JP2019092325A - Power generator - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a power generator having a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A high temperature side end portion 9c is directed upward in a vertical direction. Low temperature side end portions 9d, 9e are directed downward in the vertical direction. A thermoelectric conversion element 9 is disposed vertically above a liquid surface of a liquid fuel 6 away from the liquid surface so that the low-temperature side end portions 9d, 9e are in contact with a core 8. Then, the low-temperature side end portions 9d, 9e are cooled by the liquid fuel 6 induced by the core 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a power generator.

Conventionally, the core is sandwiched between the thermoelectric conversion elements, the high temperature side end of the thermoelectric conversion element is directed upward, the low temperature end is directed downward, and the lower side of the thermoelectric conversion element is placed in a liquid fuel container. A power generation apparatus in which the low temperature side end is immersed has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the power generation apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the high temperature side end is heated by the combustion of the liquid fuel induced by the core, the low temperature side end is cooled by the liquid fuel in the container, and the high temperature side end and the low temperature side end It is possible to generate electricity by the temperature difference with the department.
However, in the power generation device described in Patent Document 1, while being used, the liquid level of the liquid fuel in the container may be lowered, and the low temperature end which has been immersed may come out of the liquid fuel. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the level of the liquid level of the liquid fuel, etc., and the configuration may be complicated.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-69652

  This invention pays attention to the above subjects, and it aims at providing a power generator with a simple structure.

  In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention includes (a) a container containing liquid fuel, and (b) a core for guiding liquid fuel above the liquid level of the liquid fuel by capillary action, (C) A thermoelectric element in which the high temperature side end points vertically upward, the low temperature side end vertically downward, and the temperature low side end is disposed vertically away from the liquid surface and in contact with the core. The gist of the present invention is a power generation device including a conversion element and configured to cool the low temperature side end portion by the liquid fuel induced by the (d) core.

  According to the present invention, since the low temperature side end is cooled by the liquid fuel induced by the core, for example, unlike the method of immersing the low temperature side end in the liquid fuel in the container for cooling, the liquid fuel liquid It is possible to provide a power generation device having a simple configuration without the need for detection of the height of the surface and the like.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the electric power generating apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged view which expands and shows a thermoelectric conversion element. It is an enlarged view showing a thermoelectric conversion element concerning a modification. It is an enlarged view showing a thermoelectric conversion element concerning a modification. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the electric power generating apparatus which concerns on a modification.

Hereinafter, a power generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The embodiments described below exemplify methods and apparatuses for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention relates to the shape, structure, arrangement and the like of components. It does not specify the following. The technical idea of the present invention can be variously modified within the technical scope defined by the claims described in the claims.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a container 5 containing a liquid fuel 6 and a core for guiding the liquid fuel 6 above the liquid surface of the liquid fuel 6 by capillary action. 8 and the high temperature side end 9c turn upward in the vertical direction, the low temperature side ends 9d and 9e turn downward in the vertical direction, and are arranged vertically above the liquid surface of the liquid fuel 6 away from the liquid surface The portions 9 d and 9 e are provided with the thermoelectric conversion element 9 in contact with the core 8. The low temperature side end portions 9 d and 9 e are cooled by the liquid fuel 6 induced by the core 8.

The core 8 is preferably in contact with the thermoelectric conversion element 9 only at the end faces of the low temperature side end portions 9 d and 9 e. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that the core 8 have a portion 8 a that covers the end surfaces and the side surfaces of the low temperature side end portions 9 d and 9 e from the outside.
Furthermore, the thermoelectric conversion element 9 is an n-type thermoelectric conversion material composed of a p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a made of a p-type thermoelectric conversion material, and an n-type thermoelectric conversion material disposed opposite to the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a. End portions of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b are joined together, and the other end sides of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b More preferably, they are separated from each other. In particular, at least one of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material is more preferably a clathrate compound.

Further, the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the lead wires 10a and 10b connected to the low temperature side end portions 9d and 9e, and the lead wires 10a and 10b are liquid fuel 6 in the container 5. It is preferable to be immersed in In particular, the lead wires 10 a and 10 b are more preferably disposed inside the core 8.
Moreover, when the power consumption part 4 which consumes electric power is provided, it is preferable that the power consumption part 4 is arrange | positioned in the container 5, and is connected to lead wire 10a, 10b.

Next, the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.
As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a heat generation unit 2 that burns liquid fuel 6 to generate heat, and a power generation unit 3 that generates electric power by the heat generated by the heat generation unit 2. And a power consumption unit 4 that consumes the power generated by the power generation unit 3. In the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a fuel lamp that burns the liquid fuel 6 is used as the heat generation unit 2.
The heat generating unit 2 includes a cylindrical container 5 whose upper end is opened and whose lower end is closed. For example, a transparent glass bottle can be used as the container 5. In addition, the liquid fuel 6 is accommodated inside the container 5. As the liquid fuel 6, for example, transparent fuel such as ethanol, methanol, mixed alcohol of ethanol and methanol, etc. can be used.

  Further, a disk-shaped lid 7 covering the opening of the container 5 is disposed above the container 5. A hole 7 a is provided at the center of the lid 7, and a rope-like core 8 is inserted. The lower end side of the core 8 is immersed in the liquid fuel 6. It is preferable that the lower end side of the core 8 be in contact with the position where the fuel of the container 5 remains, for example, the bottom of the container 5. The upper end side of the core 8 is supported by the hole 7 a and protrudes to the upper surface side of the lid 7. Then, the core 8 sucks up the liquid fuel 6 from within the container 5 by capillary action, and guides the sucked up liquid fuel 6 to the upper end of the core 8. As the core 8, for example, a combustion core in which fibers such as glass fibers are twisted can be used. Therefore, when the upper end of the core 8 is ignited, the liquid fuel 6 is burned and a flame a is formed at the upper end of the core 8.

  In the power generation unit 3, as shown in FIG. 2, the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b disposed to face the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a are electrically connected. The thermoelectric conversion element 9 is provided. In the thermoelectric conversion element 9, one end sides of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b are joined, and the other ends of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b are It is separated. As a method of bonding the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b, for example, direct removal of the electrode and direct bonding of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b as it is Indirect bonding can be used such as bonding, connection via electrodes, or wiring. In particular, direct bonding is more preferable in consideration of durability. As a material which forms the p-type thermoelectric conversion material part 9a, a p-type thermoelectric conversion material can be used, for example. An n-type thermoelectric conversion material can be used as a material for forming the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9 b. As the p-type thermoelectric conversion material and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material, for example, a clathrate compound can be adopted. When a clathrate compound is employed, at least one of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material may be a clathrate compound. In particular, a Si clathrate compound is preferable as the clathrate compound.

Further, in the thermoelectric conversion element 9, an end portion to which the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b are connected forms a "high temperature side end portion 9c". Further, the end portions of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b opposite to the high temperature side end portion 9c form "low temperature side end portions 9d and 9e". The high temperature end 9c of the thermoelectric conversion element 9 is directed vertically upward, the low temperature ends 9d, 9e are directed vertically downward, and the end faces of the low temperature ends 9d, 9e are in contact with the upper end of the core 8. Is disposed at the upper end of the core 8. That is, the thermoelectric conversion element 9 is disposed vertically above the liquid surface of the liquid fuel 6 away from the liquid surface, and only the end surfaces of the low temperature side end portions 9 d and 9 e are in contact with the core 8. The thermoelectric conversion element 9 is fixed to the upper end of the core 8 by connecting the low temperature side end portions 9d and 9e to the lead wires 10a and 10b as described later.
Therefore, the liquid fuel 6 derived by the core 8 is in contact with the end surfaces of the low temperature end portions 9 d and 9 e, and the low temperature end portions 9 d and 9 e are cooled by the liquid fuel 6 in contact. The high temperature side end 9c is heated by the flame a. As a result, a temperature difference is created between the high temperature end 9c and the low temperature ends 9d and 9e, and electric power is generated in the thermoelectric conversion element 9 due to the temperature difference.

Lead wires 10a and 10b are electrically connected to the low temperature side end portions 9d and 9e of the thermoelectric conversion element 9, respectively. As the lead wires 10a and 10b, for example, a wire such as an enameled wire or the like having high thermal conductivity between the inside and the outside of the film is preferable in addition to the thermal conductivity in the film. As shown in FIG. 1, the lead wires 10 a and 10 b are disposed inside the core 8 and immersed in the liquid fuel 6 in the container 5. In FIG. 1, the lead wires 10 a and 10 b are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the core 8. That is, the lead wires 10 a and 10 b are disposed over the entire length of the core 8.
Therefore, heat is conducted between the low temperature end portions 9d and 9e and the liquid fuel 6 in the container 5 through the lead wires 10a and 10b, and the low temperature end portions 9d and 9e are cooled.

The power consumption unit 4 is electrically connected to the lead wires 10a and 10b, and an electronic component 11 operating with the electric power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element 9 and an output component for outputting light, sound and the like along with the operation of the electronic circuit 11. It has 12 and. As the electronic circuit 11, for example, a booster circuit that boosts the power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element 9 can be used. Moreover, as the output component 12, for example, an LED that emits light at the output of the booster circuit can be used. The power consumption unit 4 is disposed in the container 5 and immersed in the liquid fuel 6. In addition, in the connection part of lead wire 10a, 10b and the power consumption part 4, and each part 11 and 12 of the power consumption part 4, permeation of the liquid fuel 6 so that it may not short-circuit by immersion in the liquid fuel 6. Is processed to prevent.
Therefore, when power is generated from the thermoelectric conversion element 9, the electronic circuit 11 and the output component 12 operate with the generated power, and light, sound, and the like are output. At that time, for example, a transparent glass bottle is used as the container 5, a transparent fuel is used as the liquid fuel 6, and an LED is used as the output component 12, so that the light (output) of the LED is outside the container 5. It can be made visible.

  As described above, in the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the high temperature side end 9c is directed upward in the vertical direction, the low temperature side ends 9d and 9e are directed downward in the vertical direction, and the liquid level of the liquid fuel 6 is The thermoelectric conversion element 9 is disposed vertically upward from the liquid surface so that the low temperature side end portions 9 d and 9 e are in contact with the core 8. Then, the low temperature side end portions 9 d and 9 e are cooled by the liquid fuel 6 induced by the core 8. Therefore, a temperature difference can be created between the high temperature end 9c and the low temperature ends 9d and 9e, and power can be generated in the thermoelectric conversion element 9 due to the temperature difference. Further, for example, unlike the method of immersing the low temperature side end portions 9 d and 9 e in the liquid fuel 6 in the container 5 for cooling, there is no need to detect the height of the liquid level of the liquid fuel 6 and the like. The power generation device 1 can be provided, and significant fluctuations in the cooling efficiency due to the amount of liquid fuel 6 can also be avoided.

Also, for example, in the conventional power generation device described in JP-A-9-69652, that is, a power generation device in which the low temperature side end is immersed in the liquid fuel with the core sandwiched between the thermoelectric conversion elements The length of the thermoelectric conversion element (for example, 5 [cm]) is required, which makes it difficult to miniaturize the thermoelectric conversion element.
On the other hand, in the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the low temperature end portions 9d and 9e are in contact with the core 8, and the low temperature end portions 9d and 9e are cooled by the liquid fuel 6 induced by the core 8. The thermoelectric conversion element 9 can be miniaturized by shortening the low temperature side end portions 9 d and 9 e (for example, 5 [mm]).
Further, in the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the core 8 is in contact with the thermoelectric conversion element 9 only at the end faces of the low temperature side end portions 9d and 9e. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the liquid fuel 6 induced by the core 8 from being cooled down to the high temperature side end 9c, and increase the temperature difference between the high temperature side end 9c and the low temperature side ends 9d and 9e. 9 can generate more power.

Furthermore, in the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the lead wires 10a and 10b are connected to the low temperature side end portions 9d and 9e, and the connected lead wires 10a and 10b are immersed in the liquid fuel 6 in the container 5. I made it. Therefore, heat can be conducted from the low temperature end portions 9d and 9e to the liquid fuel 6 in the container 5 through the lead wires 10a and 10b to cool the low temperature end portions 9d and 9e.
Further, in the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the lead wires 10 a and 10 b are disposed inside the core 8. Therefore, since the lead wires 10a and 10b can be hidden, space saving can be realized, and the design of the power generation device 1 can be improved.

Furthermore, in the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the power consumption unit 4 that consumes power is disposed in the container 5, and the lead wires 10a and 10b are connected. Therefore, all the lead wires 10a and 10b can be accommodated in the container 5, the device can be miniaturized, and the wiring can be shortened.
Further, in the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, in the thermoelectric conversion element 9, one end sides of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b are joined, and the other ends are separated ing. Therefore, when direct bonding is used as a method of joining the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b, the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b are interposed through the electrodes. Unlike the bonding method (indirect bonding), no compound layer is formed at the bonding interface between the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the electrode and between the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b and the electrode, or linear expansion Thermal durability improves because materials with similar coefficients can be used. Therefore, for example, even if the thermoelectric conversion element 9 is subjected to a high load such as being dipped in water after being exposed to direct heat, cracking or cracks are unlikely to occur in the thermoelectric conversion element 9, and the durability can be improved. it can.

Furthermore, since the resistance value at the junction interface between the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9a and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion 9b is substantially zero, the amount of power generation can be increased, and the power generation efficiency can be increased. In addition, since the number of parts can be reduced, assembly cost can be reduced.
Moreover, in the electric power generating apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention, durability can be improved by using Si clathrate compound for at least one of p-type thermoelectric conversion material and n-type thermoelectric conversion material.

(Modification)
(1) In the power generation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the core 8 is in contact with the thermoelectric conversion element 9 only at the low temperature side end portions 9d and 9e. It can also be done. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the core 8 may be configured to have a portion 8a covering the end face and the side face of the low temperature side end portions 9d and 9e of the thermoelectric conversion element 9 from the outside. In FIG. 3, the upper end of the core 8 is used as the portion 8a, and the fibers at the upper end of the core 8 are untwisted, and the low temperature end portions 9d and 9e of the thermoelectric conversion element 9 are embedded in the center of the untwisted fibers. Furthermore, the untwisted fibers surround the low temperature side end portions 9d and 9e. When the core 8 is configured to cover the low temperature side ends 9 d and 9 e of the thermoelectric conversion element 9 from the outside, the low temperature side ends 9 d and 9 e can be cooled more appropriately, and the thermoelectric conversion element 9 is It can protect more reliably from shocks.

(2) For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the core 8 may be in contact with both the low temperature side end portions 9 d and 9 e of the thermoelectric conversion element 9 and the high temperature side end portion 9 c. 4, the heights of the upper end of the core 8 and the upper end of the thermoelectric conversion element 9 are equalized, and the side surface of the thermoelectric conversion element 9 (the thermoelectric conversion element of FIG. 4) is on the side surface of the core 8 (the back surface of the core 8 of FIG. 4). The thermoelectric conversion element 9 is disposed such that the front surface 9 of the solar cell 9 is in contact. When the core 8 is in contact with both the low temperature side ends 9 d and 9 e and the high temperature side end 9 c of the thermoelectric conversion element 9, the high temperature side end 9 c is cooled by the liquid fuel 6 induced by the core 8. However, since heating is also performed by the combustion of the liquid fuel 6, a temperature difference can be generated between the high temperature side end 9c and the low temperature side ends 9d and 9e, and electric power is generated by the thermoelectric conversion element 9 due to the temperature difference. Can.

(3) Furthermore, in the electric power generating apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention, although the example which arrange | positions the electric power consumption part 4 in the container 5 was shown, another structure is also employable. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the power consumption unit 4 may be disposed outside the container 5. In FIG. 5, the lead wires 10 a and 10 b extend outside the container 5 and are electrically connected to the power consumption unit 4. When the power consumption unit 4 is disposed outside the container 5, a circuit or the like larger than the container 5 can be used as the power consumption unit 4.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Power generation device, 2 ... Heat generation part, 3 ... Power generation part, 4 ... Power consumption part, 5 ... Container, 6 ... Liquid fuel, 7 ... Lid, 7a ... Hole, 8 ... Core, 8a ... Core part, 9 ... Thermoelectric conversion element, 9a ... p type thermoelectric conversion material section, 9b ... n type thermoelectric conversion material section, 9c ... high temperature side end, 9d, 9e ... low temperature side end, 10a, 10b ... lead wire, 11 ... electronic circuit , 12 ... output parts, a ... flame

Claims (8)

A container containing liquid fuel,
A core for guiding the liquid fuel above the liquid level of the liquid fuel by capillary action;
The high temperature side end points vertically upward, the low temperature side end vertically downward, and is disposed above the liquid surface vertically away from the liquid surface, and the low temperature end is in contact with the core Equipped with a thermoelectric conversion element,
A power generator configured to cool the low temperature side end portion by the liquid fuel induced by the core.   The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the core is in contact with the thermoelectric conversion element only at an end face of the low temperature side end.   The power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the core has a portion covering the end surface and the side surface of the low temperature side end portion from the outside. A lead wire connected to the low temperature end;
The power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lead wire is immersed in the liquid fuel in the container.   The power generation device according to claim 4, wherein the lead wire is disposed inside the core. It has a power consumption unit that consumes power.
The power generation device according to claim 4, wherein the power consumption unit is disposed in the container and connected to the lead wire.   The thermoelectric conversion element includes a p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion made of a p-type thermoelectric conversion material, and an n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion made of an n-type thermoelectric conversion material disposed to face the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion End portions of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion are joined, and the other end sides of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material portion and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material portion are separated The power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The power generator according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material and the n-type thermoelectric conversion material is a clathrate compound.

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