CN1224534A - An improved thermoelectric unit with electrical input and electrical output devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A series of closely stacked thermocouples form a wheel ring (60) which is held in compression against lorentz forces by an electrically insulating band (61). Reducing the circuit path length to allow large currents to flow in the wheel ring (60) is achieved by low thermal conductivity elements (64) and slots (38) formed in the hot and cold plates (66 and 65). Higher circulating currents are generated by reducing heat transfer between the hot and cold plates (66 and 65). The thermoelectric junctions formed between the hot and cold plates (66 and 65) and the low thermal conductivity element (64) are preferably formed by a coating (67) of a different material including bismuth, constantan, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nichrome, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper, zinc and silver. When operating as a thermoelectric generator (40), electrical power can be drawn from the circulating current using any of a vibrating mechanical switch (70), a hall effect generator (140), or a colpitts oscillator (159).

Description

An improved thermoelectric unit with electrical input and electrical output devices

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric power generation and refrigeration unit, and more particularly to a thermoelectric generator and/or refrigerator, which utilizes a torus made of closely connected thermocouples utilizing low electrical resistance and high The thermoelectric junction of the Seebeck effect causes a large current induced by the maximum temperature difference across the thermoelectric element to circulate in the ring.

The quest for reliable, noiseless and moving-parts-free energy converters for converting heat to electricity has led engineers to rediscover a phenomenon known as the thermoelectric effect. These effects, which have been known for more than a hundred years, have enabled the development of small self-contained power sources which, however, have not found practical application in domestic or commercial power generation because they are too small.

A common electrical switch generally uses only the same metal, where no attempt is made to heat or cool any elements, and no thermoelectric voltages are generated due to differences between switching elements. The resistance in a conventional switch causes a voltage drop as current flows through the switch and constitutes a resistive load for the circulating current flowing through the closed circuit established by the closure of the switch.

Thermoelectric power generation and refrigeration based on the Seebeck effect is a physical phenomenon according to which temperature is detected using a thermocouple formed by overlapping two different materials, typically metals or metal alloys. As is well known, a thermocouple having a pair of junctions held at different temperatures produces a potential difference that is used to measure a specific temperature difference between the two junctions. An applied temperature difference will generate a voltage across the thermocouple, or a current through the thermocouple's loop, forming a small capacity power generator. This aspect of thermoelectric power generation is used extensively in space applications, such as on the Voyager I and Voyager II satellites, launched in 1977 and still sending back images more than 20 years ago. In this application of thermoelectric power generation, radioactive materials provide thermal energy to a thermoelectric generator, thereby providing a long-lived energy source. A similar thermoelectric power plant will also be used on the upcoming Cassini mission to Saturn. Advantages of thermoelectric solid-state energy conversion include small size, light weight, noiseless operation, and trouble-free power generation over a long lifetime.

Thermoelectric power generation and refrigeration have a history of about one hundred years and were discovered by Seebeck in 1822. Over the years, numerous improvements and analyzes of Seebeck's work have been made, and numerous patents have been filed for improvements based on this early discovery. Much of the work in this area involves finding the metal combination or alloy that produces the highest Seebeck junction voltage for use with thermocouples or thermoelements in series to generate high voltages for supplying electrical current to power electrical loads.

Most thermoelectric generators use a set of junctions connected in series to generate the current that drives an electrical load. In general, a material with a high Seebeck voltage also has a high electrical resistance which tends to reduce the current flow through the circuit. Previous thermoelectric generators and refrigerators used alloys to produce high Seebeck voltages for the same thermocouple temperature difference. The Seebeck voltage of an alloy is typically several times that of the commercially pure metal (99%) of which the alloy is composed, yet the electrical resistance of the alloy has been found to be typically 10 times that of the pure metal. If the circuit contains only thermoelectric elements in series that generate current through the circuit, a higher resistance in any thermoelectric element will drastically reduce the current through the circuit.

The structure of the present invention differs in many respects from the following U.S. patents: 4,859,250, 5,022,928 to Buist, 2,919,553, 3,326,727 to Fritts, 3,119,739 to Von Koch, 3,090,875 to Harkness, 2,864,879 to Salver 2,425,647, 2,415,005 filed by Findley, and the following U.S. patents filed by the present inventors:

4,997,047 High Speed Electromagnetically Accelerated Earth Drill;

5,024,137 Fuel Assisted Electromagnetic Launcher;

5,168,118 Method for Electromagnetic Acceleration of anObject;

5,168,939 Oil Well Drill;

5,393,350 Thermoelectric Generator and Magnetic Energy Storage Unit; and

5,597,976 A Thermoelectric Generator and Magnetic Energy Storage Unit with Controllable Electric Output.

The object of the present invention is to maximize the electrical power produced by a thermoelectric generator and to provide a practical converter that can generate an alternating voltage and current that can be used to supply domestic and industrial loads directly and without the aid of the utility grid .

Another object of the present invention is to maximize the current circulating in the ring of the thermoelectric junction and thereby maximize the energy stored in the strong magnetic field. Maximizing the circulating current is achieved by:

1 Reduce the internal resistance in the wheel ring;

2 selecting the material used for the thermoelectric junction forming the ring such that the highest current is produced, consistent with a low internal resistance; and

3 Minimize the heat flow between the hot and cold fins, thereby maintaining the highest temperature difference across the junctions and thus the highest Seebeck drive voltage.

Specifically, the thermoelectric unit of the present invention uses such a material to form a thermoelectric junction that the thermoelectric junction generates Seebeck voltages of opposite signs, referred to herein as a p-type material system and an n-type material system, and the materials used have a high Seebeck voltage voltage and high conductivity (low resistance).

Another object of the present invention is to generate alternating current ("AC") or direct current ("DC") high energy electrical output power in the range of 0-240V by disturbing the circulating current in the wheel ring.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a p-type and n-type thermoelectric element with improved electrical conductivity and high A new method for the Seebeck voltage. The above structure of the thermoelectric element forms a thermoelectric junction that works as a high Seebeck voltage, high conductivity generator, thereby generating a higher circulating current in the wheel ring, and thus a higher output from the thermoelectric generator under the same temperature difference and heat flow power.

An additional object of the present invention is to use a threaded junction between the thermoelectric element and the hot and cold fins so that the thermoelectric element acts as a thermal resistor for reducing the heat flow between the hot and cold fins, thereby increasing the thermoelectric The temperature difference across the junction, thus increasing the overall thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric unit.

Another object of the present invention is to use thermoelectric elements formed by plating threaded copper cores with different metals with complementary high Seebeck voltages so that high conductivity thermoelectric elements also generate high thermoelectric junction voltages.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the resistance across the sheets by slotting on both sides of the hot and cold sheets for receiving thermoelectric elements, the thermoelectric elements being installed in the grooves, thereby reducing the resistance from the hot or cold sheets. The length between the thermoelectric elements from side to side.

Another object of the present invention is to partially flatten a threaded rod including the threads into an ellipse so that the threads on the threaded rod are preserved while reducing the material distance and electrical resistance between the alternating hot and cold junctions .

An additional object of the present invention is to use a thin metal coating as a copper connector for resistance, for the tip of the thread of the thermoelectric element to connect to the hot metal piece and the cold metal piece, because the interconnection and Thermoelectric junctions that join alloys do not exhibit less electrical resistance.

A related object of the present invention is to use electroplating to provide a corrosion and oxidation resistant layer on hot and cold fins and thermoelectric elements, for example by electroplating with platinum or palladium in areas contacted by flames and hot gases on the hot fins, or as exhaust The catalytic converter used to heat the gas of the thermoelectric generator, thereby reducing pollution, while preventing the oxidation of the heated heat sheet.

Another additional object of the present invention is to use electroplating to form metal planar connections such that the lifetime of the thermoelectric junction is improved, it is isolated from the environment, and the high Seebeck voltage characteristic of the junction is maintained during the lifetime of the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric unit using a low thermal conductivity thermoelectric element consisting of two halves interconnected along an electrically conductive, low thermal conductivity longitudinal surface, such that the low thermal conductivity thermoelectric The elements are received in slots formed in the hot and cold fins of the thermoelectric unit.

Another object of the invention is to enclose the thermoelectric unit with a special strap for absorbing the Lorentz forces generated in the ring, the strap being fixed around the annular current storage ring, maintaining a prestress on the thermoelectric junction.

Another object of the invention is to enclose the thermoelectric unit with a strap with insulating gaps in it, decoupling the strap as a secondary winding.

A related object of the present invention is to provide a spring between the ring formed by the hot and cold plates and the band, for maintaining the required prestress in order to overcome the Lorentz force regardless of changes in temperature due to temperature changes. The coil contracts and expands.

Another object of the present invention is to form a new type of black box surrounding the heat sheet, and reflect the infrared heat back to the heat sheet again, thereby improving the efficiency of the chamber for heating the heat sheet, thereby increasing the temperature of the heat sheet and increasing the thermoelectric junction. The temperature difference between the two sides increases the magnitude of the current circulating in the ring, increasing the electrical power output efficiency of the thermoelectric unit as a thermoelectric generator, all for the same amount of fuel.

Another object of the present invention is to use a fluid such as air, water, or other liquid to draw heat away from the cold fins of a thermoelectric generator, and then be able to use the fluid in a heat pump, radiator, or other device to draw heat away The heat in the fluid cools the fluid before it is circulated through the thermoelectric unit.

Another object of the present invention is to utilize a low power magnetically actuated power output switch consisting of a longitudinally vibrating threaded armature mechanically acted on by an electromagnetic coil in one direction and by a spring in the opposite direction. The armature is disposed in a larger threaded hole formed between a pair of immediately adjacent plates, both the armature and the hole having threads of the same pitch. The threaded armature and the threaded hole constitute an on-off switch, which is used to open and close a loop in which the current circulates through the wheel ring, so that when the thread of the armature and the hole are in contact at the upper and lower positions, the current passes through the wheel ring, and when they are not in contact , then the interruption of the current in the wheel ring produces an electrical output for driving the electrical load, so that the switch works as a low power input high power output device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical input for actuating the electromagnetic coil of a vibrating switch used in generating electricity from a thermoelectric unit, or using a finger-operated mechanical method in which a one-way spring-driven vibrating body urges The electromagnetic coil vibrates for several cycles until the electrical output of the thermoelectric unit is able to self-power a sine wave generator that powers the vibration, voltage generation, and current interrupt switches. In addition, a finger-operated piezoelectric generator can first provide the spark that ignites the combustion chamber. After the thermoelectric unit reaches operating temperature, the piezoelectric generator is then used to store enough electrical energy to power the sine wave generator, which drives the electromagnetic coil, until the power output of the thermoelectric generator can drive an external electrical load.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new method for extracting electrical energy from the current circulating through the wheel ring by inserting the Hallo Ear effect switches and does not have to disconnect the ring by controlling an externally applied magnetic field perpendicular to the current circulating through the ring. When an external magnetic field is applied, a voltage appears on both sides of the ring, which is proportional to the magnetic field strength and the circulating current, and can draw power from the thermoelectric unit in the form of AC or DC, depending on the characteristics of the external magnetic field. The electrical power generated in this way can be used to operate electrical loads without interrupting the circulating current flowing through the ring, and without vibration or noise.

Another object of the present invention is to control the voltage generated by a thermoelectric unit by controlling the flow of fuel applied to a combustion chamber that generates heat for a thermoelectric generator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric generator which combusts methane, propane or butane gas from a tank mounted externally on a thermoelectric unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric generator which allows the combustion of any type of fuel by providing an upwardly opening exhaust duct to the air-cooled fuel combustion zone below the heat fins.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary grid on top of the thermoelectric generator above the openings of the heat removal pipes for receiving containers for cooking.

The thermoelectric unit of the present invention establishes a magnetic field by passing a large current through thermocouples connected in series, preferably arranged to form a ring. Power can be extracted from such a thermoelectric unit by supplying heat to the hot fins, cooling the cold fins, and disturbing the circulating current in the loop. The electrical energy generated in this way can be high voltage, high energy AC or DC output. The efficiency of the generator depends on the use of thermoelectric junctions with complementary high Seebeck voltages, high electrical conductivity (low resistance), and interleaved p type and n-type material systems.

The voltage driving the current through the ring is the sum of the thermoelectric voltages around the series connected (electrically short-circuited) loops of the ring forming the thermoelectric unit. The ability of a thermoelectric unit to provide electrical power can be determined by multiplying the number of junctions times the thermoelectric junction voltage times the current circulating through the ring. The annular shape of the wheel ring works as the primary side of the transformer, storing energy in the magnetic field generated by the circulating current. A suitable disturbance to the circulating current will generate a voltage that supplies power to the external load.

Other structures provide relatively low thermal conductivity between immediately adjacent pairs of hot and cold fins, while also providing high electrical conductivity (low electrical resistance). In one embodiment of these low thermal conductivity elements, short sections of threaded rods positioned between the hot and cold fins and juxtaposed with the hot and cold fins can reduce heat flow and thereby increase the temperature differential accordingly, and when used Increase the thermoelectric efficiency of the thermoelectric unit when used as a generator. In order to improve the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the unit for power generation, the tips of the threads connecting the hot and cold fins are suitably coated with materials that provide complementary high Seebeck voltages as electron emitters and electron collectors. A thermoelectric junction constructed in this way acts as a thermal resistor with a planar thermal gradient operating radially along the tapered edge of the threaded rod, thereby greatly reducing the heat flow through the thermoelectric junction, while at the tip of the thread and the heat sheet Keep a high temperature difference with the cold plate. Compared with the thermoelectric junction formed by coordinating different solid metal blocks for power generation, this structure of the thermoelectric junction improves the thermoelectric conversion efficiency by 10 times in terms of power generation performance. By adding thermal resistance between the hot and cold fins, the amount of heat required to generate a predetermined current circulating through the ring is reduced by 80%. By incorporating these coated threaded rods to form a thermoelectric junction between hot and cold fins, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency can be increased from 4% to 12%. The improved thermal design of the thermoelectric unit can provide a higher power generator/output device while using the same heat (fuel) and the same weight (mass) of the thermoelectric unit.

To further increase the electrical conductivity (reduce electrical resistance) in the ring, slots are formed in the hot and cold fins so that the distance traveled by the current circulating through the ring is reduced. When the wheel ring is assembled, the slots in the hot and cold fins receive low thermal conductivity elements, such as the threaded rods mentioned above. Removing half of the copper path length by slotting the hot and cold fins reduces the resistance due to the copper path length from 1.72×10 ^-6 ohms to 8.6×10 ^-7 for a copper path with L/A of 1 ohms, this doubles the amount of current circulating through the ring while reducing the temperature difference across the low thermal conductivity thermoelectric junction element by only a few percent.

Locally flattening the threaded rod into an oval shape reduces L in pL/A, thus further increasing the current circulating through the ring. The threads on the threaded rod are preserved during flattening since a special die for flattening the threaded rod includes threads. The length of the surrounding loop in the thermoelectric element is reduced by locally flattening the threaded rod such that the thread tip is in contact with the hot fin on one side of the partially flattened threaded rod and on the other side the threaded rod is in contact with the cold fin. The material distance and resistance between the interleaved hot and cold junctions can be reduced by locally flattening the threaded rods.

Interconnects and connections formed from materials plated on low thermal conductivity elements do not exhibit the high resistivities that occur with alloy thermoelectric junctions. Thus, an annular thermoelectric unit can be assembled by applying a thin metal plating to form an ohmic copper connection between the threaded tips of the rods and the hot and cold metal sheets that make up the ring. Plating can also be advantageously used to form a protective layer against corrosion and oxidation of hot and cold fins, and to protect low thermal conductivity thermoelectric elements. Platinum or palladium coatings of the heat fins in the areas contacted by the flame and hot gases act as catalytic converters for the exhaust gases produced when the thermoelectric unit is used as a thermoelectric generator. This has the effect of reducing pollution while preventing the heat fins from being oxidized when the thermoelectric unit is used to generate electricity. Reducing pollution is especially important if the thermoelectric generator is installed inside the internal combustion generator so as to be heated by the exhaust gases of the internal combustion generator. In the present invention, this coating can be used to form metal planar junctions similar to silicon planar junctions in semiconductor devices, thereby improving the lifetime of the junction, insulating it from the environment, and maintaining high plugging of the junction during the lifetime of the device. Baker voltage characteristics.

The improved components reduced the resistance from 10 ^-6 to 10 ^-7 ohms and doubled the Seebeck voltage for each set of thermoelectric junctions. Materials selected for complementary high Seebeck voltages were plated on oxygen-free, partially flattened threaded copper rods. These low thermal conductivity elements have threaded cross-sections in order to reduce heat flow, increase temperature differentials, and increase the overall thermoelectric efficiency of the generator.

Another configuration of low thermal conductivity elements disposed between immediately adjacent hot and cold fins is pins that fit into slots formed in the hot and cold fins. These studs consist of two halves adjoining each other along an electrically conductive, low thermal conductivity longitudinal surface between the hot and cold fins. Each low thermal conductivity element may be plated with a layer of material that provides a complementary high Seebeck voltage to the thermocouple. These materials can be selected from the group consisting of bismuth, constantan, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nichrome, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper, zinc and silver, and bismuth and antimony are respectively Preferred materials for providing p-type and n-type junctions. Plating on low thermal conductivity components can be covered with a conductive layer such as copper. Instead of coating low thermal conductivity elements with complementary high Seebeck voltage materials forming thermoelectric junctions, or in addition to coating low thermal conductivity elements with complementary high Seebeck voltage materials forming thermoelectric junctions, slots in hot and cold sheets Plating can be performed using the above materials. The grooves on a first side of each sheet are plated with a layer of material providing one type of junction, and the grooves on the opposite side of each sheet are plated with a material providing another type of junction. These sheets are then arranged such that the same material forms a layer coating the grooves receiving the same low thermal conductivity elements. The same material can be used to coat the grooves as is used to coat the low thermal conductivity components, and the material used to coat the grooves can also be covered with a conductive material.

A special band surrounds the thermoelectric generator to withstand the Lorentz force generated by the current circulating through the ring. When current flows in a loop, the current exerts a force on itself, which is known as the Lorentz force. The direction of this force is radial and can be described by the formula F=q(E+V×B). Straps are mounted on the rings to maintain a prestress at the electrical connection between the sheet and the low thermal conductivity element. The straps are used to maintain the prestress in order to counteract the Lorentz force generated by the large circulating current. The bands contain insulating gaps to decouple the bands from being the secondary winding of the transformer acting as a current loop for the primary winding of the transformer if it draws energy from the current circulating through the ring thermoelectric unit. Coil springs arranged between the band and the hot and cold plates allow the band to maintain the stress required to overcome the Lorentz force despite contraction and expansion of the rim due to temperature changes.

If the thermoelectric unit is used as a generator, in order to improve the efficiency of the chamber for heating the heat fins, a new black box is formed around the heat fins for re-reflecting the infrared heat back to the heat fins. When operating with fired heaters, it has been found that the majority of the heat generated by catalytic burners is in the form of infrared radiation. This infrared radiation travels through the heat fins and is exhausted at the exhaust port. The setting of the black box sends part of the infrared radiation back to the heat sheet. For the same amount of fuel burned in the combustion chamber, the temperature of the heat sheet can be increased, the temperature difference of the thermoelectric junction can be increased, and the amplitude of the current in the loop can be increased. Increase the potential electrical power output of the generator.

Two embodiments of thermoelectric units operating as generators use liquid cooling as the heat sink for the cold fins. In an open trough container, all the cold fins are immersed in a trough of water, which evaporates when the water absorbs enough heat from the thermoelectric cold junction to boil. An enclosed branch-pipe arrangement that uses liquid to cool the cold fins of a thermoelectric unit by either passing the water or liquid coolant once over the fins and then draining the coolant, or by recirculating the water or liquid coolant through a radiator to cool the liquid , the liquid is then recirculated through the thermoelectric unit under closed and continuous conditions.

Another embodiment of a thermoelectric unit operating as a generator employs air cooling. A blower powered by a fraction of the electricity generated by the thermoelectric generator blows air against the cold fins, thereby extracting heat from the thermoelectric junction and transferring it to an air stream for discharge to the environment or for use in a heat pump or other system.

The high current circulating inside the ring allows electrical energy to be drawn from the thermoelectric unit by disrupting the magnetic field created by the circulating current. When operating as a generator, power can be drawn from the thermoelectric unit in different ways. A simple way of extracting electrical power is to use a longitudinally vibrating threaded armature in a larger diameter threaded hole formed between an immediately adjacent pair of plates. The vibrating armature is driven in one direction by means of the mechanical action of the electromagnetic coil and in the other direction by means of the action of a spring. Operated in this manner, the threaded armature and bore form an on-off switch that opens and closes the loop of electrical current circulating through the ring. When the thread and hole of the armature are in contact in the up and down position, current flows through the ring. And when the armature and the threaded bore are not in contact, the interruption of the current flow around the ring creates an electrical output that is typically used to drive an external electrical load. It is advantageous if the hot and cold fins are made of similar material and separated by ceramic spacers to provide threaded bores, while the armature is made of a different material than the hot and cold fins in terms of thermoelectric properties. In this way, when the metallic armature contacts the different materials of the hot and cold blades, the longitudinal movement of the armature generates a Seebeck voltage.

The electromagnetic coil mechanically excites the vibrating voltage generating switch. The electromagnetic coils are powered by a sine wave generator which receives power from the thermoelectric generator after the thermoelectric generator has started to operate. The frequency at which the switch oscillates in the longitudinal direction is half the frequency of the output voltage induced due to the disruption of the magnetic field. In order to initiate the vibratory action of the electromagnetic coil without the use of batteries, two methods were invented; (1) a finger-operated mechanical method in which a vibratory device energized by a unidirectional spring is used to force the electromagnetic coil to vibrate for several cycles until the electrical output of the generator So far as can itself power the sine wave generator, and (2) a finger-operated piezo method that first stores electrical energy for powering the sine wave generator. The finger, the spring and the mass of the vibrating device mechanically cause the solenoid, and thus also the vibrating switch, to operate for a number of cycles so that the thermoelectric generator is self-starting by mechanical means without the use of batteries. The oscillating vibrator stops in place away from the electrically operated armature and is ready for another manual actuation or finger trigger if required. Finger-operated piezoelectric generators can also be used to fire the burners of thermoelectric generators by incorporating push-button piezoelectric devices into the circuit. The piezoelectric generator can provide enough power to force the electromagnetic coil to vibrate for several cycles until the electrical output of the thermoelectric generator produces enough power to operate the vibrating switch.

Another way to draw power from a circulating current is to use a Hall effect device. A magnetic field applied perpendicular to a current flowing in a fixed conductor produces a voltage across the conductor which is perpendicular to the current and perpendicular to the applied external magnetic field. The voltage generated in this way is called Hall voltage. If the magnetic field changes polarity (or is sinusoidal), the Hall voltage will also be sinusoidal, resulting in an AC voltage. By placing junctions (connections) across a segment of a thermoelectric junction in a ring, and by controlling an externally applied magnetic field, a voltage will appear across the junctions that is proportional to the strength of the field and the circulating current. Depending on the characteristics of the external magnetic field, electrical power can be drawn from the generator loop in either AC or DC form. Power can be drawn without interrupting the current flow in the ring. A low voltage input to the external magnetic circuit produces a high voltage output from the generator which can be used to operate the electrical load. There is no need to turn on the switch, so there is no vibration or noise.

When a Tesla magnetic field is applied to a particular thermoelectric segment in a thermoelectric unit passing 50,000 amperes, a Hall voltage of 1600V is generated across that segment. The output voltage can be controlled by adjusting the strength of the applied magnetic field, and the frequency of the applied magnetic field determines the frequency of the output electric power. By using three different Hall switch sections, and by controlling the magnetic field with a microprocessor-controller, three-phase power can be generated with three different outputs.

One of the simplest methods of output voltage control for the new thermoelectric generators is to control the flow of fuel to the combustion chamber, thereby controlling the heat generated within the thermoelectric system, varying the amount of magnetic energy stored. By roughly controlling the flow of fuel to the combustion chamber within the generator, and controlling the temperature differential across the junctions of the generator, the heat is fairly evenly passed through the thermoelectric junction to the cold fins and then either passed to a pool where heat is removed by boiling, or sent by a fan In forced air cooled ambient air. In the simplest modification, by adding heat, the voltage is increased to the required 120V or 208V for operating domestic or industrial loads. More complex, solid state voltage control has been used successfully, however, this is the easiest method applicable in third world countries.

One advantage of the present invention is that the thermoelectric generators of the present invention generate useful electrical current by burning any desired type of fuel in a system with no moving parts.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved element made of an oxygen-free partially flattened copper core with a threaded cross-section plated with a selected high Seebeck material, increasing the resistance from 10 ^-6 ohm is reduced to 10 ^-7 ohm, for each connected element group, the Seebeck voltage is doubled, the heat flow is reduced, the temperature difference is increased, and thus the entire thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the generator is increased.

A greater advantage of the present invention is that the thermal resistance between the hot plate and the cold plate is increased, the heat required for driving current is reduced by 80%, and the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is increased from 4% to 12%.

Yet another advantage of the invention is that having the ring consist of thermoelectric elements made of a special type of commercially pure metal plated with a complementary high Seebeck voltage material increases the current by a factor of 10 because, The resistance of pure metals is reduced by a factor of 10 compared to junctions made from combinations of alloys of pure metals.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that it forms a metal planar thermoelectric junction similar to the silicon planar junction in semiconductor technology, improves the life of the thermoelectric junction, isolates the thermoelectric junction from the environment, and maintains a high plug of the thermoelectric junction during the lifetime of the device. Baker voltage characteristics.

These and other advantages, features and objects of the present invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric generator of the present invention showing the external features of the thermoelectric generator and a gaseous fuel tank;

2 is a perspective view showing a wheel ring, a thermoelectric element, and a vibration output switch of a thermoelectric generator;

Figure 3 is a top view showing the wheel ring, thermoelectric elements, and vibration output switches of the thermoelectric generator;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a prestressed insulating band used to restrain a thermoelectric generator;

Figure 5 is a partial top view showing the wheel ring, thermoelectric element, ring, and spring between the thermoelectric element and the band;

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an ohmic connection of a thermoelectric element using copper rods between hot and cold copper sheets;

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the complementary connection of thermoelectric elements using iron rods between hot and cold copper sheets;

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram, the upper figure shows a threaded rod-shaped low thermal conductivity element between the hot and cold fins, and the corresponding curves below represent the temperature gradient between a pair of hot and cold fins and between the fins The relationship between the positions of , indicating that the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is 10 times higher than that of the solid thermocouples made of different materials shown in Figure 9;

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram, the upper figure shows the solid different materials between the hot plate and the cold plate, and the corresponding curve below shows the relationship between the temperature gradient between a pair of hot plate and the cold plate and the position between the plates, It shows that the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is reduced by 10 times than the threaded rod-shaped low thermal conductivity element shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a threaded rod-shaped low thermal conductivity element fitted into the grooves of the hot and cold fins;

Figure 11 is a schematic diagram showing the length of the current path of a thermoelectric junction with slotted hot and cold fins, below is an electrical model of the thermoelectric junction;

Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the length of the current path of a thermoelectric junction having slotted hot and cold fins in series, below is an electrical model of the thermoelectric junction in series;

Figure 13A is a schematic longitudinal and cross-sectional view of a threaded rod used as a low thermal conductivity element;

13B is a schematic longitudinal and cross-sectional view of a partially flattened threaded rod for use as a low thermal conductivity element, said shortened circuit length across the partially flattened rod;

Figure 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a flattened low thermal conductivity element aligned in slotted hot and cold fins;

Figure 15 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a coated thermoelectric junction and catalytic coatings on hot and cold fins;

Figure 16 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a planar thermoelectric junction formed by brazing or plating;

Figure 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken through the centerline of the thermoelectric generator, showing a black box reheater that returns infrared heat from the exhaust port to the heat sheet;

Figure 18 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view taken through the centerline of a thermoelectric generator showing air cooling;

Figure 19 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view taken through the centerline of a thermoelectric generator showing water cooling;

Figure 20 is a schematic top view of water cooling piping for a thermoelectric generator;

Figure 21 is a schematic diagram of an electromechanical self-starting system for a thermoelectric generator using the vibrating switch shown in Figure 25, wherein a piezoelectric generator is used to ignite a combustion chamber in a gas-powered thermoelectric generator;

22 is a schematic diagram of a mechanism for starting a thermoelectric generator using the current interrupt vibrating switch shown in FIG. 25;

23 is a schematic diagram of an oscillating current interrupt switch for extracting electrical power from a thermoelectric generator in an open state;

Figure 24 is a schematic diagram of a vibrating current interrupt switch in a closed circuit state;

Fig. 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vibrating current breaking switch. Fig. A represents the closed state, wherein different metal armatures are sucked up by the electromagnetic coil, so that the thread of the armature is in contact with the threads of the hot and cold fins. Fig. B represents the open state, the armature It is in the middle and does not touch the hot plate and cold plate. Figure C shows the closed state. The armature is forced downward by the spring, so that the armature thread is in contact with the thread of the hot plate and the cold plate;

Fig. 26 is a schematic diagram of an oscillating current interrupt switch, wherein a capacitive oscillating circuit is utilized in order to improve the sinusoidal quality of the electrical output waveform;

Figure 27 is a schematic top view showing the use of vibrating current interrupt switches to achieve electrical output connections for thermoelectric generators;

Figure 28 is a schematic diagram of a thermocouple ring for a thermoelectric generator, showing the Hall effect device used to draw power from the ring without interrupting the current flow, with Figure A showing the superimposed magnetic field towards the paper, and Figure B showing away from the paper The superimposed magnetic field on the surface shows that when the current in the conductor advances rapidly to one side, the movement of electrons in the conductor generates a voltage across the conductor that is perpendicular to the magnetic field and the current;

Figure 29 is a schematic diagram of a thermocouple ring of a thermoelectric generator showing a Hall effect device generating a voltage interrupted by a MOSFET switch to generate an AC output current;

Figure 30 is a schematic diagram of a thermocouple ring of a thermoelectric generator showing the current flow and associated magnetic field in the ring;

Figure 31 is a schematic diagram of a low thermal conductivity element, which is also a Hall effect device in contact with hot and cold fins, and also illustrates the current, heat flow, superimposed magnetic field of the Hall effect device and voltage across the low thermal conductivity element ;

Figure 32 is a schematic diagram of a low thermal conductivity element - Hall effect device, showing the element sandwiched between the hot and cold fins and the electrical series connection to the electrical power output circuit;

Fig. 33 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram showing a low thermal conductivity element-Hall effect device sandwiched between a hot plate and a cold plate;

Figure 34A is a schematic longitudinal section showing a 6-pole electromagnet straddling two low thermal conductivity elements - Hall effect devices;

Figure 34B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the end of a 6-pole electromagnet across the cold plate;

Figure 35 is a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric generator, showing the heat source, the heat sink, and the current in the wheel ring working in the power generation mode in the case of heat supply to the system;

Figure 36 is a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric generator operating in cooling mode, used for thermoelectric cooling, absorbing heat into one part of the system and transferring it to another part of the system;

Figure 37 is a plan view of another embodiment of a low thermal conductivity element formed by adjoining two half element elements to form electrically conductive, low thermal conductivity longitudinal surfaces;

38A-C are plan views illustrating another embodiment of a thermoelectric junction constructed using another embodiment of the low thermal conductivity element shown in FIG. 27;

Figure 39 is a schematic diagram illustrating another technique for generating electrical power from the wheel ring shown in Figures 2-5; and

Figure 40 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the wheel ring shown in Figures 2-5 when used for thermoelectric cooling.

In FIGS. 1-3, a thermoelectric unit suitable for use as a thermoelectric generator 40 utilizes large circulating currents in a ring 60 of closely-packed thermocouples to produce a suitable electrical output. The thermocouples connected in series form the ring 60, each thermocouple 55 (shown in Figures 10 and 15) comprising hot 66 and cold 65 fins with a low thermal conductivity element 64 sandwiched therebetween. As shown in FIGS. 10 , 15 , and 16 , layers of conductive material 67T, 94Au, and 94Ag may be interposed between low thermal conductivity element 64 and sheets 65 and 66 . Thermoelectric generator 40 also includes circumferential means (band 61) for retaining thermocouples within ring 60 for heating heat fins 66 at heated ends 51 of heat fins 66 (FIGS. 6, 7, and 10). means (burner 77 among Fig. 17), means for cooling (water 82 or air 100 among Figs. A device that outputs electrical current (vibration switch 70 in FIGS. 3 and 23-27, Hall effect generator 140 in FIG. 29, or Colpitts oscillator 159 in FIG. 39). As shown in FIG. 35 , the heat flow from the heat source 150 to the heat sink 151 through the thermoelectric junction included in the ring 60 induces a current circulating through the ring 60 as indicated by letter I and arrows in FIG. 35 .

In Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, each heat plate 66 is made into an elongate element, has contact end 52 and heating end 51, and each cold plate 65 is made into an elongate element, has contact end 54 and Cooling end 53. Each sheet 65 and 66 is made of the same material, preferably commercially pure copper with high electrical conductivity. The hot and cold fins 66 and 65 are separated and contacted at the contact ends by at least one low thermal conductivity element 64 having surfaces made of dissimilar conductive metals of high complementary Seebeck voltage. If the low thermal conductivity element 64 is made of a material, it is preferably commercially pure nickel. Each low thermal conductivity element 64 may be plated with a layer 67 or 67A of an electrically conductive material, such as a layer 67 of commercially pure copper or a layer 67A of iron, for contact with the plates 65 , 66 .

In Figs. 8 and 10-16, the low thermal conductivity elements 64T and 64FT and the layer of conductive material 67 are constructed so as to have a small surface area in contact with the hot and cold fins 66, 65 to reduce heat transfer. The low thermal conductivity element 64T and the layer of conductive material 67T are threaded on the outer surfaces that contact the hot and cold fins 66,65. As shown in the graph of FIG. 8, compared with the unthreaded low thermal conductivity element 64 shown in FIG. The temperature difference increases by 10 times, so that the thermoelectric conversion efficiency increases.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 , the low thermal conductivity element 64FT and conductive material layer 67FT including threads are partially flattened and threaded so as to reduce the distance between the hot and cold fins 66G, 65G and pass through the ring 60. The travel length L of the circulating current. The low thermal conductivity elements 64T, 64FT and electrical conductors are threaded rods available in nickel and copper respectively, which are locally flattened into an oval shape to reduce electrical resistance by reducing the length the current travels while maintaining heat sink and The maximum temperature difference between the cold fins 66,65.

In FIGS. 10-12 and 14, to further reduce the length of L, each hot and cold fin 66G, 65G includes at least one slot 38 formed on each side of the contact ends 52 and 54 of each fin 65G, 66G. . Slot 38 receives low thermal conductivity element 64FT in contact with layer 67FT of conductive material, thereby reducing the length of run L of current flow, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 .

In Figures 15 and 16, each threaded low thermal conductivity element 64T and layer of conductive material 67T and each slot 38 of the hot and cold fins 66G, 65G is plated with a rare metal selected from the group consisting of silver and gold. Metal layers 94Au and/or 94Ag to increase the electrical conductivity at the junction between the low thermal conductivity element 64 and the slots 38 in the sheets 65,66.

The material system used to interconnect the thermoelectric elements making up the ring 60 is selected by considering whether a material having a very low resistivity that does not contribute the Seebeck voltage will significantly increase the current circulating through the ring 60, or by considering Whether the opposite type of material contributes enough complementary Seebeck voltage to compensate for the higher resistivity of this material is done. For example, a threaded copper low thermal conductivity element 64 sandwiched between hot and cold copper sheets 66 and 65 produces no Seebeck voltage, but the copper resistivity is 1.72 x 10 ^-6 ohm-cm, which is the same as This is very low when compared to a metal that produces a complementary Seebeck voltage such as nickel with a resistivity of 6.80 x 10 ^-6 ohm-cm. For the wheel ring 60 using a low thermal conductivity element 64 of threaded iron with a resistivity of 9.71 x 10 ^-6 ohm-cm and a voltage of 18.5 x 10 ^-6 microvolts/°C, in order to maximize the circulating current, the iron should be a reasonable choice. The difficulty, however, is that the best iron available (99.99% pure) produces only 3.0 x 10 ^-6 microvolts/°C instead of 18.5 x 10 ^-6 microvolts/°C. In view of this material limitation, the best material choice would be to use copper for the low thermal conductivity element 64 in order to maximize the current circulating through the ring 60 . Iron threaded low thermal conductivity elements 64 should be used to form the thermoelectric junctions in the ring 60 if the Seebeck voltages in the aforementioned handbooks are available at reasonable cost.

Figure 37 illustrates a particularly preferred embodiment of a low thermal conductivity element 64 disposed between immediately adjacent hot and cold fins 66,65. The low thermal conductivity element 64 is advantageously made in the shape of a cylindrical pin which fits into the groove 38 formed in the hot and cold fins 66 and 65 . These preferred low thermal conductivity elements 64 are formed by thermocompression or thermal fusion bonding of two copper half cylinders along the conductive, low thermal conductivity longitudinal surfaces. Before the two half cylinders are heat pressed or heat fused to each other, the surfaces to be superimposed are embossed to create threads that intersect each other when the two half cylinders are superimposed. A heat press or hot melt bond fuses the intersecting thread crests together, providing good electrical conductivity between the two half cylinders, while the recesses between the threads remain open as air holes 89 . After the two half cylinders are bonded together, the low thermal conductivity element 64 is placed between the adjacent hot and cold fins 66, 65 such that the longitudinal surface of the low thermal conductivity is bisected between the hot and cold fins. .

To establish a thermoelectric junction, each low thermal conductivity element 64 may be plated, for example, with a layer of material providing a complementary high Seebeck voltage. The plated material can be selected from the group consisting of bismuth, constantan, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nichrome, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper, zinc and silver, and bismuth and antimony are the preferred materials for providing p-type and n-type junctions respectively. The best n-type coating should be bismuth layer 67Bi, as shown in Figure 38A. The best P-type coating should be antimony layer 67sb, as shown in Figure 38A. As shown in FIG. 38A , layer 67Bi and layer 67Sb are different on opposite sides of hot fin 66 and on opposite sides of cold fin 65 . As shown in Figure 12, threaded and flattened threaded p-type and n-type low thermal conductivity elements 64 are also plated with a conductive layer 67 of the above material, preferably bismuth and antimony, which are arranged so that the low thermal conductivity The thermal conductivity element 64 has different layers 67 on opposite sides of the hot and cold fins 66 , 65 .

As shown in FIG. 38B, in addition to or instead of coating the low thermal conductivity element 64 with a complementary high Seebeck voltage material to form a thermoelectric junction , the slots 38 in the sheets 66, 65 can be coated with said material. The slot 38 on the first side of each sheet 65 or 66 is plated with a layer of material such as 88Bi that provides one type of thermoelectric junction, while the slot 38 on the opposite side of each sheet 65 or 66 is plated to provide the other. A layer of material for a thermoelectric junction such as 88Sb. The sheets 66 , 65 are then arranged such that the same material forms a layer coating the groove 38 receiving the same low thermal conductivity element 64 . If the low thermal conductivity element 64 is not plated with a high complementary Seebeck voltage material, it will still be necessary to match the material type of the slots 38 contacting the hot and cold fins 66, 65 of the same low thermal conductivity element 64. However, if the low thermal conductivity element 64 is plated with a high complementary Seebeck voltage material, the plating on element 64 and the overlying plating on sheet 65 or 66 should be the same material.

As shown in Fig. 38C, the high complementary Seebeck voltage material layer of the plated pads 66, 65 or low thermal conductivity element 64 may be further plated with a layer of copper material 87Cu. Overcoating with a layer 87Cu of a high complementary Seebeck voltage material layer 67Bi, 67Sb, 88Bi, and/or 88Sb helps to form a good electrical connection between each low thermal conductivity element 64 and the pads 66, 65 in contact with it .

In Figs. 3-5, a circumferential arrangement holds the plates 65, 66 of the wheel ring 60 and the low thermal conductivity element 64. Thus, the strap 61 surrounds the rim 60 so as to withstand the Lorentz force generated by the circulating current. Strap 61, preferably a metal band for strength, is fastened around ring 60 (current storage device) to maintain prestress at the electrical junction connections. Strap 61 comprising an insulating gap 63, preferably of a dielectric material such as ceramic, is provided in strap 61 by means of retaining ring 68 and spring washer 69 (FIG. 4) to maintain prestress in wheel ring 60. The insulating gap 63 decouples the band 61 from becoming a secondary winding for the wheel ring 60 . A dielectric and thermally insulating layer 62 is secured to the band 61 between the band 61 and the ring 60 to prevent the band 61 from electrically and thermally shorting the thermocouples. In FIG. 5, the loop also includes a plurality of coil springs 72 disposed between the collar 60 and the band 61 of the thermocouple. The compressed coil spring 72 maintains the strap 61 at the stress required to overcome the Lorentz force despite contraction and expansion of the strap 61 due to temperature changes.

After the ring 60 is fitted with the band 61, regardless of the shape of the low thermal conductivity element 64 disposed between a pair of hot and cold fins 66, 65, the entire assembly is thermocompressively bonded in a vacuum at 450°C 5 minutes. After thermocompression bonding, the entire rim 60 is plated with an electroless nickel material, such as high phosphorous treated ELNIC 100 from MacDermid, Waterbury, Connecticut.

In FIGS. 1 and 17, the means for heating the heat fin 66 at the heating end 51 of the heat fin 66 includes an air-cooled fuel combustion zone 79 below the heat fin 66 with a discharge over the fuel combustion zone. Opening 90 , each heating end 51 of each heat fin 66 is located within fuel combustion zone 79 . In the fuel combustion zone, any type of fuel may be burned, as in the catalytic burner 77 . As shown in Figure 15, each fin 66G may be plated with platinum or palladium 71 on its grooveless heating end 51 in contact with the combustion gases to act as a catalytic converter for the gases exiting the combustion zone. Coating the upper layer 71 on the heat sheet 66 can reduce pollution and prevent the heat sheet 66 from oxidizing. The electrical output current produced by the thermoelectric generator 40 can be controlled by controlling the amount of fuel applied to the fuel combustion zone.

The fuel combustion zone 79 is equipped with burners 56, shown in Figure 19 as a series of gas nozzles, to which fuel is supplied via conduit 57 comprising compressed air flow supplied by the external tank 50 (Figure 1). The gaseous fuel supplied to burner 56 is preferably methane, propane, or butane gas. The combustor 56 can also be supplied with vaporized liquid fuels such as kerosene, diesel, fuel oil, Jet-A, JP-A, JP-4, JP-6, JP-8 and gasoline. Additionally, the means for heating the thermal fin 66 at the heating end 51 may be a nuclear powered heat source.

In Fig. 17, a black box reheater 75 covers the fuel burning area 79 around the heat fin 66 for reflecting infrared heat generated by the fuel back to the heat fin 66, thereby increasing thermal efficiency. The black box reheater 75 includes a black lower surface 76 and a baffle 78 for preventing radiant heat from being discharged directly from the exhaust port 90 . In FIG. 1, the thermoelectric generator 40 also includes a support base 44 surrounding the wheel ring 60, a cover 43, and a grill 42 above the exhaust port for receiving a container for cooking use. A handle 41 on the exterior of the thermoelectric generator 40 enables the relatively light power generating device to be easily carried.

The means for cooling the cold fins 65 at the cooling end 53 of the cold fins 65 comprises cooling chambers 81 or 102 in FIGS. 17-19 . The cooling chamber 81 or 102 contains a fluid 82 or 100 for removing heat from the cooling end 53 of the cold fin 65 located in the fluid.

In Fig. 18, the fluid is air 100, and the cooling device includes an air inlet 104 leading into the cooling chamber, an air outlet 101 exiting from the cooling chamber, and a fan 103 communicating with the cooling chamber 102 for circulating the air 100 through the cooling chamber , thereby taking heat away from the cold plate 65. Air from the cooling chamber can be circulated through an external heating system 105 to which the air gives off heat and air is recirculated through the cooling chamber 102 by a fan 103 .

In Fig. 17 and Fig. 19, the cooling fluid is liquid, such as water 82, and the cooling chamber is an open groove 81, and the cooling end 53 of the cold plate 65 is immersed in the water 82, and the water evaporates and emits steam 80, thereby cooling the cold plate 65 cooling end 53.

In FIG. 20, the cooling fluid is a liquid, such as water 82, and the cooling chamber is a closed pipe 83 surrounding the cooling end 53 of the cold plate 65, and also includes a pump 85 communicating with the pipe 83. Pump 85 circulates liquid through conduit 83, which contacts cold fins 65, thereby removing heat therefrom. Hot water drained from line 83 can be circulated through an external radiator 86 , thereby heating another system and cooling the water, which is then recirculated through line 83 by a pump 85 .

In Figures 22-27, a device for drawing electrical output current from the wheel ring 60 is shown. The power output shown in these figures comprises a switch 70 with a longitudinally oscillating threaded armature 131 . The armature 131 is coupled to the electromagnetic coil 115 capable of moving the armature in one direction through a connecting rod. The spring 138 urges the armature 131 to move in a direction opposite to that of the solenoid 115 . A threaded hole 139 larger than the armature is formed between the hot and cold fins 66T, 65T, which are made of a similar conductive metal such as commercially pure copper. The hot and cold fins 66T, 65T are separated by threaded ceramic spacers 134 (FIG. 27). Threaded armature 131 moves longitudinally within threaded bore 139 . The armature 131 is preferably made of a metal that is thermoelectrically different from the material from which the hot and cold fins 66 or 65 are made. The armature 131 and the threaded holes formed in the hot and cold fins 66T, 65T have threads of the same pitch and together form an on-off switch for interrupting the circulating current circulating through the ring 60 .

The longitudinal movement of the various metal armatures 131 produces a Seebeck voltage due to the metal armature 131 and the hot blades being in contact with the material of the cold blades 66T, 65T when the switch is in the electrically closed position. Movement of the armature 131 to the upper electrically closed position shown in FIG. 25A is effected by the solenoid coil 115 and movement to the lower electrically closed position shown in FIG. 25C is effected by the spring 138 . When the armature 131 is between the two electrically closed positions, the switch 70 is in an open position out of contact with the thread, as shown in FIG. 25B, and the current circulating through the ring 60 is interrupted, thereby generating a current that can be used to drive an external electrical load. 95 output voltage.

An electrical output circuit 130 shown in FIGS. 23 , 24 and 26 is connected to the external electrical output terminal 39 of the thermoelectric generator 40 shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 23 shows a situation where the vibration switch 70 is turned on and a current I is generated in the output circuit 130. In FIG. 24 , the vibration switch 70 is closed so that no current flows into the output circuit 30 . Swapping between the open and closed positions provides alternating current to the load 95 . A capacitive resonant circuit 133 included in the output circuit 130 filters out spurious signals in the output AC, thereby improving the quality of the electrical output to be more sinusoidal.

The hot and cold switch blades 66T, 65T shown in FIG. 27 provide output terminals 135 for powering a domestic or industrial electrical load 95 . The alternating opening and closing of the electrical loop provided by the wheel ring 60 produces an AC voltage of 120/180V at 50/60 Hz. The armature 131 vibrates longitudinally at half the frequency of the output voltage induced by the decay of the magnetic field 143 shown in FIG. 30 caused by interruption of the circulating current.

In FIG. 22 , to power the solenoid coil 115 , a sine wave generator 116 receives power from the thermoelectric generator 40 after operation through the electrical contact 114 . To activate the thermoelectric generator 40 by mechanical means, a hand-operated one-way spring powered vibrating device 120 is mechanically connected to the solenoid coil 115 . By rotating on pivot 123 , vibrating device 120 is biased, generally by spring 122 , against dead point 124 . Depressing one end of the vibration device loaded with mass 121 will cause the tappet 125 at the opposite end to activate the solenoid 115 . The vibration device 120 is capable of exciting the electromagnetic coil 115 to vibrate for several cycles until the electrical output of the thermoelectric generator 40 can self-power the sine wave generator 116 to drive the electromagnetic coil 115 .

In FIG. 21 , another means for starting a thermoelectric generator comprises a finger operated piezoelectric generator 110 for supplying a flame ignition spark 118 to the combustion chamber by pushing a start button 111 . The piezoelectric generator 110 may also be used to store electrical energy 112 in a capacitor 117 connected via a voltage regulator 113 for supplying power to a sine wave generator 116 for actuating an electromagnetic coil 115 connected to the vibration switch 70 , as shown in Figure 22.

In FIGS. 28-34 , the means for drawing output current from the wheel ring 60 includes a Hall effect generator 140 . The Hall effect generator 140 includes an electromagnet 147 for providing a magnetic field 137 perpendicular to the current I in the wheel ring 60 . The electrical contacts 149 are connected in series to a plurality of thermoelectric Hall effect elements 146 disposed along a section of the wheel ring 60 between the hot and cold fins 66 , 65 . As shown in FIG. 31 , the heat flow indicated by the small arrow 144 flows from the hot fin 66 to the cold fin 65 through the thermoelectric Hall effect element 146 . Simultaneously, a high current, represented by large arrow 145 , circulates through wheel ring 60 . An external magnetic field 137 applied perpendicular to the current 145 induces a voltage across the pyroelectric Hall effect element. The electrical output circuit shown in FIG. 32 is connected to the thermoelectric Hall effect elements 146 connected in series so that the electrical energy for operating the electrical load 95 can be drawn from the thermoelectric generator 40 without interrupting the current I in the wheel ring 60 . A preferred form of thermoelectric element 146 is an ellipse made of nickel and copper, for the low thermal conductivity element and conductor respectively, onto which the different metals are plated in a threaded configuration.

FIG. 28 illustrates that a magnetic field 137 applied perpendicular to the current I in the ring 60 produces a voltage on the ring perpendicular to the current and the external magnetic field 137 . This transverse voltage is called the Hall voltage. This voltage is generated as a result of the applied magnetic field 137 causing the current 136 to squeeze sideways in the conductor. If the magnetic field 137 changes polarity (actually a sinusoidal wave), the Hall voltage will also be sinusoidal, resulting in an AC voltage. As shown in Figures 29, 32 and 34, the magnetic field 137 is generated by a series connected coil 148 in parallel with a series connected thermoelectric Hall effect element 146. The field effect device 141 is also connected in series with the coil 148 , which can interrupt the current passing through the coil 148 to generate the external magnetic field 137 . In this way, the externally applied magnetic field 137 may be alternately supplied to and then removed from the thermoelectric Hall effect element 146 by opening and closing the field effect device 141 . In this way, the electrical power drawn from the wheel ring 60 powers the external load 95 and provides the electrical energy generated by the Hall effect element 146 .

Three-phase power with three different outputs can be obtained by using three independent Hall Effect generators 140, each Hall Effect generator comprising a Hall Effect element 146, a coil 148 for generating an externally applied magnetic field 147 , and a field effect device 141 . Coordination of the externally applied magnetic fields of each Hall effect generator 140 required to generate three-phase power is accomplished by switching field effect devices 141 on and off in response to signals from the microprocessor-controller. By sensing the operation of the grid and matching the phase and output frequency generated by the generator 40 to the grid, three-phase power in phase with the grid can be generated.

FIG. 39 illustrates another technique for generating electrical power from the wheel ring 60 . In FIG. 39, a capacitor 160 is diametrically connected to the ring 60, thereby forming a parallel resonant circuit with the inductance of the ring 60, the Colpitts oscillator 159. An electrically operated short circuit switch 161 is connected in parallel with thermoelectric junctions located on one half of the wheel ring 60 . Alternate opening and closing of switch 161 excites Colpitts oscillator 159 to oscillate at its natural resonant frequency determined by 1/4 of the inductance of wheel ring 60 and the capacitance of capacitor 160 . Thus, an alternating voltage 162 indicated by the double arrow in FIG. 39 appears between the terminals 163 connected to the capacitor 160 and the wheel ring 60 . The AC voltage 162 can be used to drive the external load 95 . A rectifier diode 164 connected to a terminal 163 rectifies the AC voltage, while a capacitor 165 filters the rectified AC voltage to generate a DC voltage between terminals 166 which can also be used to drive an external load.

Applications for this new generator range from emergency domestic power, domestic motors and retrofit air conditioning equipment to rural electricity in third world countries. The generator 40 is all solid, has no moving parts to wear, operates noiselessly, and is constructed of stainless steel. The 5kw generator 40 weighs 12kg (27 lbs) including 1 hour fuel supply. At this time, the thermoelectric efficiency is 12%, which is much greater than that of a traditional thermoelectric generator, and half of the efficiency of a kerosene/diesel generator. This thermoelectric generator weighs 1/10 the weight of a steam generator, and due to size, weight, capacity, and cost, this generator has great utility for portable applications.

As shown in FIG. 36, if an electric current flows through the thermoelectric junctions constituting the ring 60, the Peltier effect will generate a temperature gradient. Heat is absorbed at the cold side 151A and rejected at the hot side 150A, thus producing quiet cooling capacity. Thermoelectric coolers are also very stable and thus can be used for temperature stabilization of laser diodes or electronic components such as charge-coupled devices, infrared detectors, low-noise amplifiers, and computer chips. In view of the environmental impact of standard chlorofluorocarbons and greenhouse refrigerant gases and the need for small volume localized cooling of computers and electronics, the field of thermoelectrics requires higher performance room temperature materials than currently exist. Furthermore, as a field of cryogenic electronics (utilizing high transition temperature superconducting materials), there is an increasing need for lower temperature (100-200K) and higher performance thermoelectric devices.

The thermoelectric concept can also be considered for use in the automotive industry for the next generation of vehicles, not only for transport but also for climate control. Other possible automotive applications range from using waste heat from generators to power seat coolers for comfort or cooling of electronic components. The most common current application for these materials is small thermoelectric heaters, selling for $80-100 at many retail outlets. The device cools down to below about 25°C and heats up to ambient temperatures above about 55°C at the flick of a switch. It can also be incorporated into car lights or operated from a small DC power source, useful when away from AC outlets or to provide ice. A larger form of this cooler may be important, for example, in biological applications for temperature stabilization of specimens, and simply for keeping cold beverages at temperature. The high-performance thermoelectric unit 40 was originally developed for a 5000W generator, and although not intended to be used as a cooler, it is still capable of providing thermoelectric cooling because the same advanced material system used in the 5000W generator design makes it also Can be used as a solid state cooler.

Figure 40 illustrates a method for operating a thermoelectric unit 40 for refrigeration. In FIG. 40 , a magnetic coil 170 surrounds the wheel ring 60 . A winding 171 on a magnetic coil 170 and an electronic switch 172 are connected in series, and a capacitor 173 and a resistor 174 are connected in series. The drive signal provided to the electronic switch 172 alternately turns on and off the series circuit, applying a voltage V across the series connected resistor 174 , capacitor 173 and winding 171 . The voltage applied across this series connected circuit periodically and repeatedly injects into the ring 60 a current 175 indicated by the small arrow in Figure 40, superimposed on a much larger circulating current 176 (eg 10000 amperes). Current injected into the wheel ring in this manner generates heat that is transferred from the cold fins 65 to the hot fins 66, thereby causing the wheel ring 60 to operate as a thermoelectric cooler.

Other applications of the thermoelectric unit 40 include power generators and storage capabilities in applications such as: charging and use as an AC power source for electric vehicles, as a peak clipper for industrial applications, as a power protection system for the residential sector, and in It is used as a 600Mwh day and night power grid leveler for the power industry.

While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it should be understood that such descriptions are illustrative only and not limiting of the invention. For example, while the invention has been described in terms of a ring configuration of a thermoelectric junction, it should be understood that the ring form of the invention is optimal for symmetry of force, ease of manufacture and assembly. That is, all or substantially all of the elements sequentially arranged in groups to form a thermoelectric power generation and/or refrigeration unit are of the same shape, thereby simplifying its manufacture and assembly into an operable unit. However, the thermoelectric group of the present invention can be designed in other shapes different from the ring 60, for example, an elliptical closed loop formed by thermoelectric elements, a rectangular closed loop and a hexagonal closed loop, etc. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to include all geometries of groups of thermoelectric elements which form a closed loop through which electric current circulates. Therefore, without departing from the scope and concept of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various changes, modifications and/or alternative applications of the present invention after reading this description. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to cover all such changes, modifications and alternative applications as fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (39)

1 one kinds of thermoelectric units that are applicable to or generate electricity or freeze, the big circulating current of described thermoelectric unit utilization in the closed circuit of the thermocouple of close-stacked, described thermoelectric unit comprises:

Be set up and form a series of thermocouples of closed circuit, each thermocouple comprises backing and cold, and be clipped in conduction between the backing of every pair of direct neighbor and cold, the low heat conductivity element, each backing is made with the elongated shape of contact jaw and fire end, each cold elongated shape that is made with contact jaw and colling end; Each backing and cold are made by the high conductivity material, separately also contacted by at least one low heat conductivity element at contact jaw with the low heat conductivity element, the material that is formed on the connection between sheet and the low heat conductivity element provides complementary high Seebeck voltage for thermocouple, so as to the heating end of heating backing and cold of cooling be subjected to cold junction the time, electric current is by closed thermocouple looped cycle; And

Be used for keeping thermocouple to make it be set at the circumference device of closed circuit.

2 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 1, wherein the low heat conductivity element is so constituted, and make it have and contact with the little surface area of backing with cold, thus minimizing heat transmission therebetween.

3 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 2, wherein the low heat conductivity element has the threaded outer surface that contacts with cold with backing.

4 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 3, wherein the low heat conductivity element is flattened partly, so as to reducing the distance of electric current by closed circuit between adjacent backing and cold.

5 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 3, wherein each backing and cold are formed with at least one groove on the opposite side of each sheet, are used to receive a low heat conductivity element, so as to reducing the distance of advancing by the electric current of closed circuit.

6 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 5, wherein the low heat conductivity element be coated with different metals at the groove of backing in cold, as sheet with connection between the low heat conductivity element of complementary high Seebeck voltage is provided for thermocouple.

7 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 6, wherein different metals are from comprising bismuth, constantan, and nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nichrome, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper is selected in the group of zinc and silver.

8 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

Backing and cold first side and second side at each sheet are formed with at least one groove, and each groove receives a low heat conductivity element, so as to reducing the distance of advancing by the electric current of closed circuit; And

The low heat conductivity element is by constituting along two halves conduction, that vertical surface of low heat conductivity adjoins each other, the orientation of low heat conductivity element is provided with like this, make the low heat conductivity surface between the backing of contact low heat conductivity element and cold, so as to reducing the heat conduction between backing and cold.

9 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 8, wherein each low heat conductivity element is coated with layer of material, as sheet with connection between the low heat conductivity element of complementary high Seebeck voltage is provided for thermocouple, described material is from comprising bismuth, constantan, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nichrome, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper is selected in the group of zinc and silver.

10 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 9, the coating that wherein is plated on each low heat conductivity element is plated one deck conductive layer again.

11 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 8, wherein the groove on first side of each sheet is coated with layer of material, as sheet with connection between the low heat conductivity element of complementary high Seebeck voltage is provided for thermocouple, described material is from comprising bismuth, constantan, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nichrome, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper is selected in the group of zinc and silver; And

Wherein the groove on second side of each sheet is coated with layer of material, as sheet with connection between the low heat conductivity element of complementary high Seebeck voltage is provided for thermocouple, described material is also from comprising bismuth, constantan, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nichrome, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper, select in the group of zinc and silver, and form the opposite Seebeck voltage of material of coating on the material that forms coating on second side of each sheet has with respect to first side at each sheet, these sheets are so arranged, and make identical materials form the coating in the groove that receives identical low heat conductivity element.

12 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 11, wherein the coating in the groove on each sheet is coated with one deck conductive layer again.

13 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 1, the circumference device that wherein is used for keeping thermocouple to be set at closed circuit comprises a strap, it surrounds the closed circuit of thermocouple, be used for bearing the Lorentz force that produces at closed circuit, strap is fixed around closed circuit, be used for the low heat conductivity element of backing and cold and thermoelectric unit is applied prestressing force, and strap comprises a clearance for insulation, is used to make the band decoupling zero of the electric current coupling that circulates as secondary winding and the closed circuit by thermocouple.

14 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 13, also comprise the closed circuit that is fixed on thermocouple and a plurality of coil springs between the strap, described coil spring is in compressive state usually, so that make strap be kept for overcoming the required stress of Lorentz force, and no matter shrink and expansion owing to variations in temperature makes closed circuit.

15 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 1 also comprise: the sheet heater that is used for the heating end of backing is provided heat;

Be used for removing the sheet cooling device of heat from the cold cold junction that is subjected to; And

Power output device is used for drawing electric output current from closed circuit, so that make thermoelectric unit become thermoelectric generator.

16 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 15, wherein the heating end of backing is coated with the material of selecting from the group that comprises platinum and palladium, thereby for the gas of discharging from the sheet heater provides the catalytic conversion agent, so as to reducing the oxidation of pollution and backing.

17 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sheet heater comprises the air-cooled fuel combustion zone that is positioned at the backing below, has exhaust outlet above fuel combustion zone, the heating end of backing is arranged in fuel combustion zone.

18 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 17, wherein fuel combustion zone also comprises a series of gas nozzle, it receives the fuel that is made of the compressed air stream that is admitted to gas nozzle.

19 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 18, wherein Compressed Gas is selected in the group of propane and butane from comprising methane.

20 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 17 also are included in the grid of top above exhaust outlet of thermoelectric unit, are used to receive cooking-vessel.

21 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 17 also are included in the inherent backing of fuel combustion zone black casing reheater on every side, are used for the infrared heat reflected back backing that fuel is produced.

22 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 17, wherein fuel combustion zone also comprises burner, is used for receiving from comprising kerosene, diesel fuel, fuel oil, Jet-A, JP-4, JP-6, the liquid fuel of the gasification of selecting in the group of JP-8 and gasoline.

23 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sheet heater comprises the nuclear power thermal source.

24 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sheet cooling device comprises the cooling chamber that is set in the thermoelectric unit, the cold cold junction that is subjected to is positioned at cooling chamber, and cooling chamber is applicable to the maintenance fluid, is used for taking away heat from the cold cold junction that is subjected to that is positioned at cooling chamber.

25 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 24, wherein said fluid is an air, and comprises air intake that leads to cooling chamber and the air outlet slit of going out from cooling chamber, and and the fan that is communicated with of cooling chamber, be used to make air to circulate, so that take away heat from cold by cooling chamber.

26 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 25, wherein the air from cooling chamber passes through the external heat systemic circulation, and air is emitted heat to heating system, is blown back by cooling chamber by fan then and circulates.

27 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 24, wherein said fluid is a liquid, and cooling chamber is the groove that opens wide, and the cold cold junction that is subjected to is immersed in the liquid.

28 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 24, wherein fluid is a liquid, and cooling chamber is the pipeline that surrounds the cold sealing that is subjected to cold junction, and thermoelectric unit also comprises with the pipeline connection, is used for the pump by the pipeline pumping liquid, liquid contacts with cold, and therefrom takes away heat.

29 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 28, wherein the fluid from closed conduct circulates by the external heat sink that is used for cooling fluid, then, carries out recirculation by pipeline.

30 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 15 wherein are used for comprising from the power output device of the electric output current of closed circuit absorption:

Switch, it comprises threaded armature conduction, that longitudinally vibrate, is used to drive the solenoid of armature along a direction lengthwise movement, and is used to promote the armature spring of lengthwise movement in opposite direction;

Than the bigger threaded hole of armature, it is formed on by threaded ceramic spacer and keeps between separately a pair of, in bigger threaded hole, armature can lengthwise movement, armature has the identical screw thread of pitch with the hole, their common on-off switches that forms, be used to respond the lengthwise movement open and close current loop of armature, armature moves to another the electric make position that is realized by spring from an electric make position that is realized by solenoid, and when armature is between these two electric make positions, electric current in the closed circuit is interrupted, thereby produces the electricity output that drives the external electric load through electric output circuit.

31 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 30, wherein electric output circuit comprises capacitor resonant circuit.

32 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 30, also comprise sine-wave generator, it links to each other with solenoid, and after thereby thermoelectric unit is started working the load of driving external electric, reception is from the electrical power of thermoelectric unit, and a manual exciting bank, and it mechanically is connected with threaded armature and solenoid, be used to start the vibration of threaded armature and solenoid, till the output of the electricity of thermoelectric unit can the operation power for sine-wave generator.

33 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 30 also comprise:

Sine-wave generator, it links to each other with solenoid, thereby and start working after solenoid power supply at thermoelectric unit, receive electrical power from thermoelectric unit; And

The piezo-electric device of finger manipulation is used for storage of electrical energy, so that power to sine-wave generator.

34 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 30, the material that wherein forms the connection between threaded armature and the threaded hole provides complementary high Seebeck voltage.

35 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 15, the power output device that wherein is used for drawing from closed circuit electric output current comprises hall-effect switch, it comprises the device that is used for applying perpendicular to the magnetic field of the electric current of closed circuit, be connected the electric contact on the part of closed circuit, and the electric output circuit that links to each other with described contact, make the electric energy be used for operating the external electric load under the situation of the electric current that does not interrupt closed circuit, to be removed.

36 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 35 comprise three hall-effect switches with three different outputs that link to each other with closed circuit, and apply vertical magnetic field suitably, so that produce three phase electric power.

37 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 15, the power output device that wherein is used for drawing from closed circuit electric output current comprises:

With the electronic switch of one group of thermocouple parallel connection of closed circuit, it can be closed, thereby makes described one group of thermocouple electric short circuit;

With the capacitor of one group of thermocouple parallel connection of closed circuit, form antiresonant circuit so as to inductance with closed circuit; And

The electronic switch drive unit is used to make alternately open and close of electronic switch, so as to respond to alternating voltage on capacitor, is used to drive the external electric load.

38 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 37 also comprise the rectifier that is used for the alternating voltage on the capacitor is converted to direct voltage.

39 thermoelectric units as claimed in claim 1 also comprise:

Be used for removing the sheet cooling device of heat from the heating end of backing;

Be used for the sheet heater that is subjected to cold junction supply heat to cold; And

Be used for providing electric input current, become the supply unit of thermoelectric refrigerating unit so as to making thermoelectric unit to closed circuit.

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