CA2566812C - Method for directly converting heat energy into electric power and a generator for carrying out said method - Google Patents
Method for directly converting heat energy into electric power and a generator for carrying out said method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2566812C CA2566812C CA2566812A CA2566812A CA2566812C CA 2566812 C CA2566812 C CA 2566812C CA 2566812 A CA2566812 A CA 2566812A CA 2566812 A CA2566812 A CA 2566812A CA 2566812 C CA2566812 C CA 2566812C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- thermionic
- heat
- flow
- heat media
- channel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J45/00—Discharge tubes functioning as thermionic generators
Landscapes
- General Induction Heating (AREA)
- Junction Field-Effect Transistors (AREA)
- Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
The method consists in stabilization of temperature in the energy conversion zone by heat transmission from moving heat media with its simultaneous heating through the wall of the channel from the other, more heated, part to thermionic elements. Thermionic elements are located in the hermetically sealed case of the thermionic generator and form rings around the channel, creating helical trajectory while passing the heat media flow, moving from the channel output along its external part in the reverse direction along the intervals between the rings. The motion continues until the temperature of the waste flow is lower than the temperature of thermal emission of electrons. The generator presents a hermetically sealed case with a device of heat media flow input from an external source and with a device of waste heat media exhaust. Thermionic elements consist of separate segments and connected into a single electrical circuit.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
There is a thermionic generator known, containing an exterior case, inside of which a source of heat and a battery of thermionic elements, connected consecutively by means of a key plug wire are located, the exterior case being entirely heat-isolated from the environment, and each of the thermionic elements is made in the form of separated from each other by spacers emitter and collector, separated from the case with a heat insulation layer. Spacers are made of a high heat conduction material, providing the opportunity of heat transfer between emitter and collector. Thermionic elements are tightly packed inside the thermal screen located on the exterior case. The battery of thermionic elements is made in the form of a set of parallel bars, one surface of which is made in the form of emitter, and the opposite surface is made in the form of collector of the adjacent thermionic element. All the bars are connected to each other by a common thermal conduction element - spacer (SU, author's certificate No1822505; H01J45/00, published in 1993).
Useful work of the known thermionic generator is accomplished at the expense of temperature difference between emitter and collector. The method consists in conversion the heat of a spot source into electrical energy.
The heat is transferred from its source through a solid thermal conduction element by means of contacting the thermionic elements, contacting the thermal conduction element and located along the length of the latter. Temperature difference between emitters and collectors is set up at the expense of the descent of the temperature along the length of the thermal conduction element while the heat is being extracted from it. While the emitters are being heated in the batch of thermionic elements to emission temperature, the eduction of electrons into the interelectrode intervals and sedimentation of them on the collectors follows.
The obtained current is transferred from thermionic elements connected consecutively into an external electrical circuit. Application of the method allows the use of the heat, having moved through each of the thermionic elements, in the sequent thermionic elements, thus resulting in increasing the efficiency of transformation of thermal energy into electrical one and raising the efficiency of thermionic generator to 40 per cent.
There is a thermionic generator known, containing an exterior case, inside of which a source of heat and a battery of thermionic elements, connected consecutively by means of a key plug wire are located, the exterior case being entirely heat-isolated from the environment, and each of the thermionic elements is made in the form of separated from each other by spacers emitter and collector, separated from the case with a heat insulation layer. Spacers are made of a high heat conduction material, providing the opportunity of heat transfer between emitter and collector. Thermionic elements are tightly packed inside the thermal screen located on the exterior case. The battery of thermionic elements is made in the form of a set of parallel bars, one surface of which is made in the form of emitter, and the opposite surface is made in the form of collector of the adjacent thermionic element. All the bars are connected to each other by a common thermal conduction element - spacer (SU, author's certificate No1822505; H01J45/00, published in 1993).
Useful work of the known thermionic generator is accomplished at the expense of temperature difference between emitter and collector. The method consists in conversion the heat of a spot source into electrical energy.
The heat is transferred from its source through a solid thermal conduction element by means of contacting the thermionic elements, contacting the thermal conduction element and located along the length of the latter. Temperature difference between emitters and collectors is set up at the expense of the descent of the temperature along the length of the thermal conduction element while the heat is being extracted from it. While the emitters are being heated in the batch of thermionic elements to emission temperature, the eduction of electrons into the interelectrode intervals and sedimentation of them on the collectors follows.
The obtained current is transferred from thermionic elements connected consecutively into an external electrical circuit. Application of the method allows the use of the heat, having moved through each of the thermionic elements, in the sequent thermionic elements, thus resulting in increasing the efficiency of transformation of thermal energy into electrical one and raising the efficiency of thermionic generator to 40 per cent.
Heat transmission through a solid thermal conduction element, having thermal resistance, is accompanied by highly unjustifiable temperature decrease along the length of the thermal conduction element.
The temperature decrease also takes place while the heat is transferred from contact spots located along the bars, forming the surfaces of emitters and collectors. Low temperature flow can't be used effectively for conversion into electrical energy.
Therefore, the efficiency of conversion of elements planes which are far from the source in the known generator is low. Application of high heat conduction spacers, reserved for acceleration of heat transfer between emitters and collectors, to a certain extent improves admission of heat to the planes of elements, distanced from the heat source. However, the efficiency of the generator conversion can't be high, because spacers also have thermal resistance, causing temperature decrease of the thermal flow being transferred.
There is also a method of direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical one and thermionic generator for its realization. This method has been adopted as prototype for the method claimed. In the known method thermal transfer is accomplished through the flow of the moving media, advanced to the thermionic elements, the latter being placed in the hermetically sealed case of the thermionic generator in the form of a multi-level battery, thus enabling the spiral trajectory of the heat media passage through the levels of the battery divided from each other by horizontal channels. Thermionic elements cathodes function as emitters and anodes function as collectors the heat media flow being passed along the first channel warming up the thermionic element emitters of the first storey at least as high as the temperature of the thermal emission of electrons. At the channel output the heat media flow is advanced though the channel of the bypass main to the input of the next channel in the same direction with the heat media flow of the previous channel, one and the same heat media flow being used simultaneously as a coolant for thermionic element collectors of the previous storey of the battery and as heat media flow for warming up thermionic element emitters of the next storey of the battery, the operational cycle being repeated as long as the temperature of the waste flow becomes lower than the temperature of the thermal emission of electrons. Thermionic elements are connected with one another into a single electrical circuit (RU, Patent # 2144241, HOW5/00, published in 1998). Any known devices for utilization of useful heat, e.g. heat exchangers can be installed for achieving additional effect of the energy use.
The temperature decrease also takes place while the heat is transferred from contact spots located along the bars, forming the surfaces of emitters and collectors. Low temperature flow can't be used effectively for conversion into electrical energy.
Therefore, the efficiency of conversion of elements planes which are far from the source in the known generator is low. Application of high heat conduction spacers, reserved for acceleration of heat transfer between emitters and collectors, to a certain extent improves admission of heat to the planes of elements, distanced from the heat source. However, the efficiency of the generator conversion can't be high, because spacers also have thermal resistance, causing temperature decrease of the thermal flow being transferred.
There is also a method of direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical one and thermionic generator for its realization. This method has been adopted as prototype for the method claimed. In the known method thermal transfer is accomplished through the flow of the moving media, advanced to the thermionic elements, the latter being placed in the hermetically sealed case of the thermionic generator in the form of a multi-level battery, thus enabling the spiral trajectory of the heat media passage through the levels of the battery divided from each other by horizontal channels. Thermionic elements cathodes function as emitters and anodes function as collectors the heat media flow being passed along the first channel warming up the thermionic element emitters of the first storey at least as high as the temperature of the thermal emission of electrons. At the channel output the heat media flow is advanced though the channel of the bypass main to the input of the next channel in the same direction with the heat media flow of the previous channel, one and the same heat media flow being used simultaneously as a coolant for thermionic element collectors of the previous storey of the battery and as heat media flow for warming up thermionic element emitters of the next storey of the battery, the operational cycle being repeated as long as the temperature of the waste flow becomes lower than the temperature of the thermal emission of electrons. Thermionic elements are connected with one another into a single electrical circuit (RU, Patent # 2144241, HOW5/00, published in 1998). Any known devices for utilization of useful heat, e.g. heat exchangers can be installed for achieving additional effect of the energy use.
There is a thermionic generator known from the same source in the form of a hermetically sealed case with a device of heat media flow input from an outer source and an exhaust of the waste heat media flow. Inside the case there are thermionic elements placed connected with one another into a single electrical circuit, the thermionic elements arranged in the form of a multi-level battery, the gaps between the levels forming heat media passage channels thus enabling the advance of the heat to the thermionic element emitters and cooling the collectors of the thermionic elements, the output of the previous channel being connected to the input of the subsequent channel through the bypass main, the whole complex determining a spiral form of the heat media advance trajectory through the battery of the thermionic elements. The thermionic elements emitters, placed at the end of the heat media flow trajectory, are provided with a more developed surface then the thermionic elements emitters, placed at the beginning of the trajectory.
The thermionic element of the above generator is made in the form of a flat hermetically sealed case containing an emitter, a collector and a device for transferring electrons through the interelectrode intervals. The method of conversion of thermal energy into electrical one and the generator for accomplishing it increase the efficiency of the usage of heat flow energy at the expense of advancing the flow through the thermionic elements. The efficiency of thermionic generator can reach 60 per cent. A high temperature in the first (upper) channel of the thermionic generator, formed by the thermionic elements and the upper part of the case, as well as in the heat-isolated bypass channels leads to unjustifiable heat losses of the heat media thermal energy through the walls of the case and the channels all this decreasing the efficiency of the known generator.
Thickening heat insulation in order to cut down thermal losses leads to increasing it in size, and the generator comes out to be very bulky.
The thermionic element of the above generator is made in the form of a flat hermetically sealed case containing an emitter, a collector and a device for transferring electrons through the interelectrode intervals. The method of conversion of thermal energy into electrical one and the generator for accomplishing it increase the efficiency of the usage of heat flow energy at the expense of advancing the flow through the thermionic elements. The efficiency of thermionic generator can reach 60 per cent. A high temperature in the first (upper) channel of the thermionic generator, formed by the thermionic elements and the upper part of the case, as well as in the heat-isolated bypass channels leads to unjustifiable heat losses of the heat media thermal energy through the walls of the case and the channels all this decreasing the efficiency of the known generator.
Thickening heat insulation in order to cut down thermal losses leads to increasing it in size, and the generator comes out to be very bulky.
THE BEST EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention the method of direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy consists in advancing the heat of the moving heat media to the thermionic elements placed in a hermetically sealed case and connected with one another into a single electrical circuit, the cathodes of the thermionic elements being warmed up at least as high as the temperature of the thermal emission of electrons, anodes of the thermionic elements being cooled, and the obtained electrical current is advanced to the load.
The heat transfer is put into effect through the walls of the channel from the heat media moving along the channel and from the same heat media advancing from the channel output and moving in the reverse direction, the thermionic elements being arranged in ring rows composed of separate segments perpendicularly to the walls of the case embracing the channel with the warmed heat media, the space between the walls of the case and the channel being divided into separate sections with gaps between ring rows and gaps between segments for providing an opportunity for the flow to move along a helical trajectory, the segments of the thermionic elements being arranged in such a way that both sides of every gap join either the anodes or the cathodes of the thermionic elements.
The heat media flow is advanced through the gap, which is the first from the end, to which the cathodes of the thermionic elements adjoin, and the flow moving circularly warms up the gap cathodes and having been cooled through the gap between the segments of the second ring row, advances into the next gap and makes one more turn. In this gap the heat media flow is used as a coolant for anodes, from the second gap the flow is advanced to a section of the space between the channel and the case, the section under the second and the third gaps where the flow is warmed up through the wall of the channel gaining heat from a section of the flow moving along the channel and passes into the third gap befringed with cathodes, the operational cycle being repeated as long as the temperature of the waste flow becomes lower than the temperature of the thermal emission of electrons.
There is a new method suggested for providing heat exchange between thermal flows in the thermionic generator. In the claimed method the thermal energy of the moving heat media is used for conversing into electrical energy with simultaneous warming of the moving heat media from the section of the heat media, having a higher temperature. Thus, an opportunity is provided to keep the temperature range at the level of maximum efficiency value of conversion and of minimal volume of the conversing elements consequently making the generator more compact. Besides that advancing the hottest part of the flow in the middle of the generator and blowing air warm up at the expense of heat tap from the neighboring area of the generator provides cutting losses of thermal energy through the walls of the case and reducing the bulk of thermal insulation material within the case.
The present method is performed by a thermionic generator consisting of a hermetically sealed case with a device for directing the heat media flow from an exterior source and with a device for the used heat media flow output. Inside the case there are thermionic elements, made as separate segments forming rows with gaps for passing the heat media flow and connected with one another into a single electrical circuit, the case having a cylindrical shape, the device for directing the heat media flow mounted in the middle of the above case along its longitudinal axis and the row of separate segments of thermionic elements make ring rows perpendicularly to the walls with gaps for passing the heat flow thus making it possible to advance the heat to the thermionic element cathodes and to cool the anodes of these elements with gaps in the segment for passing the heat media flow along a helical trajectory.
Application of the claimed method and the thermionic generator for accomplishing it increase the efficiency of heat flow energy conversion into electrical energy at the expense of its rational use and increase the efficiency of the thermionic generator to as high as 70-80 per cent. In the sources of information known to us there is no data about the claimed technique of heat flow advancing through the thermionic elements of the thermionic generator with simultaneous warm up of the flow. Application of this technique allows a substantial increase of thermal energy conversion efficiency without any additional expenditure for thermal insulation of the generator case.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION
The present invention is applicable in industry, because known technologies used now in production of generators are used for its embodiment. All the structural components of the claimed thermionic generator can be produced with known equipment using known industrial technologies. The claimed method can be used at any thermal power station and in other heat generation processes in power plants.
Below there is an example of an embodiment of the thermionic generator. Case 1 (Fig. 1, 2) of the thermionic generator has the form of a cylinder. The case walls are directly attached to a double insulation layer 2. Between the insulation layers there are gaps, along which a gaseous heat media is moving (air). In the middle of the case coaxially with it there is a cooled furnace 3. There is case 4 around the furnace and the space between the furnace and the case is divided into separate sections by partitions 5. Fuel is advanced to the furnace through nozzle 6, and hot blowing air passes from the gap between insulation layers through branch pipe 7. The operational zone, placed between case 4 and the inner insulation layer is divided into sections by segment thermionic elements 8 with apertures 9 and communication pins 10, the segments arranged in such a way that in every section either anodes A or cathodes K placed inside the segments join the opposite surfaces. In Unit A (Fig. 5) we can see reciprocal disposition of cathodes and anodes in the segments.
The furnace output is connected by passage 11 with the gap, which is the first from the end of and is formed by thermionic elements. There are apertures 12 in the case for passing of the moving heat carrier. There is the form of the gaps between the segments of the thermionic elements depicted in Fig. 4, and partitions 5 are marked by dashed lines. Heat exchanger 13 is for warming up blowing air and heat exchanger 14 is for warming up water side the case. Smoke passage trajectories are marked with arrowed continuous lines.
Thermionic elements 8 are connected into a single electrical circuit and connected to the load with communication wires 15 (Fig. 3).
The process of conversion of thermal energy into electrical one within the thermionic generator takes place in the following way. Fuel and hot air are fed to the furnace through nozzle 6. Fuel burns with emission of thermal energy and hot gas (smoke) in the cylindrical part of the furnace. Fuel is advanced to the operational area through the walls of the furnace and while moving along the furnace its temperature decreases. The pattern of temperature variation in the function of furnace length is shown in Fig. 6 and as it is seen from the chart the temperature of the smoke reaches as high as 1650 degrees Celsius, and at the output it is equal to 900 degrees. At the temperature of 900 degrees smoke passes to the last section of the operational zone through passage 11 where it is directed circularly and bathes the surfaces of segments joined with cathodes K. In the process of circular movement the smoke returns part of its thermal energy to the cathodes, where it is conversed into electricity and partly warms the anodes of these segments.
Having passed this circle, smoke cooled down as low as 700 degrees passes in to the last but one section where it warms up a little, tapping heat from anodes. The temperature of smoke at the output of this section is about 750 degrees Celsius, which is much higher than in the neighboring section befringed with cathodes. That is why smoke is directed from the anode section though apertures 12 into the space, limited by cylindrical surfaces of the fumace with case and tabular partitions, where it is warmed up once more as high as 900 degrees Celsius. This part of the chart is marked with an erratic in Fig.6. Heating is achieved at the expense of heat passing through the furnace wall, the flow of smoke inside of which being cooled down. Then the warmed smoke advances into the next cathode section, and the process of heat exchange will be repeated while moving from the end to the beginning of the case as it is shown at Fig.6 in the chart of smoke temperature variation of the operational area. According to the chart, the temperature in the anode sections is set up much lower than in the cathode ones. This provides the required difference of temperatures between cathodes and anodes in the thermionic elements. According to this pattern of smoke advance in the operational zone constant temperature of the thermionic elements is set up and its value 700-900 degrees Celsius with the average of 800 degrees Celsius is optimal for conversion of heat into electricity and for reliability and durability of the material the thermionic elements are made of. Cooling of side segments joining the case (Fig. 2) is accomplished through cooled insulated walls.
At temperature level 300 degrees smoke advances from the first left section to heat exchanger 13 through the end of the isolating gap, and flowing directly gives its heat to the blowing air; the temperature of the smoke is decreasing as low as 150 degrees Celsius and the temperature of the blowing air is increasing approximately as high as 150 degrees Celsius. Further increase of the temperature as high as 300 degrees takes place in the air-cooled area. Variation of air temperature is shown in Fig. 6 with thin arrowed lines. The temperature of the smoke decreases as low as 40 degrees Celsius in heat exchanger 12, which is possible in the process of contra-directorial heat exchange between smoke and heat carrier advanced through heat exchanger 14. Thermionic elements 8 form a single electrical circuit and are connected to generator load pins with communication wires 15 (Fig. 3). The process of heat exchange in the thermionic generator, mentioned here, provides economy and compactness of the generator.
According to the present invention the method of direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy consists in advancing the heat of the moving heat media to the thermionic elements placed in a hermetically sealed case and connected with one another into a single electrical circuit, the cathodes of the thermionic elements being warmed up at least as high as the temperature of the thermal emission of electrons, anodes of the thermionic elements being cooled, and the obtained electrical current is advanced to the load.
The heat transfer is put into effect through the walls of the channel from the heat media moving along the channel and from the same heat media advancing from the channel output and moving in the reverse direction, the thermionic elements being arranged in ring rows composed of separate segments perpendicularly to the walls of the case embracing the channel with the warmed heat media, the space between the walls of the case and the channel being divided into separate sections with gaps between ring rows and gaps between segments for providing an opportunity for the flow to move along a helical trajectory, the segments of the thermionic elements being arranged in such a way that both sides of every gap join either the anodes or the cathodes of the thermionic elements.
The heat media flow is advanced through the gap, which is the first from the end, to which the cathodes of the thermionic elements adjoin, and the flow moving circularly warms up the gap cathodes and having been cooled through the gap between the segments of the second ring row, advances into the next gap and makes one more turn. In this gap the heat media flow is used as a coolant for anodes, from the second gap the flow is advanced to a section of the space between the channel and the case, the section under the second and the third gaps where the flow is warmed up through the wall of the channel gaining heat from a section of the flow moving along the channel and passes into the third gap befringed with cathodes, the operational cycle being repeated as long as the temperature of the waste flow becomes lower than the temperature of the thermal emission of electrons.
There is a new method suggested for providing heat exchange between thermal flows in the thermionic generator. In the claimed method the thermal energy of the moving heat media is used for conversing into electrical energy with simultaneous warming of the moving heat media from the section of the heat media, having a higher temperature. Thus, an opportunity is provided to keep the temperature range at the level of maximum efficiency value of conversion and of minimal volume of the conversing elements consequently making the generator more compact. Besides that advancing the hottest part of the flow in the middle of the generator and blowing air warm up at the expense of heat tap from the neighboring area of the generator provides cutting losses of thermal energy through the walls of the case and reducing the bulk of thermal insulation material within the case.
The present method is performed by a thermionic generator consisting of a hermetically sealed case with a device for directing the heat media flow from an exterior source and with a device for the used heat media flow output. Inside the case there are thermionic elements, made as separate segments forming rows with gaps for passing the heat media flow and connected with one another into a single electrical circuit, the case having a cylindrical shape, the device for directing the heat media flow mounted in the middle of the above case along its longitudinal axis and the row of separate segments of thermionic elements make ring rows perpendicularly to the walls with gaps for passing the heat flow thus making it possible to advance the heat to the thermionic element cathodes and to cool the anodes of these elements with gaps in the segment for passing the heat media flow along a helical trajectory.
Application of the claimed method and the thermionic generator for accomplishing it increase the efficiency of heat flow energy conversion into electrical energy at the expense of its rational use and increase the efficiency of the thermionic generator to as high as 70-80 per cent. In the sources of information known to us there is no data about the claimed technique of heat flow advancing through the thermionic elements of the thermionic generator with simultaneous warm up of the flow. Application of this technique allows a substantial increase of thermal energy conversion efficiency without any additional expenditure for thermal insulation of the generator case.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION
The present invention is applicable in industry, because known technologies used now in production of generators are used for its embodiment. All the structural components of the claimed thermionic generator can be produced with known equipment using known industrial technologies. The claimed method can be used at any thermal power station and in other heat generation processes in power plants.
Below there is an example of an embodiment of the thermionic generator. Case 1 (Fig. 1, 2) of the thermionic generator has the form of a cylinder. The case walls are directly attached to a double insulation layer 2. Between the insulation layers there are gaps, along which a gaseous heat media is moving (air). In the middle of the case coaxially with it there is a cooled furnace 3. There is case 4 around the furnace and the space between the furnace and the case is divided into separate sections by partitions 5. Fuel is advanced to the furnace through nozzle 6, and hot blowing air passes from the gap between insulation layers through branch pipe 7. The operational zone, placed between case 4 and the inner insulation layer is divided into sections by segment thermionic elements 8 with apertures 9 and communication pins 10, the segments arranged in such a way that in every section either anodes A or cathodes K placed inside the segments join the opposite surfaces. In Unit A (Fig. 5) we can see reciprocal disposition of cathodes and anodes in the segments.
The furnace output is connected by passage 11 with the gap, which is the first from the end of and is formed by thermionic elements. There are apertures 12 in the case for passing of the moving heat carrier. There is the form of the gaps between the segments of the thermionic elements depicted in Fig. 4, and partitions 5 are marked by dashed lines. Heat exchanger 13 is for warming up blowing air and heat exchanger 14 is for warming up water side the case. Smoke passage trajectories are marked with arrowed continuous lines.
Thermionic elements 8 are connected into a single electrical circuit and connected to the load with communication wires 15 (Fig. 3).
The process of conversion of thermal energy into electrical one within the thermionic generator takes place in the following way. Fuel and hot air are fed to the furnace through nozzle 6. Fuel burns with emission of thermal energy and hot gas (smoke) in the cylindrical part of the furnace. Fuel is advanced to the operational area through the walls of the furnace and while moving along the furnace its temperature decreases. The pattern of temperature variation in the function of furnace length is shown in Fig. 6 and as it is seen from the chart the temperature of the smoke reaches as high as 1650 degrees Celsius, and at the output it is equal to 900 degrees. At the temperature of 900 degrees smoke passes to the last section of the operational zone through passage 11 where it is directed circularly and bathes the surfaces of segments joined with cathodes K. In the process of circular movement the smoke returns part of its thermal energy to the cathodes, where it is conversed into electricity and partly warms the anodes of these segments.
Having passed this circle, smoke cooled down as low as 700 degrees passes in to the last but one section where it warms up a little, tapping heat from anodes. The temperature of smoke at the output of this section is about 750 degrees Celsius, which is much higher than in the neighboring section befringed with cathodes. That is why smoke is directed from the anode section though apertures 12 into the space, limited by cylindrical surfaces of the fumace with case and tabular partitions, where it is warmed up once more as high as 900 degrees Celsius. This part of the chart is marked with an erratic in Fig.6. Heating is achieved at the expense of heat passing through the furnace wall, the flow of smoke inside of which being cooled down. Then the warmed smoke advances into the next cathode section, and the process of heat exchange will be repeated while moving from the end to the beginning of the case as it is shown at Fig.6 in the chart of smoke temperature variation of the operational area. According to the chart, the temperature in the anode sections is set up much lower than in the cathode ones. This provides the required difference of temperatures between cathodes and anodes in the thermionic elements. According to this pattern of smoke advance in the operational zone constant temperature of the thermionic elements is set up and its value 700-900 degrees Celsius with the average of 800 degrees Celsius is optimal for conversion of heat into electricity and for reliability and durability of the material the thermionic elements are made of. Cooling of side segments joining the case (Fig. 2) is accomplished through cooled insulated walls.
At temperature level 300 degrees smoke advances from the first left section to heat exchanger 13 through the end of the isolating gap, and flowing directly gives its heat to the blowing air; the temperature of the smoke is decreasing as low as 150 degrees Celsius and the temperature of the blowing air is increasing approximately as high as 150 degrees Celsius. Further increase of the temperature as high as 300 degrees takes place in the air-cooled area. Variation of air temperature is shown in Fig. 6 with thin arrowed lines. The temperature of the smoke decreases as low as 40 degrees Celsius in heat exchanger 12, which is possible in the process of contra-directorial heat exchange between smoke and heat carrier advanced through heat exchanger 14. Thermionic elements 8 form a single electrical circuit and are connected to generator load pins with communication wires 15 (Fig. 3). The process of heat exchange in the thermionic generator, mentioned here, provides economy and compactness of the generator.
Claims (2)
1. Method of direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy comprising transmitting heat media to thermionic elements, located in the hermetically sealed case of a generator and connected to one another into a single electrical circuit, cathodes of thermionic elements being heated at least as high as the temperature of the thermal emission of electrons, anodes of thermionic elements being cooled, and the obtained electrical current advanced to a load, differing in that heat transmission is brought into effect through the walls of achannel from the heated moving heat media passing along the channel and from the same heat media, coming from the channel output and moving in the reverse direction, the thermionic elements being located in ring rows, containing separate segments perpendicularly to the walls of the case embracing the channel with warmed up heat media, the space between the walls of the channel and the case divided into separate sections forming gaps between ring rows and gaps between segments in order for the flow to advance along a helical trajectory, the segments of the thermionic elements being placed so that either cathodes or anodes of the thermionic elements join both the sides of every gap, the heat media flow being advanced through the first gap, formed by thermionic elements cathodes, and the flow advanced along circumference while warming the cathodes up in this gap and cooled while passing along the gap between the segments of the second ring row being directed into the next gap formed by anodes, the gap in which the heat media flow is used as anode coolant and from which the flow is advanced into the space between the channel and the case, the space being placed under the second and the third gaps for warming the flow up through the wall of the channel at the expense of tapping the heat from the flow, advancing along the channel, the flow then being directed into the third gap, formed by cathodes, the operational cycle being repeated as long as decreasing temperature of the waste flow is lower than the temperature of thermal emission of electrons.
2. A thermionic generator comprising of a hermetically sealed case with a device of heat media flow input from an outer source and an exhaust of the waste heat media flow. Inside the case there are thermionic elements made in the form of separate segments forming rows with gaps for passing of heat media flow, connected with one another into a single electrical circuit, differing from the above in that the case is made in the form of a cylinder, the device of heat media flow input is mounted in the middle of the said case along its longitudinal axis and separate segments of thermionic elements form rows of rings perpendicularly to walls with gaps for passing the heat media flow in order to provide an opportunity of transmitting the heat to the cathodes of the thermionic elements and cooling the anodes of the thermionic elements, the rows consisting of segments having gaps in order to provide an opportunity for the heat media flow to move along a helical trajectory.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/RU2004/000168 WO2005106919A1 (en) | 2004-04-28 | 2004-04-28 | Method for directly converting heat energy into electric power and a generator for carrying out said method |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2566812A1 CA2566812A1 (en) | 2005-11-10 |
| CA2566812C true CA2566812C (en) | 2010-04-06 |
Family
ID=35241917
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2566812A Expired - Fee Related CA2566812C (en) | 2004-04-28 | 2004-04-28 | Method for directly converting heat energy into electric power and a generator for carrying out said method |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2566812C (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2005106919A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020185944A1 (en) * | 2019-03-12 | 2020-09-17 | Modern Electron, LLC | Combined heating and power modules and devices |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE878521C (en) * | 1945-03-16 | 1953-06-05 | Siemens Ag | Device for converting heat into electrical energy with the help of a thermo column consisting of several elements |
| RU2061276C1 (en) * | 1992-04-03 | 1996-05-27 | Олег Викторович Бондарев | Thermoelectronic generator |
| US5541464A (en) * | 1994-03-30 | 1996-07-30 | Johnson; Lonnie G. | Thermionic generator |
| RU2144241C1 (en) * | 1998-10-02 | 2000-01-10 | Смирнов Лев Николаевич | Method and thermionic generator for thermal-to-electric energy conversion |
| RU21696U1 (en) * | 2001-06-13 | 2002-01-27 | Гарбузов Валентин Георгиевич | THERMOEMISSION GENERATOR |
-
2004
- 2004-04-28 CA CA2566812A patent/CA2566812C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2004-04-28 WO PCT/RU2004/000168 patent/WO2005106919A1/en active Application Filing
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020185944A1 (en) * | 2019-03-12 | 2020-09-17 | Modern Electron, LLC | Combined heating and power modules and devices |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2005106919A1 (en) | 2005-11-10 |
| CA2566812A1 (en) | 2005-11-10 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US8575467B2 (en) | Generator of electric energy based on the thermoelectric effect | |
| US6096966A (en) | Tubular thermoelectric module | |
| EP2764555B1 (en) | Integrated assembly of micro heat exchanger and thermoelectric module | |
| CN102738378A (en) | Thermoelectric cluster, method for operating same, device for connecting an active element in said cluster to a thermoelectric drive, generator (variants) and heat pump (variants) based thereon | |
| RU99116626A (en) | POWER SYSTEM WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL CONVERTER, SYSTEM WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL CONVERTER AND I / O DEVICE FOR USE WITH A HIGH PRESSURE RESERVOIR | |
| CN104638982B (en) | Thermoelectric generator | |
| JP4905877B2 (en) | Cogeneration system and operation method thereof | |
| CN214666101U (en) | Lithium battery material sintering roller kiln with waste heat recovery function | |
| WO2006031277A2 (en) | Combustor with integrated counter-flow heat exchanger | |
| RU2010103019A (en) | HIGH TEMPERATURE HIGH PRESSURE ELECTROLYZER CARRYING OUT THE ALLOTHERMIC PROCESS | |
| CN101882898A (en) | Low temperature smoke temperature difference generator | |
| JP2002238272A (en) | Generating station utilizing high-temperature exhaust heat | |
| CA2566812C (en) | Method for directly converting heat energy into electric power and a generator for carrying out said method | |
| JP2014529178A (en) | In particular, a method for manufacturing a thermoelectric device for generating current in an automobile, and a thermoelectric device obtained by such a method | |
| CN112794285A (en) | Hydrogen production method and hydrogen production system | |
| RU2144241C1 (en) | Method and thermionic generator for thermal-to-electric energy conversion | |
| KR20160141421A (en) | Thermoelectric Generation Device for vehicle | |
| KR20170036885A (en) | Thermoelectric generation apparatus | |
| RU2329562C1 (en) | Method of direct conversion of thermal energy into electric energy and generator for its implementation | |
| CN205944333U (en) | Battery temperature control device and battery module structure | |
| RU2509266C1 (en) | Thermoelectric link for pipe | |
| CN218154810U (en) | Gas electric heating device | |
| CN108548439A (en) | A kind of flue gas waste heat power generation device and fume afterheat system | |
| CN211376957U (en) | Aluminum nitride based connector bar | |
| CN103078558A (en) | Sandwich flat plate array type-based thermoelectric generator |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20150428 |