JP2006136172A - Generation set and power generating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a generation set which generates electricity using a thermoelectric transducer by which electricity is generated more efficiently than before. <P>SOLUTION: The generation set includes the thermoelectric transducer 3, a burner 5 for heating a part of the thermoelectric transducer 3, and an evaporator 7 for cooling a part of the thermoelectric transducer 3 wherein substances evaporated by the evaporator 7 are used as fuel for the burner 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a power generation apparatus and a power generation method, and particularly relates to a power generation apparatus using a thermoelectric conversion element.

  In a power generation device that generates power using a conventional thermoelectric conversion element, in order to efficiently cool a portion that needs cooling when the thermoelectric conversion element generates power, for example, the surface area of the portion that requires cooling is increased, Moreover, the fan is driven using the electric power generated by the power generation device, and air is applied to the surface that needs to be cooled.

Patent documents 1 and 2 are patent documents related to the conventional technology.
JP 7-22655 A JP 10-141668 A

  By the way, in the said conventional electric power generating apparatus, since the said thermoelectric conversion element is cooled by the convective heat transfer of air, the amount of cooling tends to be insufficient, and it is difficult to cool a thermoelectric conversion element efficiently. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a power generation apparatus and a power generation method capable of generating power more efficiently than in the conventional power generation apparatus and power generation method using a thermoelectric conversion element. For the purpose.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a power generation apparatus, wherein a thermoelectric conversion element, a combustor for heating a part of the thermoelectric conversion element, and an evaporator for cooling another part of the thermoelectric conversion element And the substance vaporized by the evaporator is used as fuel for the combustor.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the power generation device, the combustor having a planar portion and a plate-like shape, and one surface in the thickness direction is opposed to the planar portion of the combustor. A thermoelectric conversion element having a planar portion, and the planar portion facing the other surface in the thickness direction of the thermoelectric conversion element, and vaporized by the evaporator Is a power generator configured to be used as fuel for the combustor.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the power generator, the combustor formed in a plate shape and the plate-shaped combustor, and one surface in the thickness direction faces one surface in the thickness direction of the combustor. 1st evaporator which is equipped with the 1st thermoelectric conversion element which opposes, and a planar part, and this planar part is facing the other surface of the thickness direction of the 1st thermoelectric conversion element A second thermoelectric conversion element that is formed in a plate shape and has one surface in the thickness direction facing the other surface in the thickness direction of the combustor, and a planar portion. A second evaporator facing the other surface in the thickness direction of the second thermoelectric conversion element, and the first portion of the first evaporator and the second evaporator The power generation device is configured to use a substance vaporized in at least one of the evaporators as fuel for the combustor.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the power generation apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the substance vaporized by the evaporator is a substance having a low vaporization temperature.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power generation device that generates electricity with a thermoelectric conversion element, wherein a part of the thermoelectric conversion element is cooled by using latent heat of a substance.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the power generation apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a combustor for heating another part of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the substance is used in the combustor. It is the electric power generating apparatus which is fuel to be used.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the power generation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and claim 6, wherein the combustor is a premixed gas of fuel and oxygen, or a fuel. The power generation device is configured to burn the premixed gas by preheating the premixed gas of air and air.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the power generation apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the combustor combusts a combustion chamber and a premixed gas of fuel and air or a premixed gas of fuel and air. A premixed gas flow path for supplying to the chamber, and an exhaust gas flow path for discharging the gas generated by the combustion from the combustion chamber, wherein the premixed gas flow path is more than the extinguishing distance. A power generator configured to be narrowly formed and heated by the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas flow path until the premix gas flowing through the premix gas flow path reaches the combustion chamber; is there.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the power generation device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects and the sixth aspect of the present invention, the combustor separates fuel and oxygen, or fuel and air. Is a power generator configured to burn the premixed gas by separately preheating them.

  An invention according to claim 10 is the power generation device according to claim 9, wherein the combustor includes a combustion chamber, a fuel flow path for supplying the fuel to the combustion chamber, oxygen or air, Separately from the fuel, it has an oxygen flow path for supplying the combustion chamber and an exhaust gas flow path for exhausting the gas generated by combustion from the combustion chamber, and the fuel flow path and the oxygen flow path The path is formed narrower than the extinguishing distance, and the fuel flowing through the fuel flow path is configured to be warmed by the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas flow path before reaching the combustion chamber. The power generation device is configured such that oxygen or air flowing through the passage is heated by the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas passage before reaching the combustion chamber.

  The invention according to claim 11 is a power generation method for generating power using a thermoelectric conversion element, wherein a cooling step is performed to cool a portion that needs to be cooled when the thermoelectric conversion element generates power using latent heat of fuel; The power generation method includes an overheating stage in which the fuel used in the cooling stage is burned to heat a portion that needs to be heated when the thermoelectric conversion element generates power.

  Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, the power generation apparatus and power generation method for generating power using a thermoelectric conversion element have the effect that power can be generated more efficiently than before.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a power generator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The power generation device 1 is a device that generates electric power using the thermoelectric conversion element 3, and a part of the thermoelectric conversion element 3 (part that needs to be cooled when the thermoelectric conversion element 3 generates electric power) is the latent heat of the substance (substance The material is cooled by using heat absorbed by the substance when the phase changes, heat of vaporization, heat of fusion, heat of sublimation).

  Further, the power generation device 1 is provided with a combustor 5 for heating another part of the thermoelectric conversion element 3 (a part that needs to be heated when the thermoelectric conversion element generates power), and the substance Is used as a fuel for the combustor 5.

  That is, the substance used for cooling the thermoelectric conversion element 3 is supplied to the combustor 5.

  Here, an example will be described in detail.

  The power generator 1 is provided with a combustor 5 and an evaporator 7.

  The combustor 5 is formed in a disc shape, for example, and circular planar portions are formed on both sides in the thickness direction.

  The thermoelectric conversion element 3 is formed in a disc shape having substantially the same outer diameter as the combustor 5. Further, a part of the thermoelectric conversion element 3 (a portion that needs to be heated when the thermoelectric conversion element 3 generates power; one surface in the thickness direction of the thermoelectric conversion element 3) is a circular shape of the combustor 5. The thermoelectric conversion element 3 is provided so as to face and abut against this part.

  In addition, the evaporator 7 is formed in a disc shape having substantially the same outer diameter as the combustor 5 (the thermoelectric conversion element 3). Further, a circular shape of the evaporator 7 is formed on a part of the thermoelectric conversion element 3 (a portion that needs to be cooled when the thermoelectric conversion element 3 generates power; the other surface in the thickness direction of the thermoelectric conversion element 3). The evaporator 7 is provided so that these parts face each other.

  The substance vaporized in the evaporator 7 is used as fuel in the combustor 5.

  More specifically, the thermoelectric conversion element 3 (3A) is provided on one surface in the thickness direction of the combustor 5, and the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion element 3 (3A) (the combustor 5). The evaporator 7 (7A) is provided on the surface opposite to the surface facing.

  Further, similarly to the one surface, the thermoelectric conversion element 3 (3B) and the evaporator 7 (7B) are provided on the other surface in the thickness direction of the combustor 5.

  And the external shape of the apparatus which installed the said thermoelectric conversion element 3 (3A, 3B) and the evaporator 7 (7A, 7B) in the said combustor 5 is formed in the column shape.

  A supply path 9 for supplying fuel to the evaporator 7 (7A, 7B) is connected to the evaporator 7 (7A, 7B). The other end of the supply path 9 is connected to a fuel tank (not shown).

  Further, the evaporator 7 (7A, 7B) and the combustor 5 are connected to each other through an introduction path 11 for introducing the fuel heated by the evaporator 7 into the combustor 5.

  In the power generation device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the fuel heated by the evaporators 7A and 7B is supplied to the combustor 5, but at least one of the evaporators 7A and 7B is used. The fuel vaporized by the evaporator may be supplied to the combustor 5.

  The combustor 5 is supplied with a premixed gas in which fuel and air heated by the evaporator 7 are mixed. Therefore, although not shown in FIG. 1, an air introduction path for supplying air (air containing oxygen; only oxygen) into the introduction path 11 is connected to an intermediate portion of the introduction path 11. ing.

  Note that fuel and air mixed in advance may be supplied into the evaporator 7 via the supply path 9 without providing the air introduction path.

  The combustor 5 will be described in detail.

  2 is a diagram showing a section taken along the line IIA-IIB in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a section taken along the line IIIA-IIIB in FIG.

  The combustor 5 preheats a premixed gas of fuel and oxygen (premixed gas of gaseous fuel and air) in advance, so that the premixed gas is stably combusted even if it is small. Is now possible.

  The combustor 5 includes a small combustion chamber 19, a premixed gas passage 21 for supplying a premixed gas of fuel and air to the combustion chamber 19, and a gas (combustion gas) generated by combustion. An exhaust gas flow path 23 for discharging the exhaust gas) from the combustion chamber 19. The premixed gas that has been compressed outside the combustor 3 is supplied to the premixed gas channel 21 so that the premixed gas is pumped through the premixed gas channel 21. It is like that.

  The premixed gas flow path 21 is formed to be narrower than a flame extinguishing distance, which will be described in detail later. Further, the premixed gas flowing through the premixed gas flow path 21 reaches the combustion chamber 19. The exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas passage (combustion gas passage) 23 is heated to a temperature at which combustion in the combustion chamber 19 can be continued.

  According to the combustor 5, the premixed gas of fuel and air is burned in the combustion chamber 19, and the premixed gas is warmed by the high-temperature combustion gas generated by this combustion. Due to the warming of the premixed gas, the premixed gas can be continuously burned in a stable state even in the small combustion chamber 19.

  Note that, for example, even when the premixed gas is a lean gas (a gas in which the fuel is lean) having about 1/3 of the theoretical mixing ratio, stable combustion is possible.

  Further, since the premixed gas channel 21 is formed to be narrower than the extinguishing distance, it is possible to prevent the flame from flowing back from the combustion chamber 19 to the premixed gas channel 21. Safety is getting higher.

  Further, since the premixed gas is warmed by the combustion gas, the temperature of the combustion gas at the outlet 23A of the exhaust gas flow path 23 is low, and therefore the thermal energy possessed by the combustion gas is efficient. The efficiency of the combustor 5 as a whole is improved. That is, for example, the ratio of thermal energy released from the casing of the combustor 5 (part other than the combustion gas) to the chemical energy of the premixed gas is large.

  The combustor 5 will be described in more detail.

  The combustor 5 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be called a so-called Swiss roll type combustor (microcombustor).

  As described above, the outer diameter of the micro combustor 5 is formed in a short cylindrical shape, and the combustion chamber 19 is provided in the center. The combustion chamber 19 is provided with a spark plug (not shown) for starting.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the microcombustor 5 is viewed from the axial direction of the columnar microcombustor 5 (the extending direction of the side surface; the direction connecting the bottom surface and the top surface), the outer periphery of the microcombustor 5 from the combustion chamber 19. The premixed gas flow path 21 and the exhaust gas flow path (combustion gas flow path) 23 are provided in a spiral shape.

  The combustion chamber 19, the premixed gas channel 21, and the combustion gas channel 23 include a heat insulating wall 25 and a heat transfer wall 27 that are formed in a spiral shape, and the cylindrical microcombustor 5. A disk-shaped upper plate 29 (see FIG. 3) constituting the upper wall of the disk and a disk-shaped lower plate 31 (see FIG. 3) constituting the bottom wall of the cylindrical microcombustor 5. ) And are formed by.

  The heat insulating wall 25 and the heat transfer wall 27 are formed in a spiral shape by curving a long rectangular material in a thin plate shape in the length direction.

  Moreover, the upper end part (part corresponding to one end part in the width direction of the material) of the heat retaining wall 25 and the upper end part (part corresponding to one end part in the width direction of the material) of the heat transfer wall 27 are In addition, the lower end portion of the heat retaining wall 25 (the portion corresponding to the other end portion in the width direction of the material) and the lower end portion of the heat transfer wall 27 (the width direction of the material) so as to exist on substantially the same plane. The heat retaining wall 25 and the heat transfer wall 27 are arranged so that a portion corresponding to the other end portion of the heat retaining wall 25 exists on substantially the same plane.

  Further, the upper plate 29 is integrally provided at the upper end portion of the heat retaining wall 25 and the upper end portion of the heat transfer wall 27, and the lower end portion of the heat retaining wall 25 and the lower end portion of the heat transfer wall 27 are A lower plate 31 is integrally provided.

  The heat retaining wall 25, the upper plate 29, and the lower plate 31 form a flow path that is the basis of the flow path 21 for the premixed gas and the flow path 23 for the combustion gas, and the heat transfer wall 27 is arranged at a position that partitions the base flow path to form the premixed gas flow path 21 and the combustion gas flow path 23.

  That is, the heat transfer wall 27 divides the base flow path into two flow paths (the premixed gas flow path 21 and the combustion gas flow path 23) in the width direction. The premixed gas passage 21 and the combustion gas passage 23 are spirally extended from the combustion chamber 19 toward the outer periphery of the micro combustor 5 with the heat transfer wall 27 in between. It is formed by translation.

  In this way, the premixed gas flow path 21 and the combustion gas flow path 23 are formed in a spirally long translation with the heat transfer wall 27 as a boundary. The combustion gas becomes a counter flow, and sufficient heat exchange is performed between the premixed gas and the combustion gas, and the premixed gas flow path 21 and the combustion gas flow path 23 are swirled. The size of the micro combustor 5 is reduced due to the formation.

  Further, since the premixed gas and the combustion gas are in a counterflow, the temperature of the combustion gas gradually decreases as the distance from the combustion chamber 19 is increased, while the temperature of the premixed gas is As the temperature approaches the combustion chamber 19, the temperature gradually increases. In the vicinity of the combustion chamber 19, the temperature of the premixed gas is close to the temperature of the combustion gas immediately after exiting the combustion chamber 19, and the temperature increases. The premixed gas is supplied to the combustion chamber 19 and the combustion in the combustion chamber 19 is stabilized.

  Next, the flame extinguishing distance will be briefly described.

  In general, combustion is an exothermic reaction in which oxygen and fuel react with each other in the air to generate combustion gas. However, if the fuel is a gas body, it reacts with oxygen and forms a flame.

  A flame is a phenomenon that occurs when oxygen converted into radicals at high temperature and the fuel gas react rapidly, causing a chain reaction to propagate rapidly. However, since the radicals are deactivated when they hit the solid wall, the flame cannot pass through the gaps in the narrow solid wall.

  Thus, the distance of the limit gap through which the flame cannot pass is called the extinction distance, and FIG. 4 is a table showing the relationship between the combustion speed of the premixed gas and the extinction distance.

  Note that the extinguishing distance D1 shown in FIG. 4 indicates the diameter of the premixed gas flow path when the cross section of the plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the premixed gas flow path is circular.

  Here, when the cross-sectional shape of the premixed gas flow path (the cross-sectional shape of the premixed gas flow path by a plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the premixed gas flow path) is not circular, When the equivalent diameter D3 is obtained by the equation f1 shown in FIG. 5 and the obtained equivalent diameter D3 is equal to or less than the extinguishing distance D1, the flow path of the premixed gas is formed narrower than the extinguishing distance. Become.

  Equivalent diameter D3 = cross-sectional area of gas flow path S1 × 4 / peripheral length L1 of gas flow path Equation f1.

  As already understood, since the cross section of the premixed gas channel 21 is formed in a rectangular shape, the sectional area S1 of the gas channel is the width of the gas channel shown in FIG. The peripheral length L1 of the gas flow path can be obtained by B1 × gas flow path height H1 and the gas flow path width B1 × 2 + gas flow path height H1 × 2. Yes (see FIG. 3).

  For the heat retaining wall 25, the heat transfer wall 27, the upper plate 29, and the lower plate 31, for example, a heat resistant stainless steel such as SUS316 or SUS310 or a heat resistant alloy such as Inconel is used.

  Further, the outer diameter of the micro combustor 5 is, for example, 10 mm to 50 mm, the thickness is about 3 mm to 10 mm, the thickness of the heat retaining wall 25 is about 1 mm, and the thickness of the heat transfer wall 27 is , About 0.3 mm. When the heat insulating wall 25 and the heat transfer wall 27 are made of a material having substantially the same thermal conductivity, the heat insulating wall 25 is formed thicker than the heat transfer wall 27. .

  As the fuel for the micro combustor 5, liquid fuel such as hydrocarbons such as alcohols and paraffinic hydrocarbons is used. When there is no need to cool the thermoelectric conversion element as in this embodiment, gaseous fuel such as methane, ethane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, acetylene, etc. may be used. When liquid fuel is used, it is preferable that the liquid fuel is vaporized at the inlet 21 </ b> A of the premixed gas passage 21. Furthermore, a fuel having a low vaporizing temperature such as methyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol is more preferable.

  Further, since the micro combustor 5 is small, the lower plate 31, the heat retaining wall 25, and the heat transfer wall 27 are integrally formed by cutting out from a cylindrical material. It is desirable to form the micro combustor 5 so that the upper part of the object is closed by the upper plate 29. The upper plate 29 is joined by welding or brazing.

  Furthermore, the lower plate 31, the heat retaining wall 25, and the heat transfer wall 27 are integrally formed by casting, and the upper portion 29 is closed by the upper plate 29 to form the micro combustor 5. The lower plate 31, the heat retaining wall 25, the heat transfer wall 27, and the upper plate 29 may be integrally formed by casting.

  Next, the operation of the power generator 1 will be described.

  When fuel (for example, methanol) is supplied to the evaporator 7, the methanol is vaporized by the evaporator, and one surface of the thermoelectric conversion element 3 is cooled.

  When the premixed gas containing methanol vaporized in the evaporator 7 is supplied to the combustor 5 and ignited by the spark plug, the premixed gas burns in the combustion chamber 19.

  When the combustion gas generated by this combustion is discharged to the outside of the micro combustor 5, the premixed gas is warmed through the heat transfer wall 27.

  The other surface of the thermoelectric conversion element 3 is heated by the heat of combustion in the micro combustor 5, and the thermoelectric conversion element 3 generates power.

  According to the power generation device 1, the thermoelectric conversion element is cooled by using the latent heat of the substance (for example, the heat of vaporization of the fuel), so that the power generation device 1 is more than the conventional power generation device that is cooled by air convection. The thermoelectric conversion element can be efficiently cooled.

  Moreover, since it cools using the latent heat of a substance, the temperature to cool can be kept substantially constant, and it can generate electric power in the stable state.

  Furthermore, since the thermoelectric conversion element 3 can be efficiently cooled, the power generation efficiency of the power generation device 1 (thermoelectric conversion element 3) can be increased as compared with the conventional case.

  Further, according to the power generator 1, the fuel vaporized in the evaporator 7 is used as the fuel for the combustor 5, that is, the gaseous fuel is supplied to the combustor 5. The combustion in the combustor 5 becomes stable.

  In particular, when a micro combustor that needs to increase the temperature of the fuel before burning the fuel is used as the combustor 5, vaporized fuel can be supplied to the micro combustor. The combustion of is stabilized.

  Further, since the micro combustor 5 can be easily downsized, if the thermoelectric conversion element 3 and the evaporator 7 are downsized in accordance with the micro combustor 5, the power generator 1 itself can be easily downsized. Can do.

  Moreover, according to the electric power generating apparatus 1, since the combustor 5 is provided in the one surface of the thermoelectric conversion element 3 formed in plate shape, and the evaporator 7 is provided in the other surface, that is, the said thermoelectric conversion Since the element 3 is heated and cooled on the surface, the thermoelectric conversion element 3 can be efficiently heated and cooled.

  Moreover, according to the electric power generating apparatus 1, the plate-shaped thermoelectric conversion element 3 (3A, 3B) is provided on each of both surfaces of the combustor 5 formed in plate shape, and the outer surface of these thermoelectric conversion elements 3A, 3B Since the evaporator 7 (7A, 7B) is provided in each of them, the heat generated by the combustor 5 can be efficiently transmitted to the thermoelectric conversion elements 3A, 3B with a simple configuration. The thermoelectric conversion elements 3A and 3B can be efficiently cooled.

  Furthermore, in the power generation apparatus 1, when a fuel having a low vaporizing temperature such as methyl alcohol is used, the thermoelectric conversion element 3 can be cooled at a low temperature, and power can be generated efficiently.

  Further, according to the power generation device 1, the thermoelectric conversion element 3 is heated using the micro combustor 5 that can efficiently convert the chemical energy of the fuel into heat energy. The conversion element 3 can be efficiently heated. That is, the chemical energy possessed by the fuel can be efficiently converted into electrical energy.

  By the way, in FIG. 2, when viewed from the thickness direction of the microcombustor 5, a step is formed at a portion where the premixed gas inlet 21A and the combustion gas outlet 23B are formed. The combustor 5 is not formed in a precise circular shape, but is formed in a substantially circular shape.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5 (a diagram showing a modification of the micro combustor and corresponding to the IIA-IIB cross section of FIG. 1), the outer shape of the micro combustor may be formed in a short cylindrical shape. In this case, the premixed gas inlet 21 </ b> A and the combustion gas outlet 23 </ b> A are provided on the side surface of the micro combustor 5.

  The micro combustor 5 does not necessarily have a circular shape, and may be formed in a polygonal shape such as a square shape. When the microcombustor is formed in a polygonal shape, it is desirable to form the evaporator and the reformer in a polygonal shape in accordance with the shape of the microcombustor.

  Furthermore, the thermoelectric conversion element 3, the micro combustor 5, and the evaporator 7 may be formed in a shape other than a plate shape.

  By the way, in the electric power generating apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the premixed gas is combusted by preheating the premixed gas of fuel and oxygen or the premixed gas of fuel and air in advance. Although the combustor 5 is used, instead of the combustor 5, the fuel and oxygen are separately heated, or the fuel and air are separately warmed in advance, so that the size is small. A combustor that can stably burn the fuel using the oxygen or the air may be employed.

  The combustor (a combustor that preheats fuel and oxygen separately or fuel and air separately) will be described in detail. The combustor includes a combustion chamber and fuel for supplying the combustion chamber. A fuel flow path; an oxygen flow path for supplying oxygen or air to the combustion chamber separately from the fuel; and an exhaust gas flow path for discharging gas generated by combustion from the combustion chamber. The fuel flow path and the oxygen flow path are formed narrower than the extinguishing distance so that the fuel flowing through the fuel flow path is warmed by the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas flow path before reaching the combustion chamber. The oxygen or air flowing through the oxygen flow path is heated by the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas flow path before reaching the combustion chamber.

  More specifically, in the combustor 5 (the combustor used in the power generation apparatus 1 according to the embodiment) shown in FIG. 2, two spiral flow paths, that is, a premixed gas flow path 21 and an exhaust gas flow path 23. However, in the combustor that preheats fuel and oxygen separately or fuel and air separately, in the small combustor 5 shown in FIG. By forming one flow path, the first flow path as the fuel flow path, the second flow path as the air or oxygen flow path, and the third flow path as the exhaust gas flow path, Fuel and oxygen or fuel and air are individually preheated, and the preheated materials are mixed and burned in a combustion chamber. The small combustor configured as described above may be referred to as a diffusion combustor.

  In the diffusion combustor, air or oxygen and fuel are mixed in the combustion chamber. However, fuel and air or oxygen may be mixed in the course (flow path) leading to the combustion chamber. .

  Further, either one of the oxygen flow path and the fuel flow path is abolished, and a small through hole is provided in the wall of the combustion chamber. From this through hole, air, oxygen, fuel Either of these may be supplied.

  For example, the fuel flow path may be eliminated, a small through hole may be provided in the wall of the combustion chamber, and fuel may be supplied from the through hole to the combustion chamber.

It is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a power generator concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the IIA-IIB cross section in FIG. It is a figure which shows the IIIA-IIIB cross section in FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the relationship between the combustion speed of premixed gas, and a flame extinction distance. It is a figure which shows the modification of a micro combustor, and is a figure corresponding to the IIA-IIB cross section of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power generator 3, 3A, 3B Thermoelectric conversion element 5 Combustor 7, 7A, 7B Evaporator 19 Combustion chamber 21 Premixed gas flow path 23 Exhaust gas flow path

Claims (11)

In the power generator,
A thermoelectric conversion element;
A combustor for heating a part of the thermoelectric conversion element;
An evaporator for cooling the other part of the thermoelectric conversion element;
The power generation apparatus is configured to use the substance vaporized by the evaporator as a fuel for the combustor. In the power generator,
A combustor with a planar portion;
A thermoelectric conversion element formed in a plate shape and having one surface in the thickness direction facing a planar portion of the combustor;
An evaporator having a planar portion, the planar portion facing the other surface in the thickness direction of the thermoelectric conversion element;
The power generation apparatus is configured to use the substance vaporized by the evaporator as a fuel for the combustor. In the power generator,
A combustor formed in a plate shape;
A first thermoelectric conversion element formed in a plate shape and having one surface in the thickness direction opposed to one surface in the thickness direction of the combustor;
A first evaporator having a planar portion, the planar portion facing the other surface in the thickness direction of the first thermoelectric conversion element;
A second thermoelectric conversion element formed in a plate shape and having one surface in the thickness direction facing the other surface in the thickness direction of the combustor;
A second evaporator having a planar portion, the planar portion facing the other surface in the thickness direction of the second thermoelectric conversion element;
The material vaporized in at least one of the first evaporator and the second evaporator is used as fuel for the combustor. Power generation device. In the electric power generating apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3,
The power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substance vaporized by the evaporator is a substance having a low vaporization temperature. In a power generation device that generates electricity with a thermoelectric conversion element,
A power generator configured to cool a part of the thermoelectric conversion element using latent heat of a substance. In the electric power generating apparatus of Claim 5,
A combustor for heating the other part of the thermoelectric conversion element;
The power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substance is a fuel used for the combustor. In the electric power generating apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4, Claim 6,
The combustor is configured to burn the premixed gas by preheating a premixed gas of fuel and oxygen or a premixed gas of fuel and air in advance. Power generator. The power generator according to claim 7,
The combustor
A combustion chamber;
A premixed gas flow path for supplying a premixed gas of fuel and air or a premixed gas of fuel and air to the combustion chamber;
An exhaust gas flow path for exhausting gas produced by combustion from the combustion chamber;
And the flow path of the premixed gas is formed narrower than the extinction distance, and the flow of the exhaust gas before the premixed gas flowing through the flow path of the premixed gas reaches the combustion chamber. A power generator configured to be heated by exhaust gas flowing through a road. In the electric power generating apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4, Claim 6,
The combustor is configured to burn the premixed gas by preheating the fuel and oxygen separately or the fuel and air separately in advance. The power generator according to claim 9,
The combustor
A combustion chamber;
A fuel flow path for supplying the fuel to the combustion chamber;
An oxygen flow path for supplying oxygen or air to the combustion chamber separately from the fuel;
An exhaust gas flow path for exhausting gas produced by combustion from the combustion chamber;
The fuel flow path and the oxygen flow path are formed narrower than the extinguishing distance, and the fuel flowing through the fuel flow path is exhausted by the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas flow path before reaching the combustion chamber. The oxygen or air that flows through the oxygen flow path is configured to be heated by the exhaust gas that flows through the flow path of the exhaust gas before reaching the combustion chamber. Power generation device. In a power generation method of generating power using a thermoelectric conversion element,
A cooling step in which a portion that needs to be cooled when the thermoelectric conversion element generates power is cooled using latent heat of the fuel;
An overheating stage in which the fuel used in the cooling stage is burned to heat a portion that needs to be heated when the thermoelectric conversion element generates power;
A power generation method comprising:

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