KR102270431B1 - Portable generator using Thermoelectric Module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable generator using a thermoelectric element. It can be conveniently carried during camping and outdoor activities can effectively produce power required to drive various electronic devices from a variety of heat sources such as incense candles, braziers or stoves, burners and grills that are frequently used outdoors by using thermoelectric elements, is easy to carry and move, and can be stored in the trunk of a vehicle, or minimized in volume so that it takes up less space when carried. The portable generator includes a power generation part, a support part, and a heat dissipation part.

Description

Portable generator using Thermoelectric Module}

The present invention relates to a portable generator using a thermoelectric element, and more particularly, to a portable generator capable of producing electric power required for driving various electronic devices from a high-temperature heat source using a thermoelectric element while conveniently carrying it during camping and outdoor activities. .

In general, when camping and outdoor activities outdoors, use a lantern or various portable electronic devices to control pests, cook food, or use a bonfire or burner to overcome the cold or night activities.

Although these various devices have different uses, they have in common that they must consume thermal energy or electric energy.

However, in the case of a bonfire, for example, after an appropriate time has elapsed, the heat source is used only for some purposes, such as charcoal grilling, even though the combustion of charcoal, which is the heat source for maintaining the bonfire, is continuously performed, and then left until the bonfire is extinguished. The heat source has not been used for any other purpose.

Of course, a technology for converting into electric energy using a heat source of a brazier or stove among these camping activities has been proposed through Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0099281 (Reference 1) and the like.

Reference 1 relates to a thermoelectric generator for camping, which includes a heat absorption plate, a thermoelectric element and a heat sink, and may further include a converter, a rechargeable battery, and a cooling fan.

Here, the heat absorption plate has one surface attached to the outer circumferential surface of the furnace or stove, and has a structure in which a heat pipe is built in, and may be formed of a metal of a material having high thermal conductivity, and the heat pipe is can be embedded. The heat pipe encapsulates a liquid in a vacuum tube, and when one end is heated, the liquid evaporates and condenses at the opposite end through the central portion of the tube by capillary force through a wick on the inner surface of the tube. It has an automatic return structure and is known to have excellent heat exchange performance. The thermoelectric element is installed so that one surface is in contact with the other surface of the heat absorption plate.

However, the camping thermoelectric generator is attached to the outer circumferential surface of a furnace or stove, and is not suitable for using a heat source such as an incense candle, a furnace or stove, a burner, a grill, etc. for pest control that is often used outdoors, so its range of use is extremely limited. However, the structure is also complicated by adopting a heat pipe structure in which a liquid is enclosed in a vacuum tube.

In addition, since the conventional thermoelectric generator for camping has a standardized structure, it is difficult to carry and move due to its large volume, and when it is put in the trunk of a vehicle, it takes up a lot of space.

Reference 1: Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0099281

Accordingly, the present invention is intended to solve these problems, and the present invention provides various electronic devices from various heat sources such as incense candles, braziers or stoves, burners, grills, etc., which are frequently used outdoors by using thermoelectric elements while conveniently carrying them during camping and outdoor activities. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable generator using a thermoelectric element that can effectively produce electric power required to drive a device.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable generator using a thermoelectric element that is easy to carry and move, can minimize the volume when stored or transported in a vehicle trunk, etc., and can effectively produce electric power according to a heat source. have.

The present invention in order to solve such a technical problem;

A power generation unit including a thermoelectric element for generating electric power using heat transmitted from a heat source, a support unit supporting a lower portion of the power generation unit and protecting a heat source, and a support unit provided at an upper portion of the power generation unit to dissipate the heat of the upper portion of the power generation unit A portable generator using a thermoelectric element, characterized in that it comprises a heat dissipating part that emits, and wherein the support part comprises a fixed plate provided under the heat exchange plate of the power generation unit, and a support plate rotatably hinged to the rim of the fixed plate. provides

At this time, the power generation unit consists of a plate for heat exchange and a thermoelectric element provided in the plate for heat exchange, and the thermoelectric element has a high temperature side facing down and a low temperature side facing upward, and the heat exchange plate is located in a seating groove formed in the middle. characterized in that it is fixed.

And, the four-sided edges of the fixing plate is characterized in that it is rotatably connected to the support plate.

In addition, the surface of the support plate is characterized in that a plurality of vents are further formed through which external air is introduced so that the heat source of the stove located under the power generation unit helps combustion.

In addition, the heat dissipation part is characterized in that it consists of a heat dissipation case having an upper part opened to form a accommodating part, and a plurality of heat dissipation fins provided at equal intervals in the receiving part of the heat dissipation case.

In addition, the power generated by the thermoelectric element is supplied to a power supply, and the power supply includes a DC-DC converter for converting power supplied from the thermoelectric element inside the housing, and charging the power of the DC-DC converter. It characterized in that it comprises a rechargeable battery, a power control unit for monitoring and controlling the charging and discharging of power by controlling the DC-DC converter and the rechargeable battery, and a power output unit for outputting the power of the rechargeable battery.

In this case, the housing is characterized in that it is provided with a magnet attachable to the support part.

According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively produce electric power by erecting or laying down the support plate of the support part according to the heat source in a rotatable structure provided in the lower part of the power generation unit using the thermoelectric element.

In addition, according to the present invention, when the generator is stored, the other end of the support plate is rotated to face upward so that the support plate surrounds the power generation unit and the outside of the heat dissipation unit, so that it can be stored in a vehicle trunk, etc. or occupy less space when transported. The volume can be minimized so that the volume can be minimized, and the heat source comes from various types of heat sources that can generate heat, such as incense candles, braziers or stoves, burners, grills, etc., which are often used outdoors, or nearby tree branches or burnt charcoal. It is possible to effectively produce the electric power required to drive the electronic device.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a portable generator using a thermoelectric element according to the present invention.
2 is an exploded view of a portable generator using a thermoelectric element according to the present invention.
3 is a partial cutaway view of a portable generator using a thermoelectric element according to the present invention.
4 is a control block diagram of a portable generator using a thermoelectric element according to the present invention.
5 is a diagram illustrating an example of use of a portable generator using a thermoelectric element according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, the characteristics of the portable generator using a thermoelectric element according to the present invention will be understood by way of embodiments described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Prior to this, the terms or words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, and the inventor should properly understand the concept of the term in order to best describe his invention. Based on the principle that it can be defined, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, and do not represent all the technical spirit of the present invention, so at the time of the present application, they can be replaced It should be understood that various equivalents and modifications may be made.

1 to 5 , a portable generator 1 using a thermoelectric element according to the present invention is convenient to carry during camping and outdoor activities, and is often used during camping or outdoor activities such as incense candles, barbecue drills, or burners. It is a generator that can effectively produce electric power that can be used for various electronic devices requiring power supply by using the various heat sources 12 of the thermoelectric element 110 .

The portable generator 1 of the present invention as described above includes a power generation unit 100 including a thermoelectric element 110 for generating power using heat transferred from a lower heat source 12 , and the power generation unit 100 . It includes a support part 200 for supporting the lower part and protecting the heat source 12 , and a heat dissipation part 300 provided on the upper part of the power generation part 100 to emit heat from the upper part of the power generation part 100 .

At this time, the heat source 12 is a heat source such as an incense candle, a brazier or stove, a burner, an electric barbecue grill, etc. used a lot in the outdoors, or a tree branch or leftover charcoal, wood, coal, oil, gas, etc. to generate heat. It includes a variety of heating means that can be.

In addition, the heat source 12 may be provided in the lower portion of the power generation unit 100 in a state contained in the stove (10). For example, heated charcoal or raw charcoal may be put into the heat source receiving space 11 of the stove 10 in the form of a furnace and burned, and this may be provided in the lower portion of the power generation unit 100 .

It is preferable that the power generation unit 100, the support unit 200, and the heat dissipation unit 300 are integrally coupled and fixed.

Hereinafter, the constitution of each part of the present invention will be described in detail.

The power generation unit 100 includes a heat exchange plate 120 and a thermoelectric element 110 provided on the heat exchange plate 120 .

The plate 120 for heat exchange has a seating groove 122 formed in the center, so that a plurality of thermoelectric elements 110 are fixed side by side.

In this case, the heat exchange plate 120 is preferably made of a metal material such as aluminum having excellent thermal conductivity and has a rectangular plate shape.

And, the thermoelectric element 110 generates electric energy through the temperature difference between the lower and upper parts. The thermoelectric element 110 has a Zeebeck effect that generates electric energy due to a train (temperature difference) applied to a material, or reverses this phenomenon to generate heat or absorb heat of a material generated by an externally loaded electric energy. As a device using thermoelectric conversion technology, which is a generic term for the Peltier effect, it has a structure in which a high-temperature surface is disposed on one side and a low-temperature surface is disposed on the upper side.

The thermoelectric element 110 has a high temperature side facing down and a low temperature side facing upward, and the heat exchange plate 120 is fixed to the seating groove 122 formed in the middle, and a plurality of heat exchange plates 120 according to the size of the thermoelectric element 110 . of thermoelectric elements 110 are arranged side by side. Accordingly, the heat from the lower heat source 12 is transferred to the lower surface of the thermoelectric element 110 through the heat exchange plate 120 , and electric power is generated by the temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces.

On the other hand, the support unit 200 includes a fixed plate 210 provided under the heat exchange plate 120 of the power generation unit 100 and a support plate 220 provided rotatably on the edge of the fixed plate 210 . ) is composed of

At this time, it is preferable that the fixing plate 210 is made of a metal material such as aluminum having excellent thermal conductivity and has a rectangular plate shape.

In addition, the support plate 220 is preferably made of a metal material and has a rectangular plate shape, and one end is hinged to the rim of the fixing plate 210 .

At this time, one end of the support plate 220 and the hinge 230 are connected to the four rims of the fixing plate 210 , so that the support plate 220 can rotate. Fixing holes 212 and 222 are formed on the surfaces of the fixing plate 210 and the support plate 220 , so that the hinge 230 can be integrally fixed as a fastening means. At this time, the fastening means may be composed of a bolt, a nut, a rivet, and the like.

According to this structure, when the stove 10 containing the heat source 12 is located in the lower portion of the power generation unit 100, the other end of the support plate 220 is rotated downward and supported on the ground, the stove 10 is moved to the outside. It is possible to prevent exposure, thereby preventing or minimizing heat loss of the heat source 12 .

Of course, when the heat source 12 is a furnace or a burner, the support plate 220 may be used in a horizontally flat state, and when it is desired to reduce the volume during storage as a whole, the other end of the support plate 220 faces upward. It can also be rotated to do so.

In addition, a plurality of vent holes 224 are further formed on the surface of the support plate 220 so that when the stove 10 containing a heat source is located under the power generation unit 100, external air is naturally introduced to the heat source ( Charcoal, for example).

In addition, the heat dissipation unit 300 is provided on the upper portion of the power generation unit 100 to discharge heat of the upper portion of the power generation unit 100 to the outside, and the upper portion is opened to form the receiving unit 312 . It consists of a heat dissipation case 310 and a plurality of heat dissipation fins 320 provided at equal intervals in the receiving part 312 of the heat dissipation case 310 . Cooling water may be filled in the accommodating part 312 . The heat dissipation case 310 and the heat dissipation fin 320 of the heat dissipation unit 300 are preferably made of a metal material such as aluminum having excellent thermal conductivity.

Accordingly, even though heat is transferred to the lower surface of the thermoelectric element 110 , as heat is emitted through the upper heat dissipation unit, power may be generated by the temperature difference between the lower surface and the lower surface of the thermoelectric element 110 .

For example, if it is assumed that the temperature of the cold side is 20°C and the temperature of the hard side is 100°C, that is, the temperature difference is maintained at 80°C, in theory, 4 thermoelectric elements can produce 8W power and 6 thermoelectric elements can produce 12W power. This is enough power to run mobile phones and other electronic devices compared to 5W for normal mobile phone charging and 10W for fast charging.

The power generated by the thermoelectric element 110 is supplied to the power supply device 400 through a heat-resistant Teflon wire so that it can be safely protected from a hot heat source.

The power supply device 400 is provided with a socket 410 to which the power jack 112 connected to the thermoelectric element 110 is connected, and converts the power supplied from the thermoelectric element 110 inside the housing 402 . DC-DC converter 420, a rechargeable battery 430 for charging the power of the DC-DC converter 420, and control the DC-DC converter 420 and the rechargeable battery 430 to charge and discharge the power. It includes a power control unit 440 for monitoring and controlling, and a power output unit 450 for outputting power of the rechargeable battery 430 . The DC-DC converter 420 is a step-down converter that lowers the voltage, and can step-down, for example, a DC power of 5.5V or more to 3.7V, and the power control unit 440 may be made of, for example, an Arduino. The output unit 450 may be configured as a USB port, and the rechargeable battery may be formed of a lithium polymer battery.

Accordingly, 5V power output through the USB port can be used, and power can be supplied from the rechargeable battery 430 at any time even if no power is generated from the thermoelectric element 110 .

In addition, if necessary, the power jack 112 may be removed and only the power supply device 400 may be carried and used.

Of course, it is also preferable to adopt a structure in which only the lithium polymer battery, which is the rechargeable battery 430 , can be separated from the housing 402 .

In addition, the power supply device 400 is provided with red and blue LEDs 460 and 462 in the housing 402 to check the charging and discharging states. Accordingly, when power is supplied due to the driving of the thermoelectric element 110, the power control unit 440 turns on the red LED 460 due to the operation of the step-down converter when the pure power generation voltage is 5.5V or more, and sufficient power supply starts. If it is, the blue LED 462 can be flickered.

In addition, when the housing 402 of the power supply 400 is provided with a magnet 470 and not charging, the magnet 470 may be attached close to the support plate 220 and then moved. To this end, the support plate 220 is preferably made of a metal, in particular, a steel plate made of iron.

Hereinafter, an example of using a portable generator using a thermoelectric element according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 .

It is ignited in a state in which charcoal, etc., which is the burning heat source 12 , is put in the stove 10 , or wood or the like is put in the stove 10 .

Then, the support plate 220 of the support unit 200 provided in the lower portion of the power generation unit 100 is erected and the stove 10 is placed therein.

Accordingly, heat is generated while the stove 10 is not exposed to the outside and the heat source 12 is burned in the lower portion of the power generation unit 100 , and this heat is generated through the fixed plate 210 constituting the support unit 200 . It is transmitted to the thermoelectric element 110 through the heat exchange plate 120 of the unit 100 .

As such, heat is transferred to the lower surface of the thermoelectric element 110 and heat is emitted from the upper portion through the heat dissipation unit 300 . As a result, a temperature difference between the lower surface and the lower surface of the thermoelectric element 110 is generated to generate electric power and heat resistance. It is supplied to the power supply device 400 through a Teflon wire.

Accordingly, power is charged to the rechargeable battery 430 of the power supply device 400 , and then, if necessary, the power jack 112 may be disconnected to carry the power supply device 400 for charging electronic devices.

Of course, when the heat source 12 is a furnace or a burner, the portable generator 1 can be used by placing the support plate 220 on the upper side of the furnace or burner in a horizontally flat state, and when storing, It is possible to reduce the volume by rotating the end portion toward the upper side so that the support plate 220 surrounds the outside of the power generation unit 100 and the heat dissipation unit 300 .

In addition, the present invention provides power required for driving electronic devices in various environments where it is possible to maintain a temperature difference by convection, conduction, and radiant heat by the sun using a high-temperature heat source when power supply is required while conveniently carrying it during camping and outdoor activities. can be produced effectively.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The scope of protection should be construed by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent range should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

1: portable generator 10: stove
12: heat source 100: power generation unit
110: thermoelectric element 120: plate for heat exchange
200: support 210: fixed plate
220: support plate 224: ventilation holes
230: hinge 300: heat dissipation unit
310: heat dissipation case 320: heat dissipation fins
400: power supply 402: housing
420: DC-DC converter 430: rechargeable battery
440: power control unit 450: power output unit
470: magnet

Claims (7)

A power generation unit including a thermoelectric element for generating electric power using heat transferred from a heat source, a support unit supporting a lower portion of the power generation unit and protecting a heat source, and a support unit provided at an upper portion of the power generation unit to dissipate the heat of the upper portion of the power generation unit It includes a heat dissipation unit that emits;
The support portion includes a fixed plate provided under the heat exchange plate of the power generation unit, a support plate hinged rotatably to the rim of the fixed plate, and installed on four rims of the fixed plate to connect one end of the support plate When the heat source is located under the power generation unit made of a hinge, the other end of the support plate is rotated downward to support it on the ground to prevent the heat source from being exposed to the outside and to reduce the volume during storage. Rotating the other end of the support plate to face upward,
A power supply device connected to the thermoelectric device by an electric wire to receive power generated from the thermoelectric device is further provided, wherein a housing constituting the power supply device is provided with a magnet attachable to the support portion. portable generator using
The method of claim 1,
The power generation unit includes a plate for heat exchange and a thermoelectric element provided on the plate for heat exchange,
The thermoelectric element is a portable generator using a thermoelectric element, characterized in that the heat exchange plate is fixed to a seating groove formed in the middle so that the high temperature side faces downward and the low temperature side faces upward.
delete The method of claim 1,
A portable generator using a thermoelectric element, characterized in that the surface of the support plate further includes a plurality of vent holes through which external air is introduced so that the heat source of the stove located below the power generation unit helps combustion.
The method of claim 1,
The portable generator using a thermoelectric element, characterized in that the heat dissipation unit comprises a heat dissipation case having an open upper portion to form an accommodating portion, and a plurality of heat dissipation fins provided at equal intervals in the accommodating portion of the heat dissipation case.
The method of claim 1,
The power supply device includes a DC-DC converter installed inside the housing to convert power supplied from the thermoelectric element, a rechargeable battery charging the power of the DC-DC converter, and controlling the DC-DC converter and the rechargeable battery to control the power supply. A portable generator using a thermoelectric element, comprising: a power control unit for monitoring and controlling charging and discharging; and a power output unit for outputting power from the rechargeable battery.
delete

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