JP2004039966A - Thermoelectric element snow melting system and thermoelectric element power generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a snow melting and power generation system which are intended to reduce a process cost while taking into consideration a natural environmental protection without pumping up groundwater. <P>SOLUTION: A snow melting process on a road surface 10, a roof or the like is performed by using a thermoelectric element of a p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 21 and an n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 22. When a current I is supplied to a circuit in which a plurality of the thermoelectric elements are connected in series and in succession by vertical and alternate metal electrodes 23, 24, terrestrial heat absorbed by the metal electrode 24 on the ground is released from the metal electrode 23 on the road surface to a side of a fallen snow area 14 by the Peltier effect. Thus, the fallen snow area 14 is melted. Further, in some cases, a road surface temperature may be 70°C or over in the daytime of the summer season, or the like, and a thermoelectromotive force E depending on a temperature difference between the road surface and the ground can be obtained from each thermoelectric element. The current I due to this thermoelectromotive force E flows in each thermoelectric element, whereby a heat transfer occurs from the metal electrode 23 on the road surface to the metal electrode 24 on the ground, thereby reducing a road surface temperature. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a snow melting system and a power generation system using a thermoelectric element, in particular, utilizing heat absorption / dissipation action based on the Peltier effect of the thermoelectric element and thermoelectromotive force based on the Seebeck effect, without relying on groundwater, The present invention relates to melting snow on a ground (road surface) and a roof by heat in a building, and generating electricity based on a temperature difference between the ground (road surface) and the ground in summer, for example. In this specification, the term “snow melting” is used to mean “ice” or “snow”.
[0002]
Snowmelt processing on the ground and roof in cold regions in winter can be performed efficiently at low cost without the need to pump up groundwater that causes land subsidence, and by using the snowmelt treatment system at this time, It is desirable to be able to generate power based on the temperature difference between underground / indoors and outside air, and the present invention meets such a demand.
[0003]
[Prior art]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a conventional snow melting power generation device (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-170112). Reference numeral 51 denotes a plurality of thermoelectric elements that generate a thermoelectromotive force (Seebeck effect) based on a temperature difference between both ends. Is an aluminum plate connected to the upper end of each thermoelectric element and also serves as a snow mounting surface; 53 is an aluminum plate connected to the lower end of each thermoelectric element; 54 is an end of upper and lower aluminum plates 52 and 53 , 55 is a pipe for flowing groundwater to the lower surface side of the lower aluminum plate 53, 56 is a well for supplying groundwater, and 57 is a pump for pumping the groundwater in the well 56 and sending it to the pipe 55. Each is shown.
[0004]
This snow melting power generation device performs snow melting and power generation using thermal energy of groundwater maintained at about 14 ° C. even in winter.
[0005]
That is, by pumping the groundwater in the well 56 with the pump 57 and sending it to the pipe 55,
・ The thermal energy of the groundwater is transmitted to the upper aluminum plate 52 to melt the snow on it,
A thermoelectromotive force (Seebeck effect) of each thermoelectric element 51 is generated based on the temperature difference between the lower aluminum plate 53 that directly receives the thermal energy of the groundwater and the upper aluminum plate 52 that is also a snow mounting surface. ing.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the case of the conventional snow melting and power generation method using underground heat, groundwater for snow melting is actively pumped up by a pump or the like and then flows near the ground, so equipment for supplying groundwater has been newly added. However, there is a problem that the cost of snow melting and power generation becomes high.
[0007]
In addition, there is a problem that land subsidence is likely to occur due to active pumping of groundwater, which is not desirable from the viewpoint of protecting the natural environment.
[0008]
Therefore, in the present invention, a plurality of thermoelectric elements are installed near the ground or a roof surface, and the geothermal or indoor heat originally latent in the ground or indoors is converted to one side of the thermoelectric elements (the underground side or the underground side). Absorbed from the indoor side) and released to the other side (ground side or roof surface side), and furthermore, power generation is performed using the temperature difference between the ground and the ground or between the indoor and outdoor areas. It is an object of the present invention to provide a snow melting and power generation system that reduces processing costs while considering protection of the natural environment.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention solves this problem as follows.
(1) In a snow-melting system that performs snow-melting processing on a snow-covered area such as the ground or a roof by using a thermoelectric element, a plurality of thermoelectric elements that absorb geothermal heat or heat in a building and release the heat to the snow-covered area side by an energizing operation. Is provided in a portion corresponding to the snow-covered area.
(2) In the above (1), as the area heating means, a first thermoelectric element and a second thermoelectric element which are connected in series with metal electrodes alternately arranged vertically in order are used. The snow melting area is subjected to a snow melting process by heat release.
(3) In a power generation system that uses a thermoelectric element to generate electric power based on a temperature difference between an external area such as the ground or a roof and an internal area such as underground or inside a building, a power generation unit including a plurality of thermoelectric elements is provided. It is installed at the boundary between the area and the external area.
(4) In the above (3), as the power generation means, a first thermoelectric element and a second thermoelectric element which are connected in series with metal electrodes alternately arranged in an upper and lower order are used, and the upper metal electrode is connected to the outer region. And the lower metal electrode is disposed on the side of the internal region.
[0010]
According to the present invention, as described in (1) and (2) above, underground or indoor thermal energy in winter is absorbed by a plurality of energized thermoelectric elements so as to be released to the surface portion such as the ground or a roof. Thus, the snowmelt processing utilizing the heat pump function of the thermoelectric element is executed without pumping the groundwater.
[0011]
Further, as described in (3) and (4) above, the temperature difference between the ground and the road surface of the road and the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the building are extracted as so-called thermoelectromotive forces of a plurality of thermoelectric elements, thereby obtaining the temperature difference in the natural world. Power generation processing is actively performed using
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0013]
The object of the present invention is various outdoors such as roads, parks, plazas, and grounds, and roofs, rooftops, walls, and the like of buildings. In the following description, the case of paved roads and roofs will be described for convenience of explanation.
[0014]
here,
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a snow melting / power generation system on a road surface of a pavement road, where (a) shows a case of snow melting and (b) shows a case of power generation.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a snow melting / power generation system on a roof portion of a building.
[0015]
1 and 2,
10 is a road surface, 11 is a surface layer, 12 is a base layer, 13 is a roadbed layer, 14 is a snow-covered portion,
Reference numeral 20 denotes a heating / power generation means provided on the base layer 12 (or surface layer 11), 21 denotes a p-type thermoelectric semiconductor (thermoelectric element) constituting the heating / power generation means, 22 denotes an n-type thermoelectric semiconductor (thermoelectric element), and 23 denotes An upper (road surface) metal electrode, 24 is a lower (underground) metal electrode, 25 is a controller for controlling the magnitude of the current I supplied to each thermoelectric semiconductor, and 26 is the thermoelectromotive force of each thermoelectric semiconductor An output terminal for extracting E, 27 is the sun,
30 is a building, 31 is a roof portion, 32 is an indoor space, 33 is a snow portion,
40 is a heating / power generation means installed on the roof portion 31,
Are respectively shown. In FIG. 2, the illustration of a controller for the heating / power generation means 40 is omitted.
[0016]
The heating / power generation means 20 is obtained by connecting a p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 21 and an n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 22 in series by alternately upper and lower metal electrodes 23, 24, and the heating / power generation means 40 of FIG. Has taken.
[0017]
The basic unit of this connection structure is a Π (or inverted Π) junction circuit,
.One upper metal electrode 23
A p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 21 and an n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 22 which are connected to the metal electrode 23 so to speak
The lower first metal electrode 24 connected to the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 21
The lower second metal electrode 24 connected to the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 22
Consists of
[0018]
As the thermoelectric semiconductor, for example, a bismuth-tellurium (n-type) or bismuth-antimony-tellurium (p-type) powder sintered body is used. The bending strength of this material is 800 to 1400 kgf / cm ² . A β · FeSi ₂ material may be used.
[0019]
Since the bending strength is large as described above, the thickness of the thermoelectric element can be reduced to about 2 cm.
[0020]
The resistivity and thermal conductivity of the metal electrodes 23 and 24 are much smaller than those of the thermoelectric semiconductor, and their joints (element junctions) serve as terminal electrodes of the metal electrodes 23 and 24 and the thermoelectric semiconductors 21 and 22.
[0021]
When the heating / power generation means 20 and 40 are used for the snow melting process, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2, the DC current I is applied to the series circuit of the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 21 and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 22. Shed.
[0022]
The magnitude of the current I, on / off timing, and the like are controlled by the controller 25. For example, the outside air temperature is detected, and the controller 25 sets a current of a magnitude corresponding thereto.
[0023]
Here, basically, the energy required to melt the snow in one hour is basically supplied, and if the energy is insufficient, an additional current is supplied. For example, the initial current is 0.01 A, and the additional current is increased to 1 A.
[0024]
When this DC current flows, the underground joint (metal electrode 24) of each thermoelectric semiconductor and the joint of the indoor space side absorb heat of the geothermal heat and indoor heat, and the other road surface joint (metal electrode 23). ) And the roof-side joint generates a heat-generating action of the heat absorption.
[0025]
The road surface 10 and the roof portion 31 are heated by the heat pump action based on the Peltier effect, and the snow on the road surface melts.
[0026]
In the case of the road surface power generation processing by the heating / power generation means 20, as shown in FIG. 1B, the direct current I ′ based on the temperature difference between the road surface side junction and the underground side junction of each thermoelectric element is contacted. It flows to the junction circuit of the element.
[0027]
For example, in summer, the ground surface (road surface) temperature in the daytime reaches 70 ° C. or higher, and a thermoelectromotive force E based on a temperature difference between the ground surface and the ground is taken out from the output terminal 26 of the heating / power generation means 20.
[0028]
Then, a DC current based on the thermoelectromotive force E flows through each thermoelectric element, so that a heat absorbing action occurs at a high-temperature junction and a heating action occurs at a low-temperature junction, as in the above-described snow melting process. .
[0029]
The heat absorbing / heating action in the summer is a function of absorbing solar thermal energy on the ground surface by the upper metal electrode 23 and releasing it from the lower metal electrode 24 into the ground.
[0030]
As a result, the degree of the heat island phenomenon, which is a serious problem particularly in urban areas, can be suppressed, and the temperature can be reduced.
[0031]
When the surface layer (asphalt pavement) of the road is 5 cm, and the surface power generation system with a thickness of 5, 10, 15, 20 cm is installed on the base layer under the road, the maximum value of the ground surface temperature is determined by this power generation system. 0.8 ℃ to 3.7 ℃ lower than when not installed.
[0032]
In the heating / power generation means 40 of FIG. 2, similarly to the case of FIG. 1, the thermoelectromotive force E based on the temperature difference between the roof portion 31 of the building 30 and the indoor space 32 is output from an output terminal of the power generation means (shown in FIG. (Omitted).
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, underground or indoor thermal energy in winter is soaked by a plurality of energized thermoelectric elements, so to speak, and then released to the surface portion such as the ground or a roof. The snowmelt treatment utilizing the water can be performed without pumping groundwater.
[0034]
In addition, since the temperature difference between the ground and the road surface of the road and the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the building are taken out as so-called thermoelectromotive forces of a plurality of thermoelectric elements, the power generation process that actively utilizes the temperature difference in the natural world is executed. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a snow melting and power generation system on a pavement road according to the present invention, wherein (a) shows a case of snow melting and (b) shows a case of power generation.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a snow melting system in a roof part of a building according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional snow melting power generation device (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-170112).
[Explanation of symbols]
10: Road surface 11: Surface layer 12: Base layer 13: Roadbed layer 14: Snow cover portion 20: Heating / power generation means 21: P-type thermoelectric semiconductor (thermoelectric element)
22: n-type thermoelectric semiconductor (thermoelectric element)
23: Upper (road surface) metal electrode 24: Lower (underground) metal electrode 25: Controller of current I 26: Output terminal 27 for extracting thermoelectromotive force E of each thermoelectric semiconductor 27: Sun,
30: Building 31: Roof 32: Indoor space 33: Snow cover 40: Heating / power generation means 51: Thermoelectric elements 52, 53: Aluminum plate 54: Reinforcement 55 provided at the end of the aluminum plate 55: For flowing groundwater Pipe 56: Well for supplying groundwater 57: Pump for pumping groundwater and sending it to the pipe

Claims (4)

In a snow melting system that performs a snow melting process on a snow covered area such as the ground or a roof using thermoelectric elements,
By the energization operation, to absorb the geothermal heat or heat in the building and emit it to the snow area side, an area heating means consisting of a plurality of thermoelectric elements was installed in a portion corresponding to the snow area,
A thermoelectric element snow melting system, characterized in that: As the area heating means, a first thermoelectric element and a second thermoelectric element which are connected in series with metal electrodes alternately up and down sequentially are used,
Performing a snow melting process on the snow area by heat release from each of the upper metal electrodes;
The thermoelectric element snow melting system according to claim 1, wherein: In a power generation system that uses a thermoelectric element to generate power based on a temperature difference between an outer area such as the ground or a roof and an inner area such as the ground or inside a building,
Power generation means consisting of a plurality of thermoelectric elements, installed at the boundary between the internal area and the external area,
A thermoelectric element power generation system, characterized in that: As the power generating means, a first thermoelectric element and a second thermoelectric element which are connected in series by sequentially upper and lower metal electrodes are used,
The upper metal electrode was disposed on the side of the outer region, and the lower metal electrode was disposed on the side of the inner region.
The thermoelectric element power generation system according to claim 3, wherein:

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