JP2015171308A - temperature difference power generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a temperature difference power generator which is not subject to limitation on a service space and has high power generation capacity.SOLUTION: A temperature difference power generator includes: a heating surface plate 3 which contacts with a heating element 2; a thermoelectric element 5 which contacts with the heating surface plate 3 with a heating surface 5a; a heat transmission housing 11 having a cooling surface plate 12 which contacts with a cooling surface 5b of the thermoelectric element 5 and formed into a cup shape in which the cooling surface plate 12 forms a bottom part; a first heat sink 4 which dissipates heat of the heat transmission housing 11 into the atmosphere; a second heat sink 14 which conducts heat exchange with air in the heat transmission housing 11; and an air cooling part 24 which sends air to the second heat sink 14.

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature difference power generation device that generates power using a thermoelectric element.

Conventional temperature difference power generators that use thermoelectric elements to generate electricity are large ones that require connection of liquid piping or where installation locations are limited, or ultra-compact that generates only the power necessary to drive sensors The ones are common. As a large-sized temperature difference power generation device, there is one described in Patent Document 1, for example, and as an ultra-small temperature difference power generation device, there is one described in Patent Document 2, for example.
The temperature difference power generation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured by providing a thermoelectric element at the bottom of a pan. The temperature difference power generation device disclosed in Patent Document 2 generates power using the body temperature of a human body and drives a cochlear implant.

JP 2013-42862 A JP 2006-204646 A

Since the temperature difference power generation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses fire as a heat source, there is a problem that the place of use is restricted. With this temperature difference power generation device, for example, it is not possible to generate power by attaching it to a part that becomes hot in a factory.
Since the temperature difference power generation device disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a low power generation capability, for example, it is not possible to light a lamp or drive a motor.

  In this type of temperature difference power generation device, in order to increase the power generation capacity, it is possible to realize a configuration in which a high-temperature fluid is supplied to the heating part of the thermoelectric element and a low-temperature fluid is supplied to the cooling part. It is. However, the temperature difference power generation apparatus having such a configuration is restricted in the place of use because piping is required or the area occupied by the temperature difference power generation apparatus increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a temperature difference power generation device that is not restricted by the place of use and that has a high power generation capability.

  In order to achieve this object, a temperature difference power generation device according to the present invention includes a heat receiving portion that contacts a heating element, a thermoelectric element that is attached in a state where a heating surface is in contact with the heat receiving portion, and cooling of the thermoelectric element. A heat transfer case formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having the cooling part as a bottom, and an opening of the case, and the heat of the case is A first heat sink that dissipates the heat, a second heat sink that is provided in the cooling unit and exchanges heat with the air in the housing, and an air cooling unit that sends air to the second heat sink. is there.

  According to the present invention, in the invention described above, the air cooling unit performs heat exchange with the fan that sends the air in the housing to the second heat sink and the air in the housing, and the heat of the air is transferred to the first heat sink. And a heat exchanging member that transmits the heat.

  The present invention is the above invention, wherein the space formed between the heat receiving portion and the cooling portion and accommodating the thermoelectric element and the air formed in the cooling portion and sent by the fan is guided to the space. It further includes an air inlet and an air outlet formed in the cooling unit and communicating between the space and the inside of the housing.

  The present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the motor for driving the fan uses the thermoelectric element as a power source.

  According to the present invention, in the above invention, the air cooling unit is provided in the casing, and a partition wall that forms a ventilation space between the cooling unit and the cooling unit is provided in the casing. A plurality of air inlets communicating with each other, one end portion opening in a position facing the second heat sink in the ventilation space, and the other end penetrating the first heat sink to the atmosphere And an exhaust cylinder opening inside.

  According to the present invention, in the above invention, the air cooling unit is provided in the casing, and a partition wall that forms a ventilation space between the cooling unit and the cooling unit is provided in the casing. A plurality of air inlets communicating with each other, and a bottomed opening in which one end is opened at a position facing the second heat sink in the ventilation space, and the other end is inserted into the heat sink A cylindrical air guide member, provided in the air guide member, a fan for sending air in the ventilation space to the other end portion of the air guide member, and provided at the other end portion of the air guide member, And a plurality of communication holes communicating between the inside and outside of the air guide member.

  The present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the motor for driving the fan uses the thermoelectric element as a power source.

  The present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, a secondary battery for storing electricity generated by the thermoelectric element is accommodated in the casing.

  In the present invention, the present invention further includes a box member attached to the outside of the casing, and a secondary battery that stores electricity generated by the thermoelectric element is accommodated in the box member. It is characterized by.

In the temperature difference power generation device according to the present invention, the cooling surface of the thermoelectric element is cooled by the first cooling unit having the housing and the first heat sink, and the second cooling unit having the second heat sink and the air cooling unit. Is done. For this reason, since a thermoelectric element can be cooled efficiently, high power generation capability is obtained.
Further, the temperature difference power generation device according to the present invention can be formed in a small size in spite of having two cooling portions because the second cooling portion described above is provided in the housing. it can. In addition, since this temperature difference power generation device generates power by bringing the heat receiving portion into contact with a high-temperature component, there is no restriction on the place of use.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a temperature difference power generation device that is small in size and not restricted by the place of use, and has high power generation capability.

It is a perspective view of the temperature difference power generation device by a 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the temperature difference electric power generating apparatus by 1st Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the temperature difference power generator by 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the temperature difference power generator by 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the temperature difference power generator by 2nd Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the temperature difference power generator by 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the temperature difference power generation device by a 3rd embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the temperature difference power generator by 3rd Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the temperature difference power generation device by 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of 3rd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a temperature difference power generator according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The temperature difference power generator according to this embodiment constitutes the temperature difference power generator described in claims 1 to 4 and claims 7 and 8.
A temperature difference power generation device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a heating surface plate 3 that is superimposed on a heating element 2 (see FIG. 2). The heating surface plate 3 is heated and is opposite to the heating surface plate 3. Electricity is generated when heat is dissipated into the atmosphere from the first heat sink 4 located in the area. The temperature difference power generator 1 generates electric power that can turn on a lamp (not shown) or drive a motor (not shown), for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the heating surface plate 3 is formed in a plate shape having a flat contact surface 3 a (see FIG. 2) that follows the surface shape of the heating element 2. As a material for forming the heating surface plate 3, a material having high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum is used. The heating surface plate 3 is fixed in a state in which it is in contact with the heating element 2 by means of a mounting bracket or a bolt (not shown). In this embodiment, the heating surface plate 3 corresponds to a “heat receiving portion” in the present invention.

  A mounting seat 6 for mounting the thermoelectric element 5 projects from the center of the heating surface plate 3. A heat insulating material 7 is stacked on the heating surface plate 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat insulating material 7 is formed with a hole 8 through which the mounting seat 6 is passed, and a first concave groove 9 and a second concave groove 10 extending on both sides of the hole 8. ing.

  The thermoelectric element 5 generates an electromotive force due to the Seebeck effect, and is sandwiched between the mounting seat 6 described above and a cooling surface plate 12 of a heat transfer housing 11 described later. The heating surface 5 a of the thermoelectric element 5 is in contact with the mounting seat 6, and the cooling surface 5 b is in contact with the cooling surface plate 12. The thermoelectric element 5 is positioned between the first and second concave grooves 9 and 10 of the heat insulating material 7 in a state sandwiched between the mounting seat 6 and the cooling surface plate 12. That is, a space for accommodating the thermoelectric element 5 is formed between the heating surface plate 3 and the cooling surface plate 12 by the hole 8 of the heat insulating material 7, the first concave groove 9, and the second concave groove 10. Has been. In the following, the space formed in the first groove 9 is referred to as a first space S1, and the space formed in the second groove 10 is referred to as a second space S2.

  The heat transfer housing 11 includes a cooling surface plate 12 that is formed in a plate shape and contacts the cooling surface 5 b of the thermoelectric element 5, and a main body 13 that is formed in a rectangular tube shape. The cooling surface plate 12 and the main body 13 are formed of a material having a high thermal conductivity like the heating surface plate 3 described above. In this embodiment, the cooling surface plate 12 constitutes a “cooling part” in the present invention.

  The cooling surface plate 12 is fitted in one end of the main body 13. That is, the heat transfer housing 11 according to this embodiment is formed in a bottomed rectangular tube shape with the cooling surface plate 12 as a bottom. A fitting portion between the cooling surface plate 12 and the main body 13 is joined by brazing or bonded by an adhesive having high thermal conductivity. Moreover, this fitting part is sealed so that it may become airtight.

The cooling surface plate 12 is provided with a second heat sink 14, and an air inlet 15 formed of a through hole and an air outlet 16 are formed therein. The second heat sink 14 exchanges heat with the air in the heat transfer housing 11, and includes a plurality of pins 17 protruding toward the heat transfer housing 11.
The air inlet 15 communicates the first space S1 and the inside of the heat transfer casing 11. The air outlet 16 communicates the second space S2 and the inside of the heat transfer housing 11. A lead wire 18 connected to the thermoelectric element 5 is passed through the air outlet 16.

One end of the main body 13 of the heat transfer housing 11 fitted with the cooling surface plate 12 is connected to the heating surface plate 3 by a connecting cylinder 21. The connecting cylinder 21 is fitted to the heating surface plate 3, the heat insulating material 7, and the main body 13 of the heat transfer casing 11, and blocks the space S1 and the space S2 and the outside air described above. It functions as a cover.
The coupling cylinder 21 is fitted to the heating surface plate 3 and the main body 13 in a state where the thermoelectric element 5 is sandwiched and fixed between the heating surface plate 3 and the cooling surface plate 12. Although the thermoelectric element 5 is not fixed, there are a method using a fixing screw and a method using an adhesive.

The fixing method using the fixing screw is to tighten the fixing screw so that a constant pressure is applied from the cooling surface plate 12 toward the heating surface plate 3, and the thermoelectric element 5 is brought into close contact with the heating surface plate 3 and the cooling surface plate 12. To do.
A method using an adhesive is performed by applying a highly conductive adhesive to the heating surface 5 a and the cooling surface 5 b of the thermoelectric element 5 and bonding the thermoelectric element 5 to the heating surface plate 3 and the cooling surface plate 12.

  The other end of the main body 13 is closed with a plate-shaped heat exchange member 22. The heat exchange member 22 is fitted in the other end portion of the main body 13. The heat exchange member 22 is provided with a plurality of pins 23 protruding into the heat transfer housing 11. The heat exchange member 22 constitutes a part of an air cooling unit 24 described later.

  The first heat sink 4 described above is formed on the other end surface of the main body 13 (the opening of the heat transfer housing 11) and the outer end surface of the heat exchange member 22 on the opposite side to the inside of the heat transfer housing 11. Are installed so that heat can be transferred. The first heat sink 4 and the heat exchange member 22 described above are formed of a material having a high thermal conductivity like the heating surface plate 3. The heat exchange member 22 exchanges heat with the air in the heat transfer housing 11 and transmits the heat of the air in the heat transfer housing 11 to the first heat sink 4. The first heat sink 4 has a plurality of pins 25, and dissipates heat of the main body 13 of the heat transfer housing 11 and the heat exchange member 22 from the plurality of pins 25 to the atmosphere.

  The air cooling unit 24 is for promoting cooling of the thermoelectric element 5. The air cooling unit 24 according to this embodiment includes the heat exchange member 22 described above and a fan 31 provided in the heat transfer casing 11. The fan 31 is driven and rotated by a motor (not shown). The fan 31 is located at a position facing the air inlet 15 described above on one side of the heat transfer housing 11 and spaced away from the cooling surface plate 12 toward the heat exchange member 22 by a predetermined distance. Has been placed. The motor of the fan 31 is provided integrally with the fan 31. The fan 31 is supported on the heat transfer housing 11 by a bracket (not shown).

  The fan 31 is connected to a control board 32 provided in the heat transfer housing 11 via a lead wire 33. The control board 32 is disposed with the secondary battery 34 between the second heat sink 14 and the heat exchange member 22. The secondary battery 34 is for storing surplus power out of the power generated by the thermoelectric element 5, and is connected to the control board 32 by a lead wire 35. The secondary battery 34 is positioned between the control board 32 and the second heat sink 14.

  The control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 are supported on the heat transfer casing 11 by a bracket (not shown). In order to hold the control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 in the heat transfer casing 11, although not shown, it is possible to use a cushion material without using such a bracket. it can. In this case, the control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 are sandwiched by cushioning materials from both sides in a state where they are overlapped with each other, and this assembly is sandwiched and held by the second heat sink 14 and the heat exchange member 22.

  The control board 32 is provided with a control circuit (not shown) for controlling the operation of the temperature difference power generator 1. The control board 32 includes lead wires 18 of the thermoelectric element 5, lead wires 33 of the fan 31, lead wires 35 of the secondary battery 34, and output terminals 36 provided on the outer surface of the heat transfer housing 11. A cable 37 is connected. The output terminal 36 is for supplying the electric power generated by the temperature difference power generator 1 to the outside, and is attached to the main body 13 of the heat transfer casing 11.

  The electric power sent from the thermoelectric element 5 to the control board 32 is used for the operation of the control circuit, the operation of the fan 31 and the power supply to the outside. Of the power sent from the thermoelectric element 5 to the control circuit, surplus power is used for charging the secondary battery 34. When the generated power is insufficient for the operation of the control circuit and the operation of the fan 31 and the supply of power to the outside, the power charged in the secondary battery 34 is used. In addition, the control circuit constantly monitors the power charged in the secondary battery 34 and performs control so that the minimum power at which the control circuit can operate always remains.

The fan 31 rotates when electric power is supplied from the control circuit to the motor, and sends air toward the air inlet 15. As the fan 31 rotates, air flows in the temperature difference power generation device 1. This air flows in the direction indicated by the dashed arrow in FIG.
Here, the direction in which air flows in the temperature difference power generator 1 will be described.

  A part of the air sent by the fan 31 is changed in the flowing direction by hitting the cooling surface plate 12 and flows toward the second heat sink 14. This air flows across the second heat sink 14 while contacting the pins 17 of the second heat sink 14 to the opposite side in the heat transfer housing 11. The air absorbs the heat of the pin 17 by contacting the pin 17.

  On the other hand, the air flowing into the air inlet 15 is supplied to the first space S <b> 1 in the first concave groove 9. The air enters the second space S <b> 2 through a gap (not shown) formed inside the thermoelectric element 5. This air absorbs the heat of the thermoelectric element 5 by contacting the thermoelectric element 5. The air that has flowed into the second space S2 passes through the air outlet 16 of the cooling surface plate 12 and returns to the heat transfer casing 11, and merges with the air that has passed through the second heat sink 14 to the heat exchange member 22. It flows toward. The control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 also function as a guide constituting the flow path of the air flowing in this way. For this reason, most of the air that has passed through the second heat sink 14 and the air that has passed through the air outlet 16 are guided to the heat exchange member 22. Then, the air passes through the heat exchange member 22 and is sucked into the fan 31. The pins 23 of the heat exchange member 22 absorb the heat of the air when the air comes into contact therewith.

In the temperature difference power generation device 1 configured as described above, the heat of the heating element 2 is transmitted to the heating surface 5 a of the thermoelectric element 5 through the heating surface plate 3. In addition, in the temperature difference power generation device 1 according to this embodiment, the heat of the heating element 2 is transmitted in a direction indicated by an arrow drawn by a solid line in FIG.
The thermoelectric element 5 generates power when a temperature difference is generated between the heating surface 5a and the cooling surface 5b. When the thermoelectric element 5 generates electric power, the fan 31 rotates under the control of the control circuit, and the electric power can be taken out from the output terminal 36. Surplus power is stored in the secondary battery 34.

  The cooling surface 5 b of the thermoelectric element 5 is cooled by conducting heat to the cooling surface plate 12. Further, the interior of the thermoelectric element 5 is cooled by absorbing heat from the air passing through the thermoelectric element 5 from the first space S1 and flowing into the second space S2. The first space S <b> 1 and the second space S <b> 2 are formed by the first groove 9 and the second groove 10 of the heat insulating material 7. For this reason, it can prevent that the air which flows through 1st space S1 and 2nd space S2 is heated with the heat of the heating surface plate 3. FIG.

  The cooling surface plate 12 is cooled by a first cooling part 41 and a second cooling part 42 described later. The first cooling unit 41 is configured by the main body 13 of the heat transfer housing 11 and the first heat sink 4. The second cooling unit 42 is configured by the second heat sink 14 and the air cooling unit 24. In the first cooling unit 41, the heat of the cooling surface plate 12 is transmitted from the main body 13 to the first heat sink 4 by conduction, and is dissipated from the pins 25 of the first heat sink 4 to the atmosphere. In the second cooling unit 42, the cooling surface plate 12 is cooled by air cooling by sending air to the second heat sink 14.

For this reason, in the temperature difference power generator 1 including the air cooling unit 24 according to this embodiment, the thermoelectric element 5 can be efficiently cooled by the first cooling unit 41 and the second cooling unit 42. High power generation capacity can be obtained.
Further, the temperature difference power generator 1 according to this embodiment includes the two cooling units because the above-described second cooling unit 42 is provided in the heat transfer casing 11. However, it can be formed small. In addition, since the temperature difference power generation device 1 generates power by bringing the heating surface plate 3 into contact with a high-temperature component (heating element 2), there is no restriction on the place of use.
Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a temperature difference power generation device that is small in size and not restricted by the place of use, and that has a high power generation capability.

The air cooling unit 24 according to this embodiment performs heat exchange with the fan 31 that sends the air in the heat transfer housing 11 to the second heat sink 14 and the air in the heat transfer housing 11, and heats the air. And a heat exchange member 22 that transmits to the first heat sink 4.
For this reason, convective heat transfer is promoted by the flow of air through the second heat sink 14 and the heat exchange member 22, and the cooling surface plate 12 is forcibly cooled by the air. As a result, the cooling surface plate 12 is efficiently cooled.
Further, the heat transfer casing 11 substantially functions as a protective member for protecting the fan 31. For this reason, since the fan 31 does not contact an external member, the failure rate of the fan 31 can be reduced.

In the temperature difference power generation device 1 according to this embodiment, a space for accommodating the thermoelectric element 5 is formed between the heating surface plate 3 and the cooling surface plate 12. This space is the hole 8 of the heat insulating material 7, the first space S <b> 1 in the first groove 9, and the second space S <b> 2 in the second groove 10.
The cooling surface plate 12 is formed with an air inlet 15 that guides the air sent by the fan 31 to the above-described space and an air outlet 16 that communicates this space with the inside of the heat transfer housing 11.
For this reason, according to this embodiment, convective heat transfer is promoted by the flow of air inside the thermoelectric element 5, and the inside of the thermoelectric element 5 can be cooled by air. As a result, since the temperature of the cooling surface 5b of the thermoelectric element 5 can be further lowered, a high power generation capability is obtained.

  The motor of the fan 31 according to this embodiment uses the thermoelectric element 5 as a power source. For this reason, since a dedicated power source is not necessary for realizing forced air cooling, a further miniaturized temperature difference power generator can be provided. In addition, the temperature difference power generator 1 according to this embodiment does not require external power supply even though it includes the forced air cooling type air cooling unit 24. For this reason, according to this embodiment, a temperature difference power generation device with a high degree of freedom of an installation position can be provided.

A secondary battery 34 that stores electricity generated by the thermoelectric element 5 is housed inside the heat transfer housing 11 according to this embodiment.
For this reason, since the electric power of the secondary battery 34 can be supplied to the outside from the output terminal 36 when the temperature of the heating element 2 is low, a temperature difference power generator with high operation reliability can be provided.
If the state where the temperature of the heating element 2 is low is continued for a long period of time, even the power charged in the secondary battery 34 may be insufficient. For this reason, in this temperature difference power generation device 1, in order to make up for such a power shortage, a primary battery (not shown) can be provided in the heat transfer casing 11.

(Modification of the first embodiment)
The temperature difference power generation device shown in the first embodiment can be configured as shown in FIG. 4, members identical or equivalent to those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate.
A temperature difference power generation device 51 shown in FIG. 4 is configured using the temperature difference power generation device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and includes a control box 52. This temperature difference power generation device 51 constitutes the temperature difference power generation device described in claim 9. In this embodiment, the control box 52 corresponds to a “box member” in the invention described in claim 9.

The control box 52 is attached to the outside of the heat transfer housing 11. Although not shown in the figure, the control board 52 and the secondary battery 34 are accommodated in the control box 52. The control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 are not provided in the heat transfer casing 11 according to this embodiment.
Three types of output terminals 53 to 55 and a display panel 56 are provided outside the control box 52.
The display panel 56 can display the operating state of the temperature difference power generation device 51 including the power generation status of the thermoelectric element 5, the remaining amount of the secondary battery 34, an alarm, and the like. The alarm can be configured to be generated when the remaining amount of the secondary battery 34 falls below a predetermined amount.

In this embodiment, the inside of the heat transfer housing 11 is enlarged by the amount that the control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 are not provided in the heat transfer housing 11. For this reason, according to this embodiment, the air in the heat transfer housing 11 is easily stirred by the fan 31. In addition, since the control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 that are members that generate heat go out of the heat transfer casing 11, the temperature of the heat transfer casing 11 can be relatively lowered.
Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a temperature difference power generation device that can cool the cooling surface plate 12 more efficiently.

(Second Embodiment)
The air cooling part of the temperature difference power generation device according to the present invention can be configured as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the same or equivalent members as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate. The temperature difference power generation apparatus 61 according to this embodiment constitutes the temperature difference power generation apparatus 1 described in claim 1, and claims 5 and 8.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the temperature difference power generation device 61 includes an exhaust cylinder 62 exposed at the center of the first heat sink 4. The exhaust cylinder 62 constitutes a part of the air cooling unit 24 (see FIG. 6) according to this embodiment. The exhaust cylinder 62 is formed in a cylindrical shape. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the exhaust cylinder 62 has a first end attached to a partition wall 63 provided in the heat transfer casing 11. 1 through the center of the heat sink 4. One end of the exhaust cylinder 62 passes through the partition wall 63 and opens at a position facing the second heat sink 14. The other end of the exhaust cylinder 62 passes through the first heat sink 4 and opens into the atmosphere.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the inner peripheral surface of the exhaust cylinder 62 is formed by a tapered surface whose inner diameter gradually decreases from one end to the other end. The opening of the heat transfer housing 11 according to this embodiment is closed by the first heat sink 4. That is, the temperature difference power generation device 61 according to this embodiment does not include the heat exchange member 22 shown in the first embodiment. Further, the temperature difference power generation device 61 is not provided with the fan 31 shown in the first embodiment. Only the cable hole 64 for passing the lead wire 18 of the thermoelectric element 5 is formed in the cooling surface plate 12 by this embodiment.

The partition wall 63 is positioned in the vicinity of the second heat sink 14 in the heat transfer housing 11, and is divided into a ventilation space 65 and a storage space 66 in the heat transfer housing 11. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the partition wall 63 is formed with a through-hole 67 for passing the lead wire 18 of the thermoelectric element 5.
The ventilation space 65 is formed between the partition wall 63 and the cooling surface plate 12. The ventilation space 65 is connected to the outside of the heat transfer housing 11 via a plurality of air inlets 68 provided in the main body 13 of the heat transfer housing 11.

The air inlet 68 is formed by a through hole that penetrates the main body 13 and communicates the ventilation space 65 with the outside of the heat transfer housing 11. These air inlets 68 are respectively provided on the four side walls of the main body 13 having a rectangular tube shape.
The storage space 66 is formed between the partition wall 63 and the first heat sink 4. In the storage space 66, the control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 are stored.

  The air cooling unit 24 according to this embodiment includes the above-described exhaust cylinder 62, the partition wall 63, the air inlet 68 of the heat transfer housing 11, and the like. In the air cooling unit 24, the air heated by the second heat sink 14 rises in the exhaust cylinder 62, and an ascending air current is generated in the exhaust cylinder 62. For this reason, air (outside air having a relatively low temperature) is sucked into the ventilation space 65 from the air inlet 68 by a so-called chimney effect.

This air flows into the second heat sink 14 from four directions, and enters the end portion of the exhaust cylinder 62 from the center of the second heat sink 14. The air that has entered the exhaust cylinder 62 is discharged from the other end of the exhaust cylinder 62 into the atmosphere. Therefore, according to the temperature difference power generation device 61 provided with the air cooling unit 24 according to this embodiment, the first cooling unit 41 including the heat transfer housing 11 and the first heat sink 4, and the second heat sink Since the cooling surface plate 12 can be efficiently cooled by the second cooling part 42 having the air cooling part 14 and the air cooling part 24, the same effect as that obtained when the first embodiment is adopted can be obtained.
In particular, in this embodiment, air can flow through the second heat sink 14 to promote convective heat transfer without using electric power. For this reason, the temperature difference power generator 61 according to this embodiment consumes less power than the temperature difference power generator using the fan 31.

A secondary battery 34 that stores electricity generated by the thermoelectric element 5 is accommodated in the heat transfer housing 11 according to this embodiment.
For this reason, since the electric power of the secondary battery 34 can be supplied to the outside from the output terminal when the temperature of the heating element 2 is low, a temperature difference power generator with high operational reliability can be provided. Even in the case of adopting this embodiment, if the state where the temperature of the heating element 2 is low is continued for a long period of time, the power charged in the secondary battery 34 may be insufficient. For this reason, also in this temperature difference power generation device 61, in order to make up for such power shortage, a primary battery (not shown) can be provided in the heat transfer casing 11.

(Modification of the second embodiment)
The temperature difference power generation device shown in the second embodiment can be configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the same or equivalent members as those described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

A temperature difference power generation device 71 shown in FIG. 8 is configured using the temperature difference power generation device 61 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 and includes a control box 52. This temperature difference power generation device 71 constitutes the temperature difference power generation device described in claim 9. In this embodiment, the control box 52 corresponds to a “box member” in the invention described in claim 9.
The control box 52 is attached to the outside of the heat transfer housing 11. Although not shown in the figure, the control board 52 and the secondary battery 34 are accommodated in the control box 52. Thus, by accommodating the control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 in the control box 52, the storage space 66 (see FIG. 6) is not required in the heat transfer casing 11.

For this reason, the length of the cylindrical main body 13 of the heat transfer housing 11 can be formed short, and the thermal resistance of the first cooling unit 41 is reduced. In addition, since the control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 that are members that generate heat go out of the heat transfer casing 11, the temperature of the heat transfer casing 11 can be relatively lowered.
Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a temperature difference power generation device that can cool the cooling surface plate 12 more efficiently.

(Third embodiment)
The air cooling part of the temperature difference power generation device according to the present invention can be configured as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the same or equivalent members as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 5 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate. The temperature difference power generation device 81 according to this embodiment constitutes the temperature difference power generation device 1 described in claim 1 and claims 6 to 8.
As shown in FIG. 9, the temperature difference power generation device 81 includes an air guide member 82 exposed at the center of the first heat sink 4.

  The air guide member 82 constitutes a part of the air cooling unit 24 according to this embodiment. This air guide member 82 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with one end opened, and as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, one end of a partition wall 83 provided inside the heat transfer casing 11 is provided at one end. The central portion of the first heat sink 4 is penetrated in the attached state. The partition wall 83 is positioned in the vicinity of the second heat sink 14 in the heat transfer housing 11, and is divided into a ventilation space 65 and a storage space 66 in the heat transfer housing 11.

One end of the air guide member 82 is fixed to the partition wall 83 with an opening portion connected to the through hole 83 a of the partition wall 83. The through hole 83 a of the partition wall 83 is formed at a position facing the central portion of the second heat sink 14. For this reason, one end portion of the air guide member 82 is opened at a position facing the second heat sink 14.
The other end portion (the bottom portion of the bottomed cylinder) of the air guide member 82 passes through the first heat sink 4 and protrudes to a position equivalent to the tip of the pin 25. In addition, a plurality of communication holes 84 that communicate the inside and outside of the air guide member 82 are formed in the other end portion of the air guide member 82. These communication holes 84 are provided in a portion of the air guide member 82 adjacent to the pins 25 of the first heat sink 4.

  A fan 31 is provided in one end of the air guide member 82. The fan 31 according to this embodiment sucks the air in the ventilation space 65 by rotating and sends it to the other end of the air guide member 82. The fan 31 is driven and rotated by a motor (not shown) provided integrally. This motor is connected to the control board 32 by a lead wire (not shown). The operation of this motor is controlled by a control circuit (not shown) of the control board 32.

  The air cooling unit 24 according to this embodiment includes a forced air cooling type constituted by the above-described air guide member 82, the partition wall 83, the communication hole 84, the fan 31, the air inlet 68 of the heat transfer casing 11, and the like. belongs to. In the air cooling section 24, the air heated by the second heat sink 14 is sucked into the one end portion of the air guide member 82 from the ventilation space 65 as the fan 31 rotates.

  Therefore, air (outside air having a relatively low temperature) is sucked into the ventilation space 65 from the air inlet 68. The air flows into the second heat sink 14 from four directions, and enters the one end portion of the air guide member 82 from the center of the second heat sink 14. The air that has entered the air guide member 82 is sent to the other end of the air guide member 82, and then blows out of the air guide member 82 through the communication hole 84. The pins 25 of the first heat sink 4 are located around the air guide member 82. For this reason, the air blown out from the air guide member 82 flows across the first heat sink 4 while hitting the pin 25 and is discharged into the atmosphere.

According to the temperature difference power generation device 81 provided with the air cooling unit 24 according to this embodiment, the first cooling unit 41 including the first heat sink 4 and the main body 13 of the heat transfer casing 11, and the second heat sink. Since the cooling surface plate 12 can be efficiently cooled by the fan 31 that sends air to the second cooling section 42 having the air guide member 82 and the like, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. can get.
In particular, in this embodiment, since the air blown out from the air guide member 82 promotes heat dissipation by the first heat sink 4, the cooling efficiency is further increased and the generated power can be increased.

  Even in the case of adopting this embodiment, if the state where the temperature of the heating element 2 is low is continued for a long period of time, the power charged in the secondary battery 34 may be insufficient. For this reason, also in this temperature difference power generation device 81, in order to make up for such power shortage, a primary battery (not shown) can be provided in the heat transfer casing 11.

  The motor for driving the fan 31 according to this embodiment uses the thermoelectric element 5 as a power source. For this reason, since a dedicated power source is not necessary for realizing forced air cooling, a further miniaturized temperature difference power generator can be provided. In addition, the temperature difference power generation device 81 according to this embodiment does not require power supply from the outside even though the forced air cooling type air cooling unit 24 is provided. For this reason, according to this embodiment, a temperature difference power generation device with a high degree of freedom of an installation position can be provided.

  The fan 31 according to this embodiment is positioned inside the heat transfer casing 11. For this reason, since the housing 11 for heat transfer substantially functions as a protective member for protecting the fan 31 and the fan 31 does not come into contact with an external member, the failure rate of the fan 31 can be reduced.

(Modification 1 of 3rd Embodiment)
The temperature difference power generation device shown in the third embodiment can be configured as shown in FIG. 12, members identical or equivalent to those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

A temperature difference power generation device 91 shown in FIG. 12 is configured using the temperature difference power generation device 81 shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 and includes a control box 52. This temperature difference power generation device 91 constitutes the temperature difference power generation device described in claim 9. In this embodiment, the control box 52 corresponds to a “box member” in the invention described in claim 9.
The control box 52 is attached to the outside of the heat transfer housing 11. Although not shown in the figure, the control board 52 and the secondary battery 34 are accommodated in the control box 52.

As described above, the control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 are housed in the control box 52, so that the housing space 66 is not required in the heat transfer housing 11. For this reason, the length of the cylindrical main body 13 of the heat transfer housing 11 can be formed short, and the thermal resistance of the first cooling unit 41 is reduced. In addition, since the control board 32 and the secondary battery 34 that are members that generate heat go out of the heat transfer casing 11, the temperature of the heat transfer casing 11 can be relatively lowered.
Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a temperature difference power generation device that can cool the cooling surface plate 12 more efficiently.

(Modification 2 of the third embodiment)
The temperature difference power generation device shown in the third embodiment can be configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 13, the same or equivalent members as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 5 to 7 and 9 to 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate.
The heat transfer housing 11 of the temperature difference power generator 92 shown in FIG. 13 includes a plurality of third heat sinks 93.

These third heat sinks 93 are configured by a substrate 94 attached to the main body 13 of the heat transfer housing 11 and a large number of rectangular heat radiation fins 95 protruding from the outer surface of the substrate 94. The substrate 94 and the heat radiating fins 95 are integrally formed by integral molding.
The third heat sink 93 is provided on each of the four outer surfaces of the main body 13 of the heat transfer housing 11. The heat radiating fins 95 are provided so as to be long in the longitudinal direction of the air guide member 82.

In this embodiment, since the heat of the heat transfer housing 11 is also dissipated from the third heat sink 93 into the atmosphere, the cooling of the heat transfer housing 11 is promoted.
Therefore, by adopting this embodiment, since the cooling efficiency is increased, it is possible to provide a temperature difference power generation device with higher power generation capability.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,51,61,71,81,91,92 ... Temperature difference power generator, 2 ... Heat, 3 ... Heating surface plate (heat receiving part), 4 ... First heat sink, 5 ... Thermoelectric element, 8 ... Hole, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Heat-transfer housing | casing, 12 ... Cooling surface plate (cooling part), 13 ... Main body, 14 ... 2nd heat sink, 15 ... Air inlet, 16 ... Air outlet, 22 ... Heat exchange member, 24 ... Air cooling part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 ... Fan, 34 ... Secondary battery, 52 ... Control box (box member), 62 ... Exhaust cylinder, 63, 83 ... Partition, 65 ... Space for ventilation, 68 ... Air inlet, 82 ... Air guide member, 84 ... Communication hole, S1 ... First space, S2 ... Second space.

Claims (9)

A heat receiving portion in contact with the heating element;
A thermoelectric element attached with a heating surface in contact with the heat receiving portion;
A housing for heat transfer that has a cooling portion that contacts a cooling surface of the thermoelectric element, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having the cooling portion as a bottom;
A first heat sink provided at an opening of the housing to dissipate heat of the housing into the atmosphere;
A second heat sink provided in the cooling unit for exchanging heat with the air in the housing;
A temperature difference power generation device comprising: an air cooling unit for sending air to the second heat sink. The temperature difference power generator according to claim 1,
The air cooling part is
A fan for sending air in the housing to the second heat sink;
A temperature difference power generation device comprising: a heat exchange member that exchanges heat with air in the housing and transmits heat of the air to the first heat sink. The temperature difference power generation device according to claim 2,
A space formed between the heat receiving portion and the cooling portion and accommodating the thermoelectric element;
An air inlet formed in the cooling section and guiding the air sent by the fan to the space;
The temperature difference power generation device further comprising an air outlet formed in the cooling unit and communicating between the space and the inside of the housing. In the temperature difference power generation device according to claim 2 or 3,
The motor for driving the fan uses the thermoelectric element as a power source. The temperature difference power generator according to claim 1,
The air cooling part is
A partition wall provided in the housing and forming a ventilation space with the cooling unit;
A plurality of air inlets provided in the housing and communicating between the ventilation space and the outside of the housing;
An exhaust cylinder having one end opened at a position facing the second heat sink in the ventilation space and the other end penetrating the first heat sink and opening into the atmosphere; The temperature difference power generator characterized by the above-mentioned. The temperature difference power generator according to claim 1,
The air cooling part is
A partition wall provided in the housing and forming a ventilation space with the cooling unit;
A plurality of air inlets provided in the housing and communicating between the ventilation space and the outside of the housing;
A bottomed cylindrical air guide member having one end opened at a position facing the second heat sink in the ventilation space, and the other end inserted into the heat sink;
A fan that is provided in the air guide member and sends air in the ventilation space to the other end of the air guide member;
A temperature difference power generation device comprising a plurality of communication holes provided at the other end of the air guide member and communicating between the inside and outside of the air guide member. The temperature difference power generation device according to claim 6,
The motor for driving the fan uses the thermoelectric element as a power source. In the temperature difference power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A temperature difference power generator, wherein a secondary battery for storing electricity generated by the thermoelectric element is accommodated in the housing. In the temperature difference power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A box member attached to the outside of the housing;
A temperature difference power generator, wherein a secondary battery for storing electricity generated by the thermoelectric element is accommodated inside the box member.

Images