Abstract: Combined heat and power systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the combined heat and power (CHP) system includes a heating appliance, a power cell thermally coupled to the heating appliance and configured to receive a portion of the heat generated by the heating appliance, and power electronics operatively coupled to the heating appliance and the power cell. The power cell can generate a power output from the heat generated by the heating appliance. The power electronics can include a controller configured to detect a loss in external power, and in response enter a blackout operation mode in which the heating appliance is electrically coupled to an energy storage device and/or electrically isolated from an external grid.

Abstract: Combustion systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a combustion system comprises a first combustion zone, a second combustion zone downstream of the first combustion zone, and a heat module thermally coupled to the first combustion zone and/or second combustion zone. The first combustion zone is configured to (i) receive and combust preheated air and a first fuel and (ii) generate a first exhaust gas, and the second combustion zone is configured to (i) receive and combust the first exhaust gas and a second fuel and (ii) generate a second exhaust gas. The first exhaust gas can have a first excess air and the second exhaust gas can have a second excess air less than the first excess air. The heat module can comprise a thermionic converter or another heat-to-electricity converter able to generate a power output.

Abstract: Combined heat and power (CHP) systems and related methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the CHP system includes a combustion component and a power cell operably coupled to the combustion component. The power cell can include a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to the combustion component to receive heat; a second heat exchanger; and an electricity generation component with a first portion thermally coupled to the first heat exchanger and a second portion thermally coupled to the second heat exchanger. The electricity generation component is positioned to receive at least a portion of the heat received at the first heat exchanger and generate an electrical output using the received heat. To recycle unused heat from the power cell, the second heat exchanger can be thermally coupleable to a third heat exchanger in a residential heating appliance.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one alkali metal thermal-to-electricity converter (AMTEC) has a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone, the high pressure zone being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the low pressure zone being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one alkali metal thermal-to-electricity converter (AMTEC) has a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone, the high pressure zone being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the low pressure zone being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermophotovoltaic converter has a photon emitter and at least one photovoltaic cell, the photon emitter being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the at least one photovoltaic cell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermophotovoltaic converter has a photon emitter and at least one photovoltaic cell, the photon emitter being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the at least one photovoltaic cell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermionic energy converter has a hot shell and a cold shell, the hot shell being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the cold shell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermionic energy converter has a hot shell and a cold shell, the hot shell being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the cold shell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.