HC fuel to heat/light to solar electricity: 40% efficient, currently..!

[Logic11]

So an internal combustion engine with no moving parts (silent) that turns fuel into heat/light that's collected by solar cells specific to that light's frequency, withNO power or energy density limitations..! At an efficiency of 40% in it's infancy...

The short of it:

Intermediate:

The really geeky stuff and insight into the mind of the inventor were they have worked out how to make a success of this. (it pays)

I hope I got all the power geeks here's attention with that heading.
Thoughts??
I think it's Legit?

 

[JackFlorey]

Thermophotovoltaics have been a "thing" for a while, going back to the 1960's. If there is another need for the heat - space heating or water heating - it's a great idea.

 

[fechter]

They've improved the heat to light part of it recently. This would be great tech for a backup generator. 40% is better than most small gas generators. I'm not sure how compact it would be, but essentially no moving parts would be low maintenance.

 

[archesman1]

They've improved the heat to light part of it recently. This would be great tech for a backup generator. 40% is better than most small gas generators. I'm not sure how compact it would be, but essentially no moving parts would be low maintenance.

How r u

 

[Logic11]

They've improved the heat to light part of it recently. This would be great tech for a backup generator. 40% is better than most small gas generators. I'm not sure how compact it would be, but essentially no moving parts would be low maintenance.

They have yes. IIRC that part's now 60% efficient!
There's also a lot of heat recuperation going on with a 3D printed heat exchanger.

I think/hope no moving parts means less to go wrong and wear out too.
I also think/hope it should be pretty light, compact and most importantly scalable down to micro sizes:
Std ICE do not scale down well. The heat absorbing combustion chamber surface area to volume ratio...
That's why small ICE's are all single cylinder with all those pumping losses in the crankcase and cylinder lube issues. (Blowby/oil suction basically on strokes)

Imagine a E-bike or E-velo where you fill up at the gas station in seconds on your long trip.
As you'd need less batteries and the Lightcell has way better power and energy density, it should be lighter overall too.

(I'm Serial Hybrid biased as I'm in 'The New South Africa' where power is more off than on, so having a mobile genset wherever you go is more than just nice. Pay no attention to me! )

 

[rafalg]

Very little information is provided, so don't expect anything to buy soon. There are no test results, no prototypes, just some lab work going on.
And the claims of 40% efficiency - but what exactly does the number represent?
lightcell energy - the website mentions '40% wire to wire efficiency' - whatever that means?

By the way, when sodium light is mentioned... The yellow sodium street lamps were used for many decades, but recently they have been replaced by LEDs and i dont think many still remain in operation. Even perfectly good and operational lights are thrown away in the name of efficiency. But it turns out low pressure sodium lamps are more energy-efficient than LEDs as a light source, and tend to be less prone to failures because it's an old tech without cheap electronics in it. Great example of wastefullness masqueraded as progress to cleaner future.

 

[Logic11]

Very little information is provided, so don't expect anything to buy soon. There are no test results, no prototypes, just some lab work going on.
And the claims of 40% efficiency - but what exactly does the number represent?
lightcell energy - the website mentions '40% wire to wire efficiency' - whatever that means?

By the way, when sodium light is mentioned... The yellow sodium street lamps were used for many decades, but recently they have been replaced by LEDs and i dont think many still remain in operation. Even perfectly good and operational lights are thrown away in the name of efficiency. But it turns out low pressure sodium lamps are more energy-efficient than LEDs as a light source, and tend to be less prone to failures because it's an old tech without cheap electronics in it. Great example of wastefullness masqueraded as progress to cleaner future.

Well this light is from burning a hydrocarbon fuel and some sodium from a renewable source IIRC.
I guess sodium improves efficiency here too, but IIRC it was about a specific light frequency the 'solar cells' liked where they (that bit) is 60% efficient.