PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION OF COMBUSTION GAS ENTHALPY BY MAKING USE OF A GASLIGHT MANTLE

A simple photoelectric conversion system for combustion gas enthalpy h as been fabricated and tested. A cylindrical gaslight mantle is used a s an enthalpy-light converter and two solar cells are used for photoel ectric conversion. A methane-air premixed mixture is burned in a trans parent silica-glass tube, where the gaslight mantle is installed. The maximum electric power of the cell unit was measured for varying flow rates of methane and air. The total conversion efficiency of the syste m was then estimated. It was found that the total conversion efficienc y was not more than 1.5 x 10(-5). Several means to improve the present conversion system are suggested. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.