KR20220159089A - Generating apparatus using temperature difference - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a temperature difference power generating device which is installed under a high temperature to efficiently produce power. The temperature difference power generating device comprises: at least one thermoelectric element generating an electromotive force by using a temperature difference; a heat transfer plate installed on one surface of the thermoelectric element to transfer heat transferred from a heat source to the thermoelectric element; a heat dissipation unit installed on the other surface of the thermoelectric element to dissipate heat from the thermoelectric element; an attaching or detaching unit for attaching or detaching the heat transfer plate to the heat source; a storage battery electrically connected to the thermoelectric element to store surplus electric energy produced by the thermoelectric element; and a circuit module that optimizes power produced by the thermoelectric element to stably charge the storage battery.

Description

Temperature difference generator {GENERATING APPARATUS USING TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE}

The present disclosure relates to a power generation device for producing electrical energy using a temperature difference.

While the use of energy is rapidly increasing due to industrial development, fossil fuels are gradually being depleted. Accordingly, active alternatives to future energy source depletion, such as development of alternative energy and effective use of waste energy, are required.

For example, industries such as power plants and steel mills use heat sources to produce final products. At this time, most industrial facilities generate exhaust gas or the like in a process of performing heating, pressurization, or combustion, and discharge the exhaust gas to the outside in a state in which waste heat is contained in the exhaust gas. Therefore, recent industrial plant facilities are equipped with waste heat recovery devices to recover at least some of this waste heat, and produce and use electrical energy using waste heat energy.

Conventional waste heat recovery generators generate high-temperature, high-temperature steam by exchanging heat with high-temperature exhaust gas or cooling water in a boiler. In addition, the waste heat recovery generator generates electric energy with the rotational force of the turbine by rotating the turbine with high-temperature, high-temperature steam. However, in the conventional waste heat recovery generator, only a small portion of the waste heat energy contained in the exhaust gas or cooling water is recovered as electrical energy, resulting in low power generation efficiency and increased equipment size.

In addition, a device using a thermoelectric element is being developed by improving a conventional waste heat recovery generator, but this also has low power generation efficiency and is not driven under optimal conditions, resulting in insignificant power output and no marketability.

In addition, in the case of a device using a thermoelectric element, it has a structure that operates at a low temperature of 150 ° C. or less, and there is a problem in that power cannot be generated because it cannot be installed in a high temperature part.

An object of the present invention is to provide a temperature difference generator capable of generating electric power by being installed even at high temperatures.

An object of the present invention is to provide a temperature difference power generation device capable of increasing power generation efficiency even with a small temperature difference.

An object of the present invention is to provide a temperature difference generator capable of maximizing generated power output by stabilizing resistance and voltage for optimizing generated power.

The power generation device of the present embodiment includes at least one thermoelectric element generating electromotive force using a temperature difference, a heat transfer plate installed on one surface of the thermoelectric element and transferring heat transferred from a heat source to the thermoelectric element, and installed on the other surface of the thermoelectric element. A heat dissipation unit for dissipating heat from the thermoelectric element, a detachable unit for attaching and detaching the heat transfer plate to a heat source, a storage battery electrically connected to the thermoelectric element to store surplus electrical energy produced by the thermoelectric element, and power generated from the thermoelectric element. A circuit module for optimizing and stably charging the storage battery may be included.

A power output terminal connected to the storage battery may be further included.

The detachable part may include at least one magnet installed on the heat transfer plate.

The device may have a structure including a housing spaced apart from the heat transfer plate and enclosing the heat dissipation unit, and a heat dissipation hole circulating external air to the heat dissipation unit is formed at one side of the housing.

The heat dissipation unit includes a heat sink in contact with the thermoelectric element and having a heat sink fin formed thereon, a heat sink disposed outside the heat sink to circulate outside air through the heat sink fins, and installed on the heat sink while covering the heat sink fan and the heat sink fin, and one end is installed on the heat sink with a heat sink fin. It may include an open housing so that the inflow.

At least one heat pipe inserted and installed inside the heat transfer plate or the heat sink may be further included.

The circuit module may include a resistance PCB circuit for setting a resistance for optimizing generated power and a transformer circuit for increasing or decreasing a voltage to a chargeable voltage.

The transformer circuit may include a step-up circuit for increasing the voltage of the generated power generated from the thermoelectric element, and a step-down circuit for lowering the voltage of the generated power generated from the thermoelectric element.

The heat dissipation fan may have a structure that is electrically connected to the thermoelectric element and driven by directly receiving electric energy generated from the thermoelectric element.

In this way, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to simply attach to a place where waste heat is generated and generate power.

It can be installed at high temperatures to generate electricity, so it can be installed in various heat emission sources to recover energy.

Power generation and charging are possible even when the temperature difference is small.

It is possible to dissipate heat more quickly from the thermoelectric element, and maximize power generation efficiency through uniform heat transfer.

The efficiency of power generation can be maximized by setting the resistance to the optimum condition for power generation according to the fluctuation of waste heat and stabilizing the charging voltage.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing a temperature difference generator according to an embodiment.
2 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the temperature difference generator according to the present embodiment.
3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the temperature difference generator according to the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described so that those skilled in the art can easily practice it. As can be easily understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, the embodiments described below may be modified in various forms without departing from the concept and scope of the present invention. Where possible, identical or similar parts are indicated using the same reference numerals in the drawings.

The terminology used below is only for referring to specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms also include the plural forms unless the phrases clearly indicate the opposite. As used herein, the meaning of “comprising” specifies a particular characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element, and/or component, while specifying another specific characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element, element, and/or group. does not exclude the presence or addition of

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the following examples are only preferred examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

1 shows the external appearance of the temperature difference power generation device according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the temperature difference power generation device according to this embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows the cross-sectional structure of the temperature difference power generation device according to this embodiment. have.

As shown, the power generation device 10 of the present embodiment includes at least one thermoelectric element 12 that generates electromotive force using a temperature difference, and is installed on one side of the thermoelectric element 12 to transfer heat transferred from a heat source to the thermoelectric element ( 12) a heat transfer plate 14, a heat dissipation part 20 installed on the other surface of the thermoelectric element 12 to dissipate heat from the thermoelectric element 12, a detachable part for attaching and detaching the heat transfer plate 14 to a heat source, and a thermoelectric A storage battery 50 electrically connected to the device to store surplus electrical energy produced by the thermoelectric device, and a circuit module 60 for optimizing power generated by the thermoelectric device.

Accordingly, the present device generates power by using the seeback effect of the thermoelectric element 12 . The thermoelectric element 12 converts thermal energy into electrical energy by generating thermal power using a temperature difference between a heating surface and a cooling surface.

The thermoelectric element 12 is an element in which dissimilar metals are bonded, and since many technologies have been disclosed for this, a description thereof will be omitted. The Seebeck effect is a phenomenon in which a voltage, that is, a thermoelectromotive force, is generated due to a temperature difference and current flows in a closed circuit, and is a principle of thermoelectric power generation.

In this embodiment, in the power generation device 10, at least one thermoelectric element 12 is disposed on a plane, and the thermoelectric element 12 is disposed at intervals so as to contact the front surface of the heat transfer plate 14 in contact with the heat source . In addition, a heat dissipation unit 20 is installed in contact with the opposite surface of the thermoelectric element 12 in contact with the heat transfer plate 14 . Accordingly, the thermoelectric element 12 receives heat from the heat transfer plate 14 and generates power through a temperature difference between both sides cooled through the heat dissipation unit 20 .

Here, the heat source is a heat source that generates waste heat, and may be variously set according to the facility in which the present device is installed.

The heat dissipation unit 20 of the power generation device 10 is installed in the housing 16 forming the outer shape. And, in the housing 16, the heat transfer plate 14 is spaced apart from the housing 16 with the thermoelectric element 12 interposed therebetween. Thus, the high heat of the heat source transferred to the heat transfer plate 14 is not directly transferred to the housing 16, so the housing 16 is not heated by the high heat of the heat source. Accordingly, the efficiency of the heat dissipation unit 20 is increased, and the user can easily hold or use the housing 16 .

The housing 16 has a rectangular shape, but is not particularly limited in its shape. The heat dissipation unit 20 is disposed inside the front of the housing 16, and the front and rear surfaces of the housing are open so that outside air can flow into the heat dissipation unit inside the housing 16.

In addition, at least one side of the housing 16 may be connected to the storage battery 50 and a power output terminal for withdrawing the electric power charged in the storage battery 50 to the outside may be installed.

The storage battery 50 is for storing power generated from the thermoelectric element 12 and may be a secondary battery capable of charging and discharging. The storage battery 50 may apply stored electrical energy to the outside through a power output terminal 52 installed in the housing 16 .

An upper plate 70 covering and protecting the storage battery 50 and the circuit module 60 may be further installed on the outside of the housing 16 . A handle 72 is installed on the outside of the top plate 70 so that the device can be easily attached and detached.

The heat transfer plate 14 is made of a flat plate structure having a predetermined thickness, and transfers heat from the heat source to the heating surface of the thermoelectric element 12 between the heat source and the thermoelectric element 12 . The heat transfer plate 14 may be made of copper or aluminum having excellent thermal conductivity.

In this embodiment, the power generation device 10 is used by attaching the heat transfer plate 14 disposed on the rear surface of the housing 16 to a heat source.

The detachable portion is for attaching the power generation device 10 to the surface of the heat source, and in this embodiment, it may have a structure in which the heat transfer plate 14 is detached from a magnetic iron plate or the like using magnetic force.

To this end, the detachable part includes at least one magnet 40 installed on the heat transfer plate 14 . The magnets 40 are arranged and installed on the heat transfer plate 14 at intervals. The magnet 40 may be fixed to the heat transfer plate 14 through bolts or the like.

The magnet 40 installed on the heat transfer plate 14 is attached to the outer surface of the heat source, which is a magnetic material, by magnetic force. Accordingly, the heat transfer plate 14 on which the magnet 40 is installed can be fixed in a state of close contact with the heat source.

After using the power generator 10, the heat transfer plate 14 to which the magnet 40 is attached can be easily separated from the heat source by pulling the heat transfer plate 14 from the heat source.

In this way, since the magnet 40 is installed on the heat transfer plate 14, it is possible to simply install and separate it from any heat source constituting a magnetic body, such as the exhaust duct D.

The heat dissipation unit 20 is installed inside the housing 16 to dissipate heat from the thermoelectric element 12 . The heat dissipation unit 20 includes a heat dissipation plate 22 in contact with the thermoelectric element 12 and having a dissipation fin 24 formed thereon, and a dissipation fan 26 disposed outside the heat dissipation plate 22 to circulate outside air to the heat dissipation plate 22. includes

In this embodiment, the heat dissipation fan 26 may have a structure driven by using electric energy produced by the thermoelectric element 12 .

In addition, at least one heat pipe 28 may be inserted and installed inside the heat transfer plate 14 or the heat sink 22 .

A plurality of holes 15 may be machined at intervals in the heat transfer plate 14 and the heat sink 22 so that the heat pipe 28 may be inserted.

The heat pipe 28 inserted into the heat transfer plate 14 or the heat sink 22 is an elongated tubular structure. The heat pipe 28 is a structure in which the working fluid continuously transfers heat through a gas-liquid phase change process inside the airtight container. Accordingly, by using latent heat to transfer heat, a very large heat transfer capability can be exhibited. The heat pipe includes a sealed container, a working fluid, and a capillary tube inside the container, and is classified in various ways according to the type of the working fluid or internal structure. Since many technologies have been disclosed for the heat pipe, the following description is omitted.

In this way, the heat transfer plate 14 can more quickly and evenly distribute and transfer the heat transferred from the heat source by the heat pipe 28 installed therein to the entire heat transfer plate 14 .

Therefore, heat from the heat source is evenly applied to the entirety of the plurality of thermoelectric elements 12 installed in contact with the heat transfer plate 14, so that heat can be applied uniformly to each of the thermoelectric elements.

The heat sink 22 can also more quickly and evenly distribute the heat transferred from the thermoelectric element 12 by the heat pipe 28 installed therein over the front surface of the heat sink 22 . Accordingly, the entire heat of the plurality of thermoelectric elements 12 installed in contact with the heat sink 22 is evenly dissipated through the heat sink 22 to increase the temperature difference between both sides of the thermoelectric elements 12, thereby increasing power generation efficiency.

As shown in FIG. 4, the circuit module 60 includes a resistance PCB circuit for optimizing generated power according to a change in the amount of heat applied to the thermoelectric element 12, and a transformer circuit for controlling the voltage applied from the thermoelectric element to the storage battery. includes Optimizing the generated power means producing the maximum amount of power by maximizing the generation of the generated power through the control of the resistance value. That is, when the resistance is too high in generating power, the amount of power generation is lowered, and when the resistance is too low, electron transfer is not performed well, resulting in a decrease in power generation efficiency.

The resistance PCB circuit optimizes generated power by varying a resistance provided for forming a close circuit with a thermoelectric element to an optimal power generation condition of the thermoelectric element. That is, the resistance PCB circuit is equipped with a logic circuit that can check the heat quantity fluctuation through the sensor and find the resistance value that enables maximum power production, and automatically calculates the resistance value for maximum power production according to the heat quantity fluctuation condition. . Therefore, it is possible to always produce maximum power according to conditions.

The transformer circuit includes a step-up circuit for increasing the voltage of the power generated from the thermoelectric element and a step-down circuit for lowering the voltage of the power generated from the thermoelectric element.

When the power generated by the thermoelectric element is lower than the chargeable voltage of the battery, the step-up circuit raises it to a chargeable voltage and applies it to the battery. In the step-down circuit, when the power generated from the thermoelectric element is higher than the chargeable voltage of the battery, it is lowered to a chargeable voltage and applied to the battery.

Accordingly, when the voltage generated from the thermoelectric element and applied to the storage battery is low or high, the voltage is controlled through the step-up circuit and the step-down circuit to be adjusted to a chargeable voltage. Therefore, in any case, it is possible to efficiently charge the storage battery with the power generated by the thermoelectric element.

Hereinafter, the operation of the power generation device according to the present embodiment will be described.

This generator 10 is portable, and when a worker attaches the heat transfer plate 14 to a required location of the heat source, the device is attached to the outer shell of the heat source by the magnetic force of the magnet 40 installed on the heat transfer plate.

When a heat transfer plate is attached to the heat source, waste heat generated from the heat source is transferred to the heat dissipating surface of the thermoelectric element through the heat transfer plate 14, and the thermoelectric element 12 generates power by the Seebeck effect due to the temperature difference between the two surfaces. The electric power thus produced is applied to the heat dissipation fan 26 to operate the heat dissipation fan. When the heat sink fan is operated, outside air is circulated to the heat sink inside the housing to cool the heat sink. Accordingly, the heat transferred to the cooling surface of the thermoelectric element is dissipated while exchanging heat with the heat sink. Therefore, the temperature difference between the two sides of the thermoelectric element increases, and thus power output increases.

Power generated by the thermoelectric element is applied to the storage battery 50 through the circuit module 60 and stored in the storage battery.

In this process, the amount of power generated by the thermoelectric element varies according to the temperature change of the waste heat, and the generated power can be optimized through the circuit module provided in the present device. The circuit module automatically changes the resistance value applied to the closed circuit of the thermoelectric element according to the amount of power generated by the thermoelectric element. In addition, the circuit module changes the voltage to a chargeable voltage of the storage battery through a step-up circuit and a step-down circuit according to the generated voltage of the thermoelectric element. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an optimal amount of power generation through the thermoelectric element regardless of thermal energy fluctuations of the heat source.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described as described above, various modifications and other embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art. All of these modifications and other embodiments are to be considered and included in the appended claims, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

10: generator 12: thermoelectric element
14: heat transfer plate 15: hole
16: housing 20: heat sink
22: heat sink 24: heat sink fin
26: heat dissipation fan 28: heat pipe
40: magnet 50: storage battery
60: circuit module 70: top plate
72: handle

Claims (3)

At least one thermoelectric element generating electromotive force using a temperature difference, a heat transfer plate installed on one surface of the thermoelectric element to transmit heat transferred from a heat source to the thermoelectric element, and a heat dissipation plate installed on the other surface of the thermoelectric element to dissipate heat from the thermoelectric element A part, a detachable part for attaching and detaching the heat transfer plate to a heat source, a storage battery electrically connected to the thermoelectric element to store surplus electric energy produced by the thermoelectric element, and stably charging the battery by optimizing the power produced by the thermoelectric element letting circuit module,
The heat dissipation unit includes a heat dissipation plate in contact with the thermoelectric element and having a dissipation fin formed thereon, and a dissipation fan disposed outside the heat dissipation plate to circulate outside air to the heat dissipation plate,
A power generation device using waste heat in which at least one heat pipe is inserted into the heat transfer plate or the heat sink of the heat sink. According to claim 1,
The circuit module includes a resistor PCB circuit for setting a resistance for optimizing generated power and a transformer circuit for increasing or decreasing a voltage to a chargeable voltage, and the transformer circuit is a step-up for increasing the voltage of generated power generated from a thermoelectric element. A generator using waste heat including a step-up circuit and a step-down circuit for lowering the voltage of generated power generated from a thermoelectric element. According to claim 1,
The detachable unit is a power generation device using waste heat including at least one magnet installed on the heat transfer plate.

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