A new thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power generation system has been proposed on the basis of reciprocating‐flow super‐adiabatic combustion in porous media and has been investigated through numerical simulation. The porous media consists of a thin foam‐ceramic plate sandwitched by a pair of porous quartz glass plates packed perpendicular to the flow direction in an insulated flowing‐duct. By energy recirculation through the reciprocating‐flow combustion system, the foam‐ceramic temperature becomes about two times higher than the theoretical (adiabatic) flame temperature, using only a small amount of combustion heat. Strong radiant energy is emitted from the foam‐ceramic plate. Of those, long wavelength components are absorbed by the porous quartz glass and are regenerated to preheat working‐gases. On the other hand, short wavelength components pass through the porous quartz glass. About 48&percent; of the combustion heat is converted into the radiant energy in a short wavelength range which are useful for (GaSb) TPV power generation. © 2003 American Institute of Physics