KR101977042B1 - Thermophotovoltaic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A thermoelectric power generation device that prevents deformation of a heat element array due to heat generated in a combustor and maximizes a product life while maintaining power generation efficiency is proposed. The proposed thermoelectric power generation device includes a combustor for burning fuel to generate heat and light, and a thermoelement element array disposed along the outer periphery of the combustor for converting light generated in the combustor into electrical energy. The thermoelement element array includes a base substrate, A plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in a matrix on one surface of the substrate, and a heat insulating member formed on one surface of the base substrate.

Description

{THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric generator, and more particularly, to a thermoelectric generator for supplying power to small portable equipment and mobile equipment.

2. Description of the Related Art [0002] As the development and dissemination of small-sized portable equipment and portable military equipment have been increasing, various devices such as a secondary battery and a small generator for supplying power have been developed.

2. Description of the Related Art [0002] In general, small-sized mobile electronic devices such as small-sized portable devices and portable type military equipment are manufactured in a compact size in order to ensure portability, and thus secondary batteries are used. However, since currently used secondary batteries are composed of lithium ions, , And the use time is short.

In recent years, in order to solve the problems of such a secondary battery, research and development of a miniature power generation device has been actively carried out, and studies have been made on a micro power generation device for a micro-gas turbine and a micro- have.

However, there is a problem in that a small-sized heat engine (engine) power generating device includes high-speed dynamic parts for converting heat into electricity, resulting in excessive heat and friction loss and difficulty in micro-fabrication.

Accordingly, development of a miniature power generation apparatus that does not include a dynamic device such as a micro-thermoelectric system, a micro-thermophotolytic (TPV) converter, and the like is possible.

The ultra-small photodetector has a simple structure including a process of transferring heat radiation energy generated from a small-sized emitter to a photoelectric cell through a dielectric filter to obtain electricity, and cooling the device. Therefore, there are advantages such as convenience and low maintenance cost as a power source for small mobile electronic devices.

ThermoPhotoVoltaic (TPV) is a system that converts photons generated by heat into direct energy. It is composed of a power generator consisting of a thermal emitter and a photovoltaic diode cell, And a control unit. Thermal generators use heat to apply heat to a thermal body, which in turn injects electricity into a photovoltic cell (PV) with a low energy bandgap through blackbody radiation from a thermal body.

The development of onboard generators with advantages of high energy density (energy density more than 100 times per unit mass of lithium ion battery), instant charging and sufficient charge life, non-dynamometer, noise free, environmental friendliness and emergency application Making it a strong candidate for next-generation mobile power systems to replace existing secondary batteries.

Generally, a conventional thermoelectric generator includes a combustor (emitter) and a light-emitting element array. At this time, the light-emitting element array is constituted by arranging a plurality of light-emitting elements in the inner surface (that is, the direction of the combustor) of the base substrate having an inner hollow cylindrical shape. The light-emitting element array is disposed at a predetermined distance from the outer periphery of the combustor so as to condense light generated by the combustion of the fuel in the combustor and convert it into electric energy.

In the conventional thermoelectric generator, an air fan for supplying outside air (i.e., oxygen) used in fuel combustion is disposed at one end of the fuel inlet. The outside air sucked by the air fan is mixed with the fuel injected through the fuel inlet and supplied to the combustor.

At this time, in the conventional thermoelectric generator, when the external temperature is low, the external air sucked by the air fan is mixed with the fuel in a state where it is not preheated from the heating to the required temperature so that the combustion is not smoothly performed in the combustor, .

In the conventional thermoelectric generator, a heat-radiating fan for discharging the air heated by the heat generated from the heat-radiating fins disposed on the outer periphery of the heat-radiating element array to the outside is provided at the other end in the direction of the combustor.

At this time, since the conventional thermoelectric generator supplies the driving power of the air fan and the heat-dissipating fan to the electric energy converted from the heat element array, power generation efficiency is lowered.

In addition, since the conventional hot-water generating power generator is provided with the air fan and the heat-radiating fan at both ends thereof, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases and it is difficult to downsize.

On the other hand, in the conventional thermo-electric generator, since the thermo-light element array is disposed outside the combustor, the thermo-light element array is deformed due to the high temperature generated in the combustor during the long time of power generation.

Korean Patent No. 10-1304102 (entitled " Ultra miniature pre-conversion system "

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermoelectric generator for preventing the deformation of a thermoelectric element array caused by heat generated in a combustor and maximizing a product life while maintaining power generation efficiency .

Also, the present invention provides a thermoelectric generator that enables miniaturization and low cost manufacturing while increasing power generation efficiency by circulating oxygen (air) preheated by a heat radiating fin through a circulating fan disposed at an end in the direction of the combustor to a combustor .

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermoelectric generator including a combustor for generating heat and light by burning a fuel, Array, and the light-emitting element array includes a base substrate, a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in a matrix on one surface of the base substrate, and a heat insulating member formed on one surface of the base substrate.

The heat insulating member is formed on one surface of the base substrate arranged in the direction of the combustor, and may be formed in an area excluding a region where a plurality of light emitting elements are formed. At this time, the heat insulating member may be a selected one of silver (Ag) epoxy and polyimide.

The light-emitting element array may further include a heat-radiating fin disposed on the other surface of the base substrate.

The thermoelectric generator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fuel feed port into which fuel is injected, an oxygen feed port into which oxygen is fed, a fuel feed into the fuel feed port, and a first feed line that feeds oxygen fed into the oxygen feed port, A circulation fan for blowing the oxygen preheated by the heat and inputting the oxygen to the oxygen inlet, and a second transfer line disposed on the outer periphery of the combustor, the preheater, and the heat element array to transfer the oxygen blown by the circulation fan to the oxygen inlet have. At this time, oxygen in the space where the heat-radiating fins are disposed is supplied to the oxygen inlet through the second transfer line, and the oxygen introduced into the oxygen inlet can be preheated by the heat-radiating fins.

According to the present invention, in the thermoelectric generator, the oxygen preliminarily preheated by the heat-radiating fins is injected into the oxygen inlet through the circulation fan, thereby increasing the temperature of oxygen used in the combustion of the fuel, thereby maximizing the combustion characteristic. That is, the thermoelectric power generation device is preheated by the heat dissipation fin first, and oxygen that is secondly preheated by the preheater is supplied to the combustor (i.e., the emitter) so that the temperature of the combustor is raised to maximize the combustion efficiency .

Further, in the thermoelectric power generation device, since the heat dissipation and the introduction of oxygen are performed through one fan (i.e., a circulating fan), compared with the conventional thermoelectric power generation device including the heat dissipation fan for heat dissipation and the air fan for oxygen introduction, So that the manufacturing cost can be minimized.

In addition, the heat generation device performs heat dissipation and oxygen introduction through one fan (i.e., a circulation fan), thereby minimizing power consumption of the heat generation device as compared with the conventional heat generation device including a heat dissipation fan and an air fan, The efficiency can be maximized. That is, since the thermoelectric power generator drives only the circulation fan using the generated power, the power consumption can be minimized and the power generation efficiency can be maximized as compared with the conventional thermoelectric power generator for driving the heat radiating fan and the air fan using the generated power It is effective.

Further, the thermoelectric power generator has the effect of preventing deformation of the heat element array due to the high temperature generated in the combustor by disposing the heat insulating member on one surface of the base substrate.

Further, in the thermoelectric power generation device, a heat insulating member is disposed on one side of the base substrate to prevent deformation of the light emitting device array, thereby preventing degradation of light condensing efficiency of the light emitting device, thereby maximizing the life of the product while minimizing degradation of power generation efficiency.

Further, the thermoelectric power generator has the effect of minimizing heat loss by blocking the heat absorbed or radiated to the region other than the light-emitting element by forming the heat insulating member on one surface of the base substrate.

In addition, the thermoelectric power generator has an effect of maximizing the combustion efficiency of the combustor by increasing the temperature in the combustor by forming a heat insulating member on one surface of the base substrate and reflecting the heat generated in the combustor in the direction of the combustor.

1 and 2 are views for explaining a thermoelectric generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a view for explaining a discharge line of Fig. 2; Fig.
FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams for explaining the light-emitting element array of FIG. 2; FIG.
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the circulating fan of FIG. 2. FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in order to facilitate a person skilled in the art to easily carry out the technical idea of the present invention. . In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components throughout the drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

1 and 2, the thermoelectric generator 100 includes a fuel inlet 110, an oxygen inlet 120, a first transfer line 130, a preheater 140, a combustor 150, a discharge line 160 A heat element array 170, a circulation fan 180, and a second transfer line 190. The heat transfer element array 170 is a heat transfer element. At this time, the photovoltaic power generation apparatus 100 includes a fuel inlet 110, an oxygen inlet 120, a part of the first conveyance line 130, a preheater 140, a part of the discharge line 160 and a part of the second conveyance line 190 And a remaining portion of the combustor 150, the remainder of the discharge line, the array of heat elements 170, the circulating fan 180 and the second transfer line 190, The second main body 300 may be divided into a first main body 300 and a second main body 300. Although FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate that the thermoelectric generator 100 is separately formed and joined to the first body 200 and the second body 300, the present invention is not limited thereto, The first body 200 and the second body 300 may be integrally formed.

The fuel inlet 110 is filled with fuel for generating a light source that generates heat. The fuel inlet 110 is formed in the shape of a pipe, and one end is connected to an external fuel supply source (not shown). The fuel injected from the fuel supply source through the fuel inlet 110 is injected into the first transfer line 130 connected to the other end of the fuel inlet 110. Here, the fuel inlet 110 receives fuel such as H2 or NH as an example.

The oxygen inlet port 120 is filled with oxygen transferred through the second transfer line 190. At this time, the oxygen inlet 120 is firstly preheated by the heat dissipation fin 176, and the oxygen transferred through the second transfer line 190 is supplied.

The first transfer line 130 transfers the injected fuel and oxygen to the combustor 150. That is, the first transfer line 130 is formed in a pipe shape, one end is connected to the fuel inlet 110 and the oxygen inlet 120, and the other end is connected to the combustor 150. The first transfer line 130 transfers fuel and oxygen introduced through the fuel inlet 110 and the oxygen inlet 120 to the combustor 150.

The preheater 140 secondarily preheats the fuel and oxygen carried through the first transfer line 130. That is, the preheater 140 is disposed on the outer periphery of the first conveyance line 130 to preheat the fuel and oxygen conveyed through the first conveyance line 130. At this time, the preheater 140 raises the temperature of the first preheated oxygen by the heat dissipation fin 176 through the secondary preheating and transfers it to the combustor 150. Here, the preheater 140 is an example of a recuperator.

The combustor 150 burns the fuel supplied through the first transfer line 130 to generate light (light) and heat. To this end, the combustor 150 mixes the transferred fuel and oxygen through the first transfer line 130. The combustor 150 burns the mixed fuel (that is, fuel mixed with oxygen) to generate light (light) and heat.

In one example, the combustor 150 includes a mixer (not shown) for mixing fuel and oxygen connected to the first transfer line 130, a chamber (not shown) into which the mixed fuel mixed in the mixer flows, (Not shown).

The exhaust line 160 discharges the exhaust gas generated when the mixed fuel is combusted in the combustor 150 to the outside of the thermoelectric generator 100. 3, the discharge line 160 is formed in the shape of a pipe along the periphery of the combustor 150, the preheater 140, and the first transfer line 130, and is generated in the combustor 150 And discharges the exhaust gas A to the discharge port. 2, the preheater 140 is disposed in the discharge line 160, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The discharge line 160 may be formed along the outer circumference of the preheater 140.

The light-emitting device array 170 is disposed along the outer periphery of the combustor 150, and generates electric power using light generated in the combustor 150. At this time, since the light emitting element 174 has a good power generation efficiency when the temperature is low, the light emitting element array 170 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the combustor 150.

Referring to FIG. 4, the light-emitting array 170 includes a base substrate 172, a plurality of light-emitting elements 174, and a heat-dissipating fin 176.

The base substrate 172 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate. At this time, the base substrate 172 may be formed of a metal substrate made of a metal or a resin material used for a general circuit board.

The plurality of light-emitting elements 174 are arranged in a matrix on one surface of the base substrate 172. That is, the plurality of light entry devices 174 are arranged in a matrix on one surface of the base substrate 172 arranged in the direction of the combustor 150, and the light generated by the combustion of the fuel in the combustor 150 is condensed into electric energy do. Here, the light-emitting device 174 is an example of TPV (Thermophotolytic).

The heat dissipation fin 176 is disposed on the other surface of the base substrate 172. The heat dissipation fins 176 absorb heat from the plurality of heat dissipation elements 174 through heat conduction and discharge the heat to the outside. That is, since the light-emitting element 174 has a good power generation efficiency when the temperature is low, the heat-dissipating fin 176 is disposed on the other surface opposite to the one surface of the base substrate 172 on which the light-emitting element 174 is formed, (174). ≪ / RTI >

Since the base substrate 172 is formed of a metal material or a resin material, the base substrate 172 is deformed (e.g., shrunk or expanded) due to the high temperature generated in the combustion of the fuel in the combustor.

Since the light-emitting element 174 is disposed on one side of the base substrate 1720, the light-condensing efficiency is lowered when the flatness of the base substrate 172 is lowered. That is, the direction of facing the light guide element 174 is changed according to the deformation of the base substrate 172, and the amount of light that can be collected in the light generated in the combustor 150 is reduced.

When the light condensing efficiency of the light emitting element 174 is lowered, the power generation efficiency of the thermoelectric generator 100 is lowered.

Therefore, in order to increase the product lifetime while maintaining the power generation efficiency of the thermoelectric generator 100 constant, it is necessary to prevent deformation of the base substrate 172 due to heat generated in the combustor 150.

5 and 6, the light emitting device array 170 may further include a heat insulating member 178 formed on one surface of the base substrate 172. Here, FIGS. 5 and 6 show that the base sheet 172 is in a flat state in order to easily explain the formation position of the heat insulating member 178. FIG.

When the heat insulating member 178 is disposed on the surface of the light emitting device 174, the light condensing efficiency of the light emitting device 174 is lowered because the heat is refracted, absorbed or reflected by the heat insulating member 178.

The heat insulating member 178 is formed on one surface of the base substrate 172 and is formed so as not to cover the surface of the light emitting device 174 disposed on one surface of the base substrate. That is, the heat insulating member 178 is formed on one surface of the base substrate 178, and is formed only in a region where a plurality of light emitting elements 174 are not formed.

The heat insulating member 178 is made of a resin material such as silver epoxy, polyimide, etc., which is flexible and has high heat and no deformation.

The heat insulating member 178 is formed on the base substrate 172 through printing of a silver paste, and is formed by etching the region where the light emitting device 174 is disposed. At this time, the light-emitting element 174 is disposed on the base substrate 172 on which the heat insulating member 178 is formed.

Of course, the heat insulating member 178 may be formed by printing a silver paste on the base substrate 172 on which the light emitting elements 174 are disposed.

The heat insulating member 178 can block the heat absorbed or radiated to the region other than the light emitting device 174, thereby minimizing the heat loss.

The heat insulating member 178 may reflect heat generated in the combustor 150 toward the combustor 150 to increase the temperature in the combustor 150 to maximize the combustion efficiency of the combustor 150.

The light-emitting element array 170 is formed into a cylindrical shape through deformation of the base substrate 172. The plurality of light emitting devices 174 are disposed on the inner surface of the base substrate 172 (i.e., in the direction of the combustor 150). At this time, the heat element array 170 is spaced apart from the outer circumference of the combustor 150 by a predetermined distance.

The heat element array 170 is provided with the heat insulating member 178 in the inner surface of the base substrate 172 (i.e., in the direction of the combustor 150). At this time, the heat insulating member 178 is formed in the space between the light emitting devices 174 to prevent deformation of the base substrate 172 due to the high temperature generated in the combustor 150.

The circulating fan 180 circulates oxygen (i.e., air) located in the outer circumference of the heat dissipating fin 176 to the oxygen inlet 120 through the second transfer line 190. 7, the circulating fan 180 is disposed in the other direction of the combustor 150 and blows the oxygen C toward the combustor 150. At this time, the circulating fan 180 is rotationally driven to circulate oxygen (C) (i.e., air), which has been preheated by the heat radiated from the radiator fins 176, to the oxygen inlet 120 through the second transfer line 190 . The fuel B and the oxygen C introduced into the fuel inlet 110 are supplied to the combustor 150 through the first transfer line 130.

At this time, the oxygen (i.e., air) that has been preheated by the heat dissipation fin 176 is introduced into the oxygen inlet 120 through the second transfer line 190 by the circulation fan 180.

As described above, the thermoelectric power generation apparatus 100 increases the temperature of oxygen used for fuel combustion by injecting the oxygen preliminarily preheated by the heat dissipation fin 176 to the oxygen inlet 120 through the circulation fan 180, Can be maximized.

That is, the thermoelectric generator 100 is firstly preheated by the heat sink fins 176 and supplied to the combustor 150 (i.e., the emitter) by supplying oxygen, which is second preheated by the preheater 140, So that the combustion efficiency can be maximized.

In addition, the thermoelectric power generation apparatus 100 is configured to perform the heat dissipation and the oxygen input through one fan (i.e., the circulation fan 180), thereby generating heat dissipation for heat dissipation and air dissipation There is an effect that the manufacturing cost can be minimized while reducing the size of the product as compared with the device 100. [

In addition, the thermoelectric power generation apparatus 100 performs heat dissipation and oxygen injection through one fan (i.e., the circulation fan 180), so that compared to the conventional thermoelectric power generation apparatus 100 having a heat dissipation fan and an air fan, Power consumption of the power generation apparatus 100 can be minimized and the power generation efficiency can be maximized.

That is, since the thermoelectric generator 100 drives only the circulation fan 180 using the generated power, the power consumption of the conventional thermoelectric power generator 100 is lower than that of the conventional thermoelectric power generator 100 for driving the heat- The power generation efficiency can be maximized.

The second transfer line 190 is formed along the outer periphery of the heat dissipation fin 176 and the preheater 140 to transfer the oxygen blown by the circulation fan 180 to the oxygen inlet 120. 4, the oxygen preliminarily preheated by the heat dissipation fin 176 is blown toward the combustor 150 by the circulation fan 180 and is introduced into the second conveyance line 190, And is transferred to the oxygen inlet 120 through the line 190.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but many variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It will be understood that the invention may be practiced.

100: thermoelectric generator 110: fuel inlet
120: oxygen inlet port 130: first transfer line
140: preheater 150: combustor
160: discharge line 170: heat element array
172: base substrate 174:
176: heat dissipation pin 178:
180: circulating fan 190: second conveying line
200: first main body 300: second main body

Claims (6)

A combustor for combusting fuel to generate heat and light; And
And a light emitting device array disposed along the outer periphery of the combustor and converting light generated in the combustor into electric energy,
The light-emitting element array includes:
A base substrate;
A plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a matrix on one surface of the base substrate; And
And a heat insulating member formed on one surface of the base substrate,
The heat insulating member
A plurality of heaters arranged on one surface of the base substrate arranged in the direction of the combustor,
Wherein the plurality of thermions are formed in a region except for the region where the plurality of thermions are formed. delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the heat insulating member is one selected from silver (Ag) epoxy and polyimide. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the heat element array further comprises a heat dissipation fin disposed on the other surface of the base substrate. The method according to claim 1,
A fuel inlet through which fuel is injected;
An oxygen inlet through which oxygen is introduced;
A first transfer line for transferring the fuel introduced into the fuel inlet and the oxygen introduced into the oxygen inlet;
A circulation fan for blowing oxygen preheated by the heat conducted in the heat element array and injecting oxygen into the oxygen inlet; And
And a second transfer line disposed on the outer periphery of the combustor and the heat element array for transferring the oxygen blown by the circulation fan to the oxygen inlet. 6. The method of claim 5,
The circulating fan
The oxygen in the space in which the heat-radiating fins disposed on the other surface of the base substrate are disposed is injected into the oxygen inlet through the second transfer line,
Wherein the oxygen injected into the oxygen inlet is first preheated by the heat dissipation fin.

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