Hybrid System for Generating Power

Abstract

A hybrid system for generating electrical power. The hybrid system includes a photovoltaic array for collecting and converting solar radiation into electrical power, an apparatus for producing power from a source of liquid fuel, the apparatus including at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end in fluid communication with the source of liquid fuel, a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from a liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage, a combustion chamber in is communication with the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage and a conversion device operable to convert heat released by combustion in the combustion chamber into electrical power, and a storage device electrically connected to the photovoltaic array and the conversion device for storing the electrical power produced by the photovoltaic array and the conversion device.

1 . A hybrid system for generating electrical power comprising:
 (a) a photovoltaic array for collecting and converting solar radiation into electrical power;   (b) an apparatus for producing power from a source of liquid fuel, the apparatus comprising (i) at least one capillary flow passage, said at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end in fluid communication with the source of liquid fuel; (ii) a heat source arranged along said at least one capillary flow passage, said heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in said at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from a liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from said outlet end of said at least one capillary flow passage; (iii) a combustion chamber in communication with said outlet end of said at least one capillary flow passage; and (iv) a conversion device operable to convert heat released by combustion in said combustion chamber into electrical power; and   (c) a storage device electrically connected to said photovoltaic array and said conversion device for storing the electrical power produced by said photovoltaic array and said conversion device.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat source comprises a resistance-heating element. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one capillary flow passage comprises at least one capillary tube. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid system of  claim 4 , wherein said heat source comprises a section of said capillary tube heated by passing an electrical current therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid system of  claim 5 , further comprising means for cleaning deposits formed during operation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid system of  claim 6 , wherein said means for cleaning deposits includes said fluid control valve, said heat source and an oxidizer control valve for placing said at least one capillary flow passage in fluid communication with an oxidizer, said heat source also being operable to heat the oxidizer in said at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to oxidize deposits formed during the heating of the liquid fuel, wherein said oxidizer control valve for placing said at least one capillary flow passage in fluid communication with an oxidizer is operable to alternate between the introduction of liquid fuel and the introduction of oxidizer into said capillary flow passage and enables in-situ cleaning of said capillary flow passage when the oxidizer is introduced into said at least one capillary flow passage. 
     
     
         9 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The hybrid system of  claim 6 , wherein said means for cleaning deposits includes said fluid control valve, said fluid control valve operable for placing said at least one capillary flow passage in fluid communication with a solvent, enabling in-situ cleaning of said capillary flow passage when the solvent is introduced into said at least one capillary flow passage. 
     
     
         17 . The hybrid system of  claim 16 , wherein the solvent comprises liquid fuel from the liquid fuel source and wherein the heat source is phased-out during cleaning of said capillary flow passage. 
     
     
         18 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein said combustion chamber includes an igniter operable to ignite the vaporized fuel. 
     
     
         19 . The hybrid system of  claim 18 , wherein said heat source is effective to vaporize the liquid fuel to a level effective to reduce the ignition energy requirements of the igniter. 
     
     
         20 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein said conversion device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a micro-turbine, a micro-turbine with electrical generator, a Stirling engine, a Stirling engine with electrical generator, a thermoelectric device and a thermophotovoltaic device. 
     
     
         21 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein said conversion device outputs up to 5000 watts of mechanical or electrical power. 
     
     
         22 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel source, said fuel source capable of delivering pressurized liquid fuel to said at least one capillary flow passage at a pressure of 100 psig or less. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger which includes an exhaust duct through which a portion of the exhaust gases exhausted from said combustion chamber are circulated and an air passage through which air is circulated, said heat exchanger preheating the air in said air passage by transferring heat from the exhaust gases in said exhaust duct to the air. 
     
     
         25 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air blower, said air blower supplying air under pressure to said combustion chamber to enable the pressurized air to mix with the vaporized fuel in a desired air-to-fuel ratio effective to combust the air-fuel mixture. 
     
     
         26 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of generating electrical power, comprising;
 (a) converting solar radiation into electrical power through the use of a photovoltaic array;   (b) supplying liquid fuel to at least one capillary flow passage;   (c) causing a stream of substantially vaporized fuel to pass through an outlet of the at least one capillary flow passage by heating the liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage;   (d) combusting the vaporized fuel in a combustion chamber;   (e) converting heat produced by combustion of the vaporized fuel in the combustion chamber into electrical power using a conversion device; and   (f) storing electrical power generated in steps (a) and (e) in a storage device.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one capillary flow passage includes at least one capillary tube and the heat source comprises a resistance heating element or section of the capillary tube heated by passing an electrical current therethrough, the method further including flowing the liquid fuel through the capillary tube and vaporizing the liquid fuel by heating the tube. 
     
     
         30 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the conversion device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a micro-turbine, a micro-turbine with electrical generator, a Stirling engine, a Stirling engine with electrical generator, a thermoelectric device and a thermophotovoltaic device. 
     
     
         34 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising cleaning periodically the at least one capillary flow passage. 
     
     
         43 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said periodic cleaning comprises (i) phasing-out said heating of the at least one capillary flow passage, and (ii) supplying a solvent to the at least one capillary flow passage, whereby deposits formed in the at least one capillary flow passage are removed. 
     
     
         50 - 52 . (canceled)