begins immediately when the fuel and air first meet. A hot and compact burn results from complete and rapid fuel and air mixing. A venturi necks down the air flow, and a chemically etched jet shim disk creates over 150 small fuel jet streams. The emitter geometric configuration provides good hot gas energy transfer to the IR emitter. Four alternate emitter configurations accomplish the good heat transfer. One emitter is a composite SiC with integrally formed internal fins which extend into the combustion chamber. The photovoltaic converter assembly has good spectral control, good high rate but lightweight heat removal and high current-carrying capability, while maintaining low parasitic IR absorption. A modular photovoltaic converter circuit is complete with series connected low bandgap filtered cells, a heat spreader and high current-carrying mirror-shielded interconnects.