JP3516225B2 - Alcohol stove with thermoelectric converter - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating device using an organic fuel, and more particularly to a portable alcohol stove provided with a thermoelectric converter for converting heat into electric energy.

This invention is used as an independent heat source for heating a large number of things, and as a tool for daily life, military and tourism trips, field tests, expedition trips, especially trips to hard-to-reach and depopulated land. As a device used for the above, it can be used as an independent power source for energizing a communication device, various electronic devices and a wireless device. The device can also be used for heating small rooms, for example tents.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional alcohol stoves are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,895,132 and 4,984.
No. 559, No. 4,416, 617, No. 4,55
No. 4,348, No. 5,199,413, No. 5,2
73,023 and 5,383,551.

These devices are widely used, alcohol is easier to produce from local products than other fuels, safe to store and use, does not produce toxic combustion products, etc. There are many advantages of. The above-mentioned devices and devices similar thereto are usually a container for liquid alcohol fuel, a device for injecting fuel into this container, a device for maintaining a constant pressure in the container, a device for forming gasified fuel, a gas. A fuel feeding device, a device for controlling the amount of alcohol sent to the combustion zone, a device for forming a mixture of combustible air and gas in the combustion zone, and a heated object holding device is doing. However, this kind of stove is only a heat source, not a power source.

In the prior art example of a thermoelectric converter for converting heat into electricity, alcohol combustion is the heat source. Such devices are known as Poddnyakov.
Kov and Kopterov "Thermoelectric Energetics" (Th
ermoelectric energy),
1974 Mosko Atomisat (Atomizc
Lat), page 263 and El. Eye. "Handbook Thermoelements and Thermoelectric Devices" by LI Anatychuk (Handbook Thermoeleme)
nts and thermoelectric de
Vices) 1979 Kiev Naukova Dumas (N
aukovaduma), page 354. The device described in the latter is the most similar to the present invention. It relates to alcohol stoves and thermoelectric converters and comprises the following means: That is, a heat collector that removes heat from the combustion products of the fuel, a heat removal device, a thermopile, a device that sends heat from this thermopile to the heat removal device, and a device that sends heat from the heat collector to the thermopile.

The thermopile is made of 145 thermoelectric elements made of constantan and nickel-molybdenum alloy. The connection of the thermopile is a heat collector and is aligned with the device for delivering heat to the thermopile. The container for containing water is a device for removing heat, and the device for transferring heat from the thermopile to the heat removal device is performed by thermal contact between the cold side joint of the thermopile and the bottom of the water container.

[0007]

There are many limitations to this prior art device. Because this device utilizes an unshielded flame, there is a large heat loss to the radiation of heat and heat convection to the surroundings. In addition, the heat collector has a small area, so that the efficiency is low, and the efficiency of the metal thermopile is low. The water container arranged above the thermopile is not a container used as a device for heating food or other objects. Therefore, the fuel consumption is large, and this conventional device cannot be used as both a stove for heating an object and a device serving as a power source.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an economical and portable system which serves as a self-contained heat source, a power source, and, if necessary, a heat source only.
It is to provide an alcohol stove with a thermoelectric converter that is highly efficient, economical, safe and versatile.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, an alcohol stove equipped with a thermoelectric converter of the present invention comprises: (a) a container for liquid alcohol fuel, and a device for injecting fuel into the container. , A device for maintaining a constant pressure in the fuel container, a device for gasifying the fuel, a device for feeding the fuel to the fuel gasifier, a device for controlling the amount of alcohol sent to the combustion zone, and a combustion zone An alcohol stove incorporating a device for forming a mixture of combustible air and gas, a holder for the heated object, and (b) a heat collector for removing heat from the fuel product and heat release. A thermoelectric converter comprising a device, a thermopile, a device for transferring heat from the thermopile to a heat-dissipating device, a device for delivering heat from the heat collector to the thermopile, and a device for clamping and fixing these devices. This invention consists of According to this, a thermoelectric converter is mounted on a holder, and a device for arranging an object to be heated is provided.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the present invention, two constituent parts of a thermoelectric converter are formed in the same part.

In an embodiment of the invention, the thermoelectric converter is made up of two interconnected components, each component having its own heat collector and at least one thermoelectric element arranged between the two components. And a heat-dissipating device having a pair of rows, wherein two heat collectors are connected to each other, and both surfaces of the heat collectors are faced to each other so as to form a tube through which gas is passed, at the interconnection site. The lower part of the pipe body serves as a fuel combustion and first heat absorption chamber, and the upper part of the pipe body serves as a second heat absorption chamber for further absorbing the combustion heat of the gaseous product. In another embodiment of the invention, the two components of the thermoelectric converter are constructed in the same.

In another embodiment, the clamping and securing member is attached to the heat-dissipating device of the two components of the thermoelectric converter.

In another embodiment, the device for tightening and fixing is a spring device for connecting a thermopile, a heat collector and a heat transfer device to apply a constant compressive force.

In still another embodiment, the tightening and fixing device comprises a rubber device for connecting a thermopile, a heat collector, and a heat transfer device to apply a constant compressive force.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the heat-dissipating device comprises a pin radiator, a fan for generating an air flow in the heat-dissipating device, and a heat-conducting plate with an opening, the heat-conducting plate being a pin radiator. It makes thermal contact with the tip of the pin.

In another variant, the pins of the pin radiator are in the form of truncated pyramids.

In another modification, a fan provided in each component of the thermoelectric converter is electrically connected to the thermopile.

In a modification of the invention, the direction of the air flow through the fan is such that the air flow passes through the fan over the surface of the radiator and is sent around.

In another modification, the ratio of the total area of the heat conducting plate to the area of the opening is set to 2 or more so that the flow of air flowing through the central portion of the heat dissipation device is made parallel to the axis of the pin of the pin radiator. Therefore, the air flow in the peripheral portion of the heat dissipation device is perpendicular to the pin axis.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the device for feeding the fuel to the device for converting the fuel into a gaseous fuel comprises a tape-shaped core, and the ratio of the width to the thickness of the core is 5 or more. It is said that it is preferable to do.

In another embodiment, the device for forming a combustible mixture of air and gas is made of a heat conducting material,
It is in thermal contact with the heat collector.

In another embodiment, the device for controlling the fuel supply amount has two screws, and an opening for inserting the core is provided between the two screws, and the area of the opening is equal to the cross-sectional area of the core. A core is attached to this member.

In another embodiment of the invention, zigzag-shaped fins are arranged in the chamber of the heat-dissipating device and are in thermal contact with the heat collector, blocking the radiant passage of heat from the combustion zone to the surroundings. Is done.

In yet another embodiment, a pin radiator in thermal contact with the heat collector is placed in the chamber of the heat dissipation device and the pins of the radiator are displaced relative to each other to radiate heat from the combustion zone to the surroundings. The passage is blocked.

[0025]

EXAMPLES Alcohol provided with a thermoelectric converter of the present invention
An embodiment of the stove will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stove 1 of the present invention is shown.
Is equipped with a thermoelectric converter 2. The thermoelectric converter 2 is attached to the stove 1 so that it can be removed by the holder 3. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, four holders 3 are attached to the stove 1, and these holders 3 are made of metal rods and are provided with grooves for attaching the converter 2.

The thermoelectric converter 2 is provided with a mounting member 4 on which the object to be heated is placed. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the mounting member 4 is four metal rods. In another embodiment of the invention, these mounting members can be, for example, frames, holding members, grid members, etc.

The stove 1 is provided with a container 5 for liquid alcohol fuel 6. The fuel container 5 is made of metal and has means 7 for containing fuel. This means consists of an inlet 8 and a lid 9 screwed into it.

The stove 1 is provided with a pressure holding device 10 having a valve 11 for keeping the pressure inside the fuel container 5 constant.

The means 12 for vaporizing the liquid alcohol fuel is connected to a device for guiding the fuel to this means 12 to form a vaporizer 13.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the vaporizer 13 is a tape-shaped core 14 inserted in a metallic passage 15 for the vaporization of fuel 1
Reference numeral 2 is a part of the tape-shaped core 14. The core 12 projects from the open end of the metallic passage 15, and the fuel is vaporized at the projecting portion. However, in the present invention, alternative means such as a pump or an ultrasonic atomizer can be applied.

A fuel controller 16 for controlling the amount of fuel delivered to the combustion zone is shown in detail in FIG. This fuel control device 16 has two screws 18 and an opening 19 through which the lead 14 is inserted.
It includes a member 17 having. The size of the opening 19 corresponds to the cross section of the core 14, and the core 14 is attached to the member 17. The head of the screw 18 extends outward from the upper surface of the passage 15.

The thermoelectric converter 2 consists of two constituent parts 20, which are connected to each other by a connecting member 21. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it consists of two homogenous components 20 of the thermoelectric converter. Each of the isomorphic components 20 includes a heat collector 22, a heat dissipation device 23, and a thermopile 24 disposed therebetween. Each of the same-shaped components 20 includes a first heat transfer device 25 that transfers heat from the thermopile 24 to the heat dissipation device 23, and a heat collector 22 to the thermopile 24.
And a second heat transfer device 26 for transferring heat to.

A heat radiating device 23 for radiating heat from both constituent parts 20 of the thermoelectric converter 2 is attached to each constituent part 20 of the thermoelectric converter 2 connected by the connecting member 21. In the embodiment of the present invention, the connecting member 21 connects the thermocouple array 24, the heat collector 22, and the heat transfer devices 25 and 26, and is a spring device that tightens them with a constant pressure. For this purpose, a device made of elastic rubber can be incorporated into the connecting member 21.

Both components 20 are interconnected with two heat collectors 22. At the connecting portion, the two heat collectors 22 facing each other are provided with a tube body 27 serving as a gas passage.
Is formed. The lower part of the pipe body 27 is a fuel combustion and first heat absorption chamber 28, and the upper part of the pipe body 27 is a second heat absorption chamber 29 for further absorbing gas combustion heat.

A device 30 for forming a mixture of air and gas in the combustion zone 31 is constructed by inserting a slot 33 between two curved plates 32. The plate 32 is made of a heat conductive material such as copper or aluminum, and is welded or soldered to the side wall 34 of the tube body 27 of the heat collector 22. Thus, the device 30 for forming the hot air and gas mixture is in thermal contact with the heat collector 22.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second heat absorbing chamber 29 for absorbing the heat of the gas combustion products is composed of fins 35 formed in zigzag. This fin 35 is a heat collector 2
In thermal contact with 2. The fins 35 are made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum. In FIG. 5, the heat radiation path from the combustion zone 31 to the surroundings is shown by the arrow R extending vertically. As shown in FIG. 5, the zigzag portion between the fins 35 blocks the heat radiation passage R from the combustion zone 31 to the surroundings.

Although not shown in the drawings, according to another embodiment of the invention, there are modifying means for impeding the passage R of the heat radiation. More specifically, the second heat absorption chamber 29 that absorbs the heat of the gas combustion products is a pin radiator that is in thermal contact with the heat collector 22, and these pin radiators radiate heat from the combustion zone to the surroundings. Arrange so as to obstruct the passage R.

The device 25 for transferring heat from the thermopile 24 to the device 23 for releasing heat from the thermopile 24 and the device 26 for transferring heat from the heat collector 22 to the thermopile 24 in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. , A plate made of a high thermal conductor such as copper or aluminum.

The thermopile 24 of the present invention can be made of a conventional one such as a commercially available thermoelectric module. Modules of this type are for example n-type made of bismuth telluride.
A thermocouple array 24 having p-type and p-type semiconductor elements is sandwiched between two thermally conductive ceramic plates 43.

The heat dissipation device 23 is a pin radiator 36,
It comprises a fan 37 and a heat conducting plate 38 having an opening 39.

The pin radiator 36 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 6 and 7. The pin radiator 36 is formed by arranging pins 41 on the surface of a metal plate 40 having a high thermal conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the metal plate 40. As shown in FIG. 7, the pin 41 of the pin radiator 36 has a truncated pyramid shape. The heat conducting plate 38 faces the top of the pin 41 of the pin radiator 36 and is in thermal contact therewith. The heat conducting plate 38
It is desirable that the ratio of the area of the opening 39 to be 2 or more.

A fan 37 electrically connected to the thermocouple row 24 is provided in both constituent parts 20 of the thermoelectric converter 2.
The thermopile 24 serves as a power source for the fan 37. Heat conduction plate 38
The opening 39 serves as an air inlet for the fan 37.
Therefore, the direction of the air flowing from the fan 37 passes through the surface of the pin 41 of the radiator 36 via the fan 37, as indicated by the arrow on the left side of FIG.

Two directors 42 are provided on the upper surface of the fuel container 5.

[0045]

The operation principle of the alcohol stove equipped with the thermoelectric converter of the present invention will be described below.

Fuel 6 is injected into the container 5 via the means 7 for introducing fuel. A vaporizer 13 of fuel sends it to the means 12 for vaporizing the fuel, where the vaporized fuel is formed. The pressure holding device 10 maintains the pressure in the container 5 at a desired pressure. As the fuel 6 exits from the container 5, the pressure inside the container 5 drops, whereby the valve 11 is actuated to return the inside of the container 5 to the required pressure. A combustible air-gas mixture is formed above the device 30 for forming the mixture and is ignited. A combustible mixture of air and gas burns in the combustion / first heat absorption chamber 28 to absorb heat. The amount of fuel sent to the means 12 for vaporizing the fuel is controlled by the fuel control device 16 to a required amount. Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the core 14 is fixed to a desired position with two screws 18. That is, both ends of the member 17 for attaching the lead are moved by the two screws 18 to equalize the amount of alcohol fuel delivered and the way the flame stands.

The high-temperature combustion product rises along the pipe 27 and goes out through the second heat absorption chamber 29 to absorb the heat of the gas combustion product again.

The heat collector 22 takes away the heat of combustion of fuel and the heat of combustion products. This collection of heat is carried out along the entire movement path of the gas in the pipe 27. Most of the heat is first collected in the combustion / first heat absorption chamber 28 of the fuel. Here, the curved plate 32, which conducts the heat of the device 30 for forming the mixture, also contributes to the collection of the heat. This curved plate 32
Transfer heat to the heat collector 22 which is in thermal contact with each other. The heat is then collected by the heat collector 22 via the wall 34 of the tube 27. The heat of the combustion products is finally collected by the fins 35, which in the embodiment shown in FIG.

As described above, since the heat radiation from the combustion zone 31 to the surroundings is blocked by the zigzag fins 35, the effective heat loss collected in the heat collector 22 can be minimized. it can.

Heat flows from the heat collector 22 to the thermopile via the heat transfer device 26 which transfers heat to the thermopile 24. Then, heat is taken from the thermocouple row 24 via the heat transfer device 25 that transfers heat from the thermocouple row 24 to the heat release device 23. The electromotive force generated by the electric output of the thermocouple string 24 is proportional to the temperature difference of the thermocouple string due to the heat flowing through the thermocouple string 24. This electromotive force is due to the well-known thermoelectric Seebeck effect.

Two thermocouple strings 24 are connected in series or in parallel to the output terminals of the thermoelectric converter 2 according to a desired output voltage. The external electric load is connected to the output terminal of the thermoelectric converter 2.

The heat radiating device 23 is for radiating heat from the thermoelectric converter 2 to the surroundings. The heat release efficiency is set so that the heat efficiency of the thermoelectric converter 2 is maximized. for that reason,
In this invention, the heat from the thermoelectric converter 2 is released by the heat release device 23.
The heat is released through the heat treatment to increase the heat release. The released heat flows from the heat dissipation device 23 through the pin radiator 36, first to the air between the pins 41, and then through the pins to the heat conducting plate 38. The fan 37 generates an air flow in the heat dissipation device 23, and enhances heat transfer from the surface of the pin radiator 36. According to the invention, the heat dissipation device 23
Air flow takes heat from the pin radiator 36,
The air is guided from the pin radiator 36 to the opening 39.

By selecting the ratio of the areas of the heat conduction plate 38 and the opening 39, the air flow in the central portion of the heat dissipation device 23 can be controlled by the axis of the pin 41 of the pin radiator 36, as shown by the arrow in FIG. And the air flow at the peripheral edge of the heat dissipation device 23 is almost perpendicular to the axis of the pin 41.

The fan 37 is energized by the thermopile 24 which supplies power to the fan. According to the present invention, it is desirable to supply the fan 37 with a voltage corresponding to about half the normal operating voltage of the fan 37.

The operating procedure when using an alcohol stove equipped with the thermoelectric converter of the present invention is as follows. (1) Inject the fuel 6 into the container 5. (2) An external electric load is connected to the output terminal of the thermoelectric converter 2. (3) Ignite the stove 1. (4) Adjust the flow rate of the fuel 6.
(5) A target object to be heated is placed on the mounting member 4. (6)
Check the operating status.

To extinguish the stove, blow the flame out or cap the flame.

If necessary, alcohol stove 1
Can be used without the thermoelectric converter 2. Therefore, the thermoelectric converter 2 can be easily removed from the stove 1.

[0058]

The experimentally obtained parameters of the alcohol stove equipped with the thermoelectric converter according to the present invention are as follows.

[0059]     Weight (Kg) 3     Size (mm) 120 x 160 x 160     Power output (W) 6     Voltage (V) 6     Current (A) 1     Capacity of fuel container (liter) 0.5     Alcohol consumption (g / hour) 40-50     Time to operate continuously without refueling 10

From the results of the experiments shown above, it can be proved that the stove of the present invention has the following advantages.

As described above, the heat efficiency of the heat collector 22 and the heat releasing device 23 is increased, the efficiency of the thermoelectric converter 2 is increased, and the operation of the device as a whole is made economical.

The alcohol stove 1 of the present invention comprising a thermoelectric converter 2 is a versatile device and can be used as both a self-contained heat source and a power source, and, if desired,
It can simply be used as a heat source.

Since the device is small and lightweight, it can be moved easily, is highly safe, and can be easily handled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an alcohol stove including a thermoelectric converter of the present invention.

2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view showing a device for forming a gaseous fuel of an alcohol stove and a fuel control device including the thermoelectric converter of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the heat collector of the present invention and a portion of the chamber that absorbs the heat of gaseous combustion products.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a pin radiator.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a pin of a pin radiator.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 stove 2 thermoelectric converter 3 holder 4 mounting members 5 Fuel container 6 Liquid alcohol fuel 7 Means to put fuel 8 inlets 9 lid 10 Pressure holding device 11 valves 12 Means for vaporizing fuel 13 Vaporizer 14 cores Passage made of metal to pass through 15 cores 16 Fuel control device 17 Core mounting member 18 screws 19 Core opening 20 Thermoelectric converter components 21 Connection member 22 heat collector 23 Thermoelectric emission device 24 thermopile 25,26 heat transfer device 27 tube 28 Combustion / first heat absorption chamber 29 Second heat absorption chamber 30 Device for forming air-fuel mixture 31 combustion zone 32 curved plate 33 slots 34 Wall of tube 35 fins 36 pin radiator 37 fans 38 heat conduction plate 39 openings 40 metal plate 41 pin 42 deflector

Claims (17)

(57) [Claims] 1. A container for liquid alcohol fuel, a device for injecting the fuel into the container, a device for maintaining a constant pressure in the fuel container, a device for gasifying the fuel, A device for sending the fuel to the fuel gasifier, a device for controlling the amount of alcohol fuel sent to the combustion zone, a device for forming a mixture of combustible air and gas in the combustion zone, and an object to be heated. Stove incorporating the holder of (1), (b) a heat collector for removing heat from combustion products, a heat release device, a thermopile, and a device for transferring heat from the thermopile to the heat release device. And a heat converter including a device for sending heat from the heat collector to the thermopile and a device for clamping and fixing the various devices, and the object to be heated is arranged in the thermoelectric converter. Attached to a holder with a device Alcohol stove with thermoelectric converter. 2. A thermoelectric converter comprising two interconnected components, a heat collector for each component itself, and at least one thermopile arranged between the components. And a heat releasing device having a heat discharge device, the two heat collectors are connected to each other, and the connecting surfaces of the heat collectors are opposed to each other to form a gas passage tube, and a lower portion of the tube body is used for fuel combustion. And the first heat absorption chamber, and the upper part of the tube is a second absorption chamber for the heat of combustion of gaseous products, The alcohol stove comprising the thermoelectric converter according to claim 1. 3. An alcohol stove comprising a thermoelectric converter according to claim 2, wherein the two components of said thermoelectric converter are the same. 4. An alcohol stove with a heat converter according to claim 2, wherein a clamping member is attached to the heat-dissipating device of two component parts of the thermoelectric converter. 5. The thermoelectric converter according to claim 4, wherein the tightening and fixing member is a spring device that connects the thermocouple array, the heat collector, and the heat transfer device to each other and applies a constant compressive force. Alcohol stove. 6. The thermoelectric converter according to claim 4, wherein the tightening and fixing member is a rubber device for connecting the thermocouple array, the heat collector, and the heat transfer device, and applying a constant compressive force. Alcohol stove with. 7. The heat-dissipating device comprises a pin radiator, a fan for generating an air flow in the heat-dissipating device, and a heat-conducting plate with an opening, the heat-conducting plate being a tip of a pin of the pin-radiator. An alcohol stove comprising a thermoelectric converter as claimed in claim 2 in thermal contact. 8. An alcohol stove comprising a thermoelectric converter according to claim 5, wherein the pin of the pin radiator has a truncated pyramid shape. 9. An alcohol stove comprising a thermoelectric converter according to claim 5, wherein the fan of each component of the thermoelectric converter is electrically connected to the thermopile. 10. The alcohol provided with a thermoelectric converter according to claim 5, wherein the direction of the air flow through the fan is such that the air flow passes through the fan, flows over the surface of the radiator, and is sent to the surroundings.・ Stove. 11. The ratio of the total area of the heat conducting plate to the area of the opening is set to 2 or more so that the flow of air flowing through the central portion of the heat dissipation device becomes parallel to the axis of the pin of the pin radiator. The alcohol stove with a thermoelectric converter according to claim 5, wherein the flow of air in the peripheral portion of the heat dissipation device is perpendicular to the axis of the pin. 12. An alcohol stove comprising a thermoelectric converter according to claim 1, wherein the device for feeding fuel to the device for converting the fuel into gaseous fuel comprises a tape-shaped core. 13. An alcohol stove comprising a thermoelectric converter according to claim 12, wherein the ratio of the width and the thickness of the core is 5 or more. 14. An alcohol comprising a thermoelectric converter according to claim 1, wherein the device for forming the mixture of flammable air and gas is made of a heat conductive material and is in thermal contact with the heat collector. Stove. 15. A device for controlling the supply amount of the fuel,
A member having two screws and having an opening for inserting the core between the two screws, the area of the opening is made equal to a cross-sectional area of the core, and the core is a member having the opening. An alcohol stove comprising a thermoelectric converter according to claim 12, which is mounted. 16. A zigzag-shaped fin is provided in the chamber of the heat-dissipating device, and the fin is in thermal contact with a heat collector to block the radiant passage of heat from the combustion zone to the surroundings. Alcohol equipped with the described thermoelectric converter
Stove. 17. A pin radiator in thermal contact with the heat collector is disposed in the chamber of the heat dissipation device to displace the pins of the radiator relative to each other to block the radiant path of heat from the combustion zone to the surroundings. An alcohol stove comprising the thermoelectric converter according to claim 2.