MXPA98009392A - Improved thermoelectric unit with provision of electronic entry / exit - Google Patents
Improved thermoelectric unit with provision of electronic entry / exitInfo
- Publication number
- MXPA98009392A MXPA98009392A MXPA98009392A MX PA98009392 A MXPA98009392 A MX PA98009392A MX PA98009392 A MXPA98009392 A MX PA98009392A
- Authority
- MX
- Mexico
- Prior art keywords
- thermoelectric unit
- fins
- hot
- thermoelectric
- thermal conductivity
- Prior art date
Links
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- PORWMNRCUJJQNO-UHFFFAOYSA-N tellurium Chemical compound [Te] PORWMNRCUJJQNO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N tungsten Chemical compound [W] WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 7
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Abstract
A series of tightly packed thermocouples formed in a toroid (60) are held in compression against the Lorentz force by a dielectrically insulated tie strip (61). The high current circulates through the toroid (60) due to the length of electric path made by elements of low thermal conductivity (64) and grooves (38) formed in hot and cold fins (66 and 65) generates greater circulating current. The thermocouples formed between the hot and cold fins (66 and 65) and the elements of low thermal conductivity (64) are preferably established by coated layers (67) of different materials including bismuth, constantane, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon , germanium, antimony, nickel-chromium, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper, zinc and silver. By operating as a thermoelectric generator (40), electric power can be extracted from the circulating current using either a vibrating mechanical switch (70), a Hall effect generator (140) or a Colpits oscillator (15).
Description
IMPROVED THERMOELECTRIC UNIT WITH PROVISION OF ELECTRICAL ENTRY / SALT
Technical Field The present invention relates to thermoelectric generation and cooling units, and in particular to a thermoelectric generator and / or cooler that uses a toroid made of closely coupled thermocouples that cause a very high electric current to flow through the toroid, induced by means of maximizing a differential temperature through the thermoelectric elements, and using low electrical resistance together with Seebeck high-effect thermocouples.
Previous Technique The search for a reliable, silent energy converter with no moving parts that converts heat into electrical energy has led engineers to reconsider a set of phenomena called thermoelectric effects. These effects, known for more than a hundred years, have allowed the development of small, self-contained electrical energy sources, but too small to find their practical application for the generation of homemade or commercial energy. A normal electrical switch generally uses only the same type of metals, where no effort is made to heat and cool any of the elements, and the difference between the elements of the switch does not result in any thermoelectric voltage. Electrical resistivity is a conventional switch that causes a voltage drop when an electrical current flows through the switch, and constitutes a resistive load on the electrical current flowing through the electrically closed circuit established by the switch closure. Thermoelectric generation and cooling, based on the Seebeck effect, is the physical phenomenon in which a thermocouple is used, formed by the juxtaposition of two different materials that are usually metals or metal alloys, for the measurement of temperature. As is well known, a thermocouple that has its pair of splices maintained at different temperatures, produces a voltage difference that measures a specific temperature difference between the two splices. A temperature difference imposed will result in a voltage across the thermocouple or a current flowing in a circuit through the thermocouple, which constitutes the generation of electric power on a small scale. This aspect of thermoelectric generation is widely used in intergalactic applications, for example, on the Voyager I and II satellites, which were launched in 1977 and are still sending back photographs, almost 20 years later. In those thermoelectric power generation applications, a radioactive material provides heat for the thermoelectric operators, and consequently provides a long-life power supply. Similar thermoelectric power generation units will also be used in the upcoming Cassini to Saturn mission. The advantages of solid-state thermoelectric power conversion include reduced size, lighter weight, quiet operation and trouble-free power generation over a long lifespan. Thermoelectric generation and cooling has existed for more than a hundred years, first discovered by Seebeck in 1822. There have been numerous improvements and analyzes of Seebeck's work, and many patents have been issued based on improvements to this earlier discovery. The majority of this work has been directed towards the discovery of combinations of metals or alloys that produce the highest Seebeck splice voltage, for thermocouples or thermoelectric elements connected in series, to produce a high voltage to supply current to energize an electric charge . Most thermoelectric generators use a set of splices connected in series to produce an electric current to drive an electric charge. Typically, Seebeck high-voltage materials also have high electrical resistivity, which tends to reduce the electric current flowing in the circuit. Previous thermoelectric generators and coolers use alloys to produce Seebeck high voltage for temperature differences of identical thermocouples. The alloys typically have Seebeck voltages many times higher, but are found to have resistivities that are typically ten times higher than any of the commercially pure metals (99 percent) that make up the alloys. If an electrical circuit contains only a series of thermoelectric elements that produce the electric current flowing through the circuit, the higher resistivity in any of the thermoelectric elements drastically reduces the amount of current flowing through the circuit. The structure of the present invention differs in different ways from that described in the patents of the United States of North America Nos. 4,859,250 and 5,022,928 which were published in the applications filed by Buist, 2,919,553 and 3,326,727 which were published in the applications filed by Fritts. , 3,119,739, which was published in an application filed by Von Koch, 3,090,875 which was published in an application filed by Harkness, 2,864,879 which was published in an application filed by Toulmin, 2,452,647 which was published in a request filed by Salver, and 2,415,005 which was published in an application filed by Findley, as well as the following patents that have been issued in the name of the inventor of the present application: 4,997,047 High Speed Electromagnet ically Accelerated Earth Drill; 5,024,137 Fuel Assisted Electromagnetic Launcher; 5,168,118 Method of Electromagnetic Acceleration of an Object; 5,168,939 Oil Well Drill; 5,393,350 Thermoelectric Generator and Magnetic Energy Storage Unit; and 5,597,976 A Thermoelectric Generator and Magnetic Energy Storage Unit with Controllable Electric Output.
Description of the Invention An objective of this invention is to maximize the production of electrical energy from a thermoelectric generator, and to make a practical converter that can produce an alternating voltage and current, which can be used to directly energize home and industrial loads without the help from the utility grid. Another objective of the present invention is to maximize the current circulating in a thermoelectric junction toroid, and by the same to maximize the energy stored in a strong magnetic field. The maximization of the circulating current is effected by means of: 1. reducing the internal electrical resistance in the toroid; 2. select materials for the thermoelectric joints that form the toroid, in order to produce the highest current, consistent with low internal electrical resistance; and 3. minimizing the heat flowing between the heating and cooling fins, maintaining the same individual splices at the higher temperature differentials, and in the same way the higher Seebeck impulse voltage. In particular, the thermoelectric unit uses thermoelectric junction materials that generate voltages configured to alternate in Seebeck voltage sign, which are referred to herein as type p and type n systems, and which have both high Seebeck voltage and high electrical conductivity (low electrical resistance). A further object of the present invention is to produce high energy electrical output power in the range of 0 to
240 Volts of either an alternating current ("AC") or a direct current ("DC"), by altering the circulating current in the toroid. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a novel way to obtain improved electrical conductivity and high voltage of Seebeck for type p and type n thermoelectric elements, by using a copper or silver core of high electrical and thermal conductivity, coated with Thin layers of thermoelectric material. The preceding structure for the thermoelectric elements produces thermoelectric junctions that operate as much as a high Seebeck voltage, a high electrical conductivity generator creating by the same greater electric current circulating in the toroid, and a higher energy output from a thermoelectric generator for the same temperature differential and heat flow. A further object of the present invention is to use threaded splices between the thermoelectric elements and hot and cold fins, in such a way that the thermoelectric elements function as thermal resistances, to reduce the heat flow between the hot and cold fins for, by the same , increase the temperature differentials through the thermoelectric joints, and to increase the thermal-to-electric overall efficiency of the thermoelectric unit. An alternative objective of the present invention is to use thermoelectric elements formed by the coating of a copper core threaded with a different metal having a high complementary Seebeck voltage, in such a way that the thermoelectric elements of high electrical conductivity also produce a voltage of high thermoelectric junction.
Still another object of the present invention is to reduce the electrical resistance through the fins by slotting the hot and cold fins on both sides, to receive the thermoelectric elements, the thermoelectric elements adapting within the contour of the groove, reducing by same length between the thermoelectric elements from one side of the hot or cold fin to the other side. A contributing objective of the present invention is to partially flatten the threaded rods in an oval shape, including the threads, in order to retain the threads in the threaded rod while concurrently reducing the distance of the material and the electrical resistance between the hot and cold alternating. A subordinate objective of the present invention is to use thin metal coatings to serve as ohmic solder connectors for the threaded tips of the thermoelectric elements to the hot and cold metal fins., because the interconnections and joints made of layers of plated metal do not exhibit less resistance than alloy thermoelectric splices. An associated objective of the present invention is to use veneer layers to provide a protective barrier resistant to corrosion and oxidation in hot and cold fins and thermoelectric elements, such as by plating the hot fins with platinum or palladium in the regions where they strike the flame and the hot gas, to also serve as a catalytic converter for the exhaust gases that are used in the heating of an electric generator, thereby reducing the contamination, while avoiding the oxidation of the heated fins. Another corollary objective of the present invention is to use a layer or layers veneered to form flat metal splices that improve the lifetime of the thermoelectric splices, sealing them from the environment, and maintaining the high Seebeck voltage characteristics of the splices over time. of life of the device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric unit employing thermoelectric elements of low thermal conductivity, which are formed as two halves which are contiguous to one another along an electrically conductive longitudinal surface, of low thermal conductivity, the thermoelectric elements of low thermal conductivity thus formed are received within slots formed in the hot and cold fins of the thermoelectric unit. Still another object of the present invention is to use a tie strip that circumvents the thermoelectric unit to contain the Lorentz Force that accumulates in the toroid, the tie strip secured around the toroidal current storage circuit, to maintain a pre-stress in the thermoelectric joints. Another object of the present invention is to use a connecting strip to encircle the thermoelectric unit that includes an intermediate open space of insulation in the strip, which uncouples the strip as a secondary winding. A related objective of the present invention is to interpose springs between the toroid formed by hot and cold fins and the joining strip, in order to maintain the necessary pre-stress to overcome the Lorentz Force despite the contraction and expansion of the coil due to the changes Of temperature. A subsequent objective of the present invention is to construct a novel black box around the hot fins to re-irradiate the heat by infrared rays back to the hot fins, to improve the efficiency of the chamber to heat the hot fins, elevating by means of same the temperature of the hot fins, increasing the temperature differential through the thermoelectric joints, increasing the magnitude of the circulating current in the toroid, increasing the efficiency of electric power output of the thermoelectric unit as a thermoelectric generator, and all this for the same amount of fuel.
A successive object of the present invention is to use a fluid, such as air, water, or other liquid to remove heat from the cold elements of the thermoelectric generator, and then be able to use the fluid in a heat pump, radiator or other device to remove the heat from the fluid to cool it before causing the fluid to circulate through the thermoelectric unit. A further object of the present invention is to use a low energy, magnetically activated vibratory energy output switch comprising a longitudinally vibrating threaded armature that is driven in one direction by the mechanical action of a solenoid in the opposite direction by a spring The armature is placed in a larger threaded hole, formed between a pair of immediately adjacent fins, both the armature and the hole being tapped with the same advance. The threaded armature and the hole forming an on / off switch to open and close a torque circuit? an electric current circulating through the toroid, so that when the threads of the armature and the orifice come into contact in the position both above and below, the electric current flows through the toroid, and when they are not in contact, then the interruption of the current flow in the toroid produces an electrical output that is useful for driving an electric charge, the switch operating as well as a low energy input device, high energy output. A different objective of the present invention is to provide a mechanical input to activate the solenoid of the vibratory switch that is used in the generation of electrical energy with the thermoelectric unit by means of using a digitally operated mechanical method, wherein a spring-loaded pendulum Unidirectional forces the solenoid to vibrate a number of cycles until the electrical output of the thermoelectric unit can self-energize a sinusoid generator that energizes the current interrupter, vibrating, voltage producing. Alternatively, a digitally operated piezoelectric generator may first provide a spark to ignite a burner. After the thermoelectric unit reaches the operating temperature, the piezoelectric generator is then used to store enough electrical energy to energize the sine-wave generator to drive the solenoid until the power output of the thermoelectric generator can drive an external electrical load. Another alternative objective is to provide a novel way to extract electrical energy from the current flowing through the torcid, without opening the toroid by interposing a Hall Effect switch between a pair of immediately adjacent fins of one of the thermoelectric junctions. in the toroid, and by controlling an externally applied magnetic field, oriented perpendicular to the electric current flowing through the toroid. After the application of the external magnetic field, a voltage appears through the toroid, which is proportional to the resistance to the magnetic field and to the circulating current, and the energy can be extracted from the thermoelectric unit in the form of alternating current or direct current , depending on the characteristics of the external magnetic field. The electric power generated in this way can be used to operate an electric charge without breaking the circulating current flowing through the toroid, and without vibration or noise. An additional object of the present invention is to control the voltage produced by a thermoelectric unit by controlling the flow of fuel supplied to a burner, which produces heat for a thermoelectric generator. Again, another objective of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric generator that burns methane, propane or butane gas from tanks mounted externally to the thermoelectric unit. A separate objective of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric generator that can burn any type of fuel by providing a ventilated fuel combustion area, under the hot fins with an exhaust opening above. Another object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary grill on top of the thermoelectric generator on the heat exhaust opening, to receive pots and pans for use in cooking. The thermoelectric unit of the present invention builds a magnetic field by circulating high current through a series of thermocouples, preferably configured to form a toroid. Electric power can be drawn from this thermoelectric unit by supplying heat to the hot fins, cooling the cold fins, and altering the circulating current in the circuit. The electrical energy produced in this way can be a high-voltage, high-voltage AC or direct current output. Generator efficiency depends on the use of alternating type p and type n material systems for thermoelectric splices that have a high complementary Seebeck voltage, high electrical conductivity (low electrical resistance), and comparatively low thermal conductivity between immediately adjacent pairs of hot fins and cold. The voltage that drives the current through the toroid is the sum of the thermoelectric voltages around the circuit connected in series (electrically shortened) that forms the toroid of the thermoelectric unit. The capacity of the thermoelectric unit to provide electrical power can be determined by multiplying the voltage of the thermoelectric junction by the number of splices by the current flowing through the toroid. The loop form of the toroid operates as the primary of a transformer, with energy stored in the magnetic field generated by the circulating electric current. Appropriately, the alteration of the circulating electric current produces a voltage to supply electric power to an external load. The alternative structures provide a comparatively low thermal conductivity between adjacent pairs of hot and cold fins, while concurrently providing high electrical conductivity
(Low resistance) . In one embodiment of these elements of low thermal conductivity, short rod segments juxtaposed with and placed between the hot and cold fins reduce the flow of heat, and thereby correspondingly increase the temperature differentials, and increase the efficiency global thermal-to-electric thermoelectric unit when used as an electrical generator. To improve the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the unit for the production of electrical energy, the tips of the threads connecting the hot and cold fins are appropriately coated with materials that provide a high complementary Seebeck voltage, which serve as emitters and collectors of electrons The thermoelectric splices made in this way act as thermal resistors with planned thermal gradients that operate radially along the wedge-shaped edges of the threaded rod, to greatly reduce the flow of heat through the thermoelectric splices while maintaining high spreads of temperature on the surface, between the threaded tips and the hot and cold fins. This structure for thermoelectric splices increases the thermal-to-electrical conversion efficiency by a factor of ten in the operation of electric power over that of solid, different metal blocks coupled to form thermoelectric junctions for the production of electrical energy. By adding the thermal resistance between the hot and cold fins, the amount of heat that is required to generate a previously specified electric current, which circulates through the toroid, decreases by 80 percent. The incorporation of these coated threaded rods to form thermoelectric junctions between the hot and cold fins raises the thermal-to-electrical conversion efficiency from 4 percent to 12 percent. The improved heat management of this thermoelectric unit provides higher energy capacity generator / output devices, using the same amount of heat (fuel) and weight (mass) for the thermoelectric unit. To further increase the electrical conductivity in the toroid (reduce resistance) slots are formed inside the hot fins, as well as in the cold fins, in order to reduce the distance traveled by the current flowing through the toroid. After arming the toroid, the grooves in the hot and cold fins receive the elements of low thermal conductivity such as the threaded rod elements described above. The removal of one half of the length of the copper path by slotting the hot and cold fins reduces the strength due to the copper path length of 1.72 x 10"6 Ohms (" O ") to 8.6 x 10 ~ 7 O for an L / A of 1, which doubles the amount of electric current flowing through the toroid during only a small percentage decrease in the temperature difference through thermoelectric splicing elements of low thermal conductivity. partially threaded rods in an oval shape reduces L in p L / A, and also increases the electric current flowing through the toroid.A special die set for flattening the threaded rods includes threads, in order to preserve the threads in The body of the threaded rod during the flattening The partial flattening of the threaded rod reduces the length inside the thermoelectric elements, around the circuit of the contacts with nta threaded with the hot fin on one side of the threaded rod partially flattened, on the other side, where the threaded rod is in contact with a cold fin. The partial flattening of the threaded rods reduces the distance of the material and the electrical resistance between alternating hot and cold joints. The interconnections and splices formed of plated material on the elements of low thermal conductivity do not exhibit the high electrical resistivity that occurs for alloy thermoelectric splices. Thus, a toroidal-shaped thermoelectric unit can be assembled by applying thin coatings of plated metal to form ohmic solder connections between the threaded tips of the rods and the hot and cold metal fins forming the toroid. The veneered layers can also be conveniently used to form a protective barrier for corrosion and oxidation of hot and cold fins, and for thermoelectric elements of low thermal conductivity. The plating of the hot fins with platinum or palladium in the regions where they strike the flame and the hot gas, serves as a catalytic converter for the exhaust gases generated when the thermoelectric unit is used as a thermoelectric generator. This has the effect of reducing contamination while preventing the oxidation of hot fins, if the thermoelectric unit is used to produce electricity. The reduction of pollution is especially important if the thermoelectric generators are adapted to internal combustion engines, to heat from the exhaust of the internal combustion engine. That plated plate or plates can be used in this invention to form flat metal splices, analogous to flat silicon splices in semiconductor devices, improving the lifetime of the splices, sealing them from the environment, and maintaining the Seebeck voltage characteristics. high of the joints during the lifetime of the device. The improved elements decrease the resistance of 10"6 to 10" 7 O and double the Seebeck voltage for each set of thermoelectric splices. Materials selected for the high complementary Seebeck voltage are plated on oxygen-plated, partially flattened, copper rods. These low thermal conductivity elements have threaded cross sections to reduce heat flow, increase temperature differentials, and increase the overall thermal-to-electrical efficiency of the generator. An alternative structure for the elements of low thermal conductivity interposed between immediately adjacent hot and cold fins, is a spike that fits in 2O the grooves formed in the hot and cold fins. These pins are formed as two halves which are contiguous to each other along an electrically conductive longitudinal surface, of low thermal conductivity, which is oriented between the hot and cold fins. Each element of low thermal conductivity can be coated with a layer of material that provides a high Seebeck voltage complementary to the thermocouples. These materials can be selected from a group consisting of bismuth, constantane, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nickel-chromium, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper, zinc, and silver, bismuth and antimony being the preferred materials to provide respectively type p and type n splices. The layer that coats the elements of low thermal conductivity can be overcoated with an electrically conductive layer such as copper. Instead of, or in addition to coating the low thermal conductivity elements with a high complementary Seebeck voltage material to form the thermoelectric splices, the slots in the fins can be coated with that material. The groove on the first side of each fin is coated with a layer of material that provides a type of splice, while the slot on the opposite side of each fin is coated with a material that provides the other type of splice. The fins are then configured in such a way that the same material forms the layer covering the slots receiving the same element of low thermal conductivity. The same materials that were used to coat the low thermal conductivity elements can be used to coat the grooves, and the material covering the grooves can also be overcoated with an electrically conductive material. A special bond strip encircles the thermoelectric generator to contain the Lorentz Force that results from the electric current flowing through the toroid. When the current flows in a ring, the current exerts a force on itself, and this force is called Force, of Lorentz. The force is radial in nature, and can be described by the formula: F = q (E + vxB). The joint strip is placed on the toroid to maintain a pre-stress on the connections of electrical joints between the fins and the elements of low thermal conductivity. A connecting strip is used to maintain a pre-stress to offset the Lorentz pressure of the large circulating current. The connecting strip includes an intermediate open space of insulation to uncouple the strip from becoming a secondary winding of a transformer, with the current circuit acting as the primary winding of the transformer if the electric power is removed from the electric current flowing through it. through the thermoelectric unit of toroidal shape. The coil springs interposed between the connecting strip and the hot and cold fins enable the joining strip to maintain the necessary force to overcome the Lorentz Force despite the contraction and expansion of the toroid due to temperature changes. To improve the efficiency of a chamber to heat the hot fins, if the thermoelectric unit is used as an electric power generator, a novel black box is constructed around the hot fins to re-irradiate the heat by infrared rays back to fins. When working with flame heaters, it has been found that a significant portion of the heat produced by a catalytic burner is in the form of infrared radiation. That infrared radiation travels beyond the hot fins to be wasted in the exhaust. The black box configuration sends a portion of the infrared radiation back through the hot fins, thereby raising the temperature of the hot fins, increasing the temperature differential of the thermoelectric junctions, increasing the magnitude of the current in the circuit, increasing the electric power output of the electric generator, and all this for the same amount of fuel burned in the combustion chamber. Two modes of the thermoelectric unit that operates as an electric generator, use liquid cooling as a heat drain for the cold fins. In an open basin version, all cold fins are submerged in a basin of water that evaporates as it absorbs enough heat from cold thermoelectric joints to boil water. A closed pipe distribution mode uses liquid to cool the cold fins of the thermoelectric unit either by passing water or a coolant through the cold fins once and then discharging the coolant, or by recirculating the water or the coolant through a radiator to cool that liquid, and then by re-circulating the fluid through the thermoelectric unit on a closed and continuous base. Another mode of the thermoelectric unit that functions as an electric generator is cooled by air. An air blower, energized by a small portion of the electrical energy produced by the thermoelectric generator, blows air through the cold fins to remove the heat from the thermoelectric junctions, and transfer it into the air stream for disposal to the environment, or use it in a heat pump or other system. The large electric current circulating in the toroid makes it possible to remove electrical energy from the thermoelectric unit by means of collapsing the magnetic field produced by the circulating electrical energy. Operating as an electrical generator, energy can be extracted from the thermoelectric unit in different ways. A simple way to extract electric power employs a longitudinally vibrating threaded armature which is located inside a larger threaded diameter bore formed between a pair of immediately adjacent fins. The vibratory armature is driven in one direction by the mechanical action of a solenoid, and in the opposite direction by a spring. Operating in this manner, the threaded armature and hole form an on / off switch that opens and closes the circuit for the electric current flowing through the toroid. When the threads of the armature and the hole come into contact in the position both above and below, the electric current flows through the toroid. And when the armature and the threaded hole are not in contact, then the interruption of the current flow around the toroid produces an electrical output that is useful for driving an external electrical load. It is desirable that the hot and cold fins be made of similar materials, and that spaced apart by ceramic spacers provide the threaded hole, while the armature is made of a material that differs thermoelectrically from the hot and cold fins. In this way, the longitudinal movement of the armature produces a Seebeck voltage, when the metallic armature comes into contact with the material other than the hot and cold fins.
An electric solenoid mechanically excites the vibration switch for voltage production. The solenoid is energized by a sinusoid generator that receives power from the thermoelectric generator after it starts to operate. The switch vibrates longitudinally at half the frequency of the output voltage that is induced by the collapse of the magnetic field. To initiate the vibratory action of the solenoid, without the use of a battery, two methods have been invented: 1), a digitally operated method, where a pendulum energized by unidirectional spring forces the solenoid to vibrate a number of cycles until the The generator's electrical output can auto-energize the sine-wave generator, and 2), a digitally operated piezoelectric method where electrical energy is first stored to energize the sine-wave generator. The finger, the spring and the mass of the pendulum mechanically cause the solenoid, and in the same way the vibratory switch, to operate many cycles to make the self-initiating thermoelectric generator by mechanical means, without the use of a battery on board. The oscillating pendulum comes to rest away from the electrically operated armature and remains ready for another manual start or finger tap, when necessary. The digitally operated piezoelectric generator can also serve to ignite a burner of the thermoelectric generator by incorporating the piezoelectric pushbutton device into the electrical circuit. The piezoelectric generator can supply enough energy to force the solenoid to vibrate a number of cycles until the electric output of the thermoelectric generator produces enough energy to operate the vibratory switch. An alternative way to extract electrical energy from the circulating current is a Hall Effect device. A magnetic field, applied perpendicular to the current flowing in a fixed conductor, causes a voltage across the conductor, perpendicular to the current and perpendicular to the applied external magnetic field. The voltage generated in this way is referred to as the Hall voltage. If the magnetic field changes polarity (or is sinusoidal in nature), the Hall voltage will also be sinusoidal, producing alternating current. By placing contacts (connections) through the segment of one of the thermoelectric splices in the ring, and by controlling the externally applied magnetic field, a voltage appears across the contacts, which is proportional to the resistance of the field magnetic and the circulating current. The electrical energy can be extracted from the generator ring in the form of alternating current or direct current, depending on the characteristic of the external magnetic field. The electrical power can be removed without interrupting the flow of current in the ring. The low voltage input to the external magnetic circuit causes the high voltage output from the generator, and this can be used to operate an electrical load. No opening switch is required, there is neither vibration nor noise. When a magnetic field of a Tesla is applied through a special thermoelectric segment in the thermoelectric unit that conducts 50,000 amps, a Hall voltage of 1600 volts appears across the segment. The adjustment of the resistance of the applied magnetic field allows control of the output voltage, and the frequency of the applied field determines the frequency of the electrical output power. A three-phase power can be generated, with three different outputs, by using three Hall switch segments, and by switching from slaved fields to a microprocessor controller. One of the simplest methods of output voltage control for the novel thermoelectric generator is to control the flow of fuel that the burner supplies, producing heat in the thermoelectric system, effecting the amount of magnetic energy stored. By hard controlling the amount of fuel flow to the burner in the generator, it controls the temperature differential of the generator splices, the heat flowing completely evenly through the thermocouples to cool the fins to either a water container that boils to expel heat, or to ambient air in a cooled variant of air by means of a forced air fan. In the simplest variant, by increasing the
^. heat, the voltage is increased to the 120 volts or 208 volts desired output for the operation of household loads and
5 commercial. More elaborate, solid state voltage controllers have been used successfully, but this is the simplest of the concepts to be used in third world countries. An advantage of the present invention is that the thermoelectric generator of the present invention produces
^ 10 useful electrical current by burning any desired type of fuel in a system with no moving parts. A further advantage of the present invention is that the improved elements, which are made by plating selected high Seebeck materials on partially flattened, oxygen-free copper cores with threaded cross-sections, decrease their resistance by 10 ~ 6 to 10"7 O, and duplicate the Seebeck voltage for each established splice element, to reduce heat flow, increase temperature differentials, and increase the overall thermal-to-electrical efficiency of the generator. present invention is that by adding heat resistors between the hot and cold fins, the amount of heat required to drive the current decreases by 80 percent, and has efficiency
25 thermal-to-electric elevated from 4 percent to 12 percent.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it has a toroid constituted of thermoelectric elements formed of commercially pure metals of singular type, coated with high complementary Seebeck voltage materials, which increases the electric current tenfold due to a resistance ten times lower in pure metals, in comparison with the joints made of combinations of pure metal alloys. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the formation of metallic flat thermoelectric junctions, similar to flat silicon splices in semiconductor technology, improves the lifetime of thermoelectric splices, seals them from the environment, and maintains voltage characteristics. Seebeck high of the thermoelectric junctions during the lifetime of the device. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand or see these and other features, objectives and advantages by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in the different figures of the drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric generator of the present invention, showing the external characteristics and a fuel gas tank.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a toroid, the thermoelectric elements, and the vibratory output switch of the thermoelectric generator. Figure 3 is a top plan view showing the toroid, the thermoelectric elements, and the vibratory output switch of the thermoelectric generator. Figure 4 is a perspective view of an insulation pre-strain joint strip, which is used to restrict the thermoelectric generator, Figure 5 is a partial top plan view showing the toroid, the thermoelectric elements, the ring, and the springs between the thermoelectric elements and the connecting strip. Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of an ohmic connection of thermoelectric elements, using copper rods between hot and cold copper fins. Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of a complementary connection of the thermoelectric elements, using iron rods between the hot and cold copper fins. Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view from above, showing the elements of low thermal conductivity of threaded rod between the hot and cold fins, together with a corresponding graph below the temperature gradient between the pair of hot and cold fins, against the position between the fins, indicating that the thermal-to-electrical conversion efficiency is increased by a factor of ten plus that of different solid materials coupled to form thermoelectric pairs, as illustrated in Figure 9. Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view from above, which shows different solid materials between the hot and cold fins, together with a corresponding graph below the temperature gradient between the pair of hot and cold fins, against the position between the fins, indicating that the thermal-to-electrical conversion efficiency decreases in one tenth below that of the elements of low thermal conductivity of threaded rod between the hot and cold fins, as illustrated in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a partial cross-sectional schematic view, showing the elements of low thermal conductivity of rod threaded fit into the slots in the hot and cold fins. Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the length of the current path for a thermoelectric junction with the hot and cold fins slotted above, and an electrical model for the thermoelectric junction below. Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the length of the current path for a series of thermoelectric junctions with hot and cold fins slotted above, and an electrical model for the series of thermoelectric junctions below. Figure 13A are schematic and transverse elevational views of a threaded rod that is used as an element of low thermal conductivity. Figure 13B are schematic and transverse elevational views of a partially flattened threaded rod, which is used as an element of low thermal conductivity, showing an electric path length shortened through the partially flattened rod. Figure 14 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of an element of low flat thermal conductivity, aligned for placement in hot and cold slotted fins. Figure 15 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a thermocouple, showing plated thermoelectric junctions and catalytic coatings on the hot and cold fins. Figure 16 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a flat thermoelectric junction, created by welding or plating. Figure 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view, taken through the center line of the thermoelectric generator, showing the black box re-heater returning the infrared heat from the exhaust back to the hot fins.
Figure 18 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view, taken through the center line of the thermoelectric generator, showing air cooling. Figure 19 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view, taken through the center line of the thermoelectric generator, showing water cooling. Figure 20 is a schematic top plan view of a distribution tube for the thermoelectric generator. Figure 21 is a diagrammatic view of an electromechanical auto-start system for the thermoelectric generator, which uses a vibratory switch, illustrated in Figure 25, which uses a piezoelectric generator that is normally used to ignite a burner in a gas-powered thermoelectric generator . Figure 22 is a diagrammatic view of a mechanical element for starting the thermoelectric generator using the current-interruption vibratory switch, which is illustrated in Figure 25. Figure 23 is a diagrammatic view of the current-interruption vibrating switch used in the extraction of electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator, with the switch in the open circuit position. Figure 24 is a diagrammatic view of the current interrupter vibrating switch, with the switch in the closed circuit position. Figure 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the current-interrupting vibrating switch in a closed position at A, with the different metal armature pushed up by a solenoid, such that the threads of the armature come into contact with the threads of the hot and cold fins, in the open energy mode position in B with the armature in the middle without contact with the hot and cold fins, and in a closed position in C with the armature forced down by a spring, in such a way that the threads of the armature are in contact with the threads of the hot and cold fins. Figure 26 is a diagrammatic view showing the current interrupter vibrating switch used with a capacitor tank circuit, to improve the sinusoidal quality of the electrical output waveform. Figure 27 is a schematic top plan view showing electrical output connections for the thermoelectric generator, using the current interrupter vibrating switch. Figure 28 is a diagrammatic view of the thermocouple toroid of the thermoelectric generator, showing a Hall effect device that is used to draw energy from the toroid, without interrupting the flow of current, shown at A with a magnetic field superimposed face-on inside. of the page, and in B with a magnetic field superimposed in front of the page, illustrating the change of electrons as the current is crowded on one side in the conductor, creating a voltage across the conductor, perpendicular to the magnetic field and the current flow. Figure 29 is a diagrammatic view of the thermocouple toroid of the thermoelectric generator, showing the Hall effect device that generates the voltage that is interrupted by a mosfet switch to generate an alternating current output. Figure 30 is a diagrammatic view of the thermocouple toroid of the thermoelectric generator, showing the current flow in the toroid and the related magnetic field. Figure 31 is a diagrammatic view of an element of low thermal conductivity which is also a Hall effect device, which is in contact with the hot and cold fins, which also illustrates the flow of current, the heat flow, the field magnetic overlay of the Hall effect device, and the voltage across the element of low thermal conductivity. Figure 32 is a diagrammatic view of the elements of low thermal conductivity - Hall effect devices, showing the elements sandwiched between the hot and cold fins, and electrically connected in series together with an electric power output circuit. Figure 33 is a partially broken away schematic view showing a pair of low thermal conductivity elements - Hall effect devices sandwiched between hot and cold fins. Figure 34A is a schematic elevational side view of the six pole electromagnet straddling two elements of low thermal conductivity - Hall effect devices. Figure 34B is a schematic elevational end view of the six pole electromagnet straddling a cold fin. Figure 35 is a diagrammatic view of the thermoelectric generator, the sources of heating and cooling and the current flow in the toroid operating in the power generation mode, with heat supplied to the system. Figure 36 is a diagrammatic view of the thermoelectric generator, which is used in the cooling mode for thermoelectric cooling by removing the heat in a part of the system, and transferring it to another part of the system. Figure 37 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the element of low thermal conductivity, formed by means of abutting two halves, to form a longitudinal electrically conductive surface of low thermal conductivity.Figures 38A-38C are plan views illustrating thermoelectric splices of an alternative embodiment, formed using the low thermal conductivity element of the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 37. Figure 39 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an alternative technique for generating electrical energy of the toroid illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5. Figure 40 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the toroid illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 for thermoelectric cooling.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In Figures 1-3 a thermoelectric unit adapted to be used as a thermoelectric generator 40 uses a high circulating current in a toroid 60 of tightly packaged thermocouples to produce an electrical output that can be used. A series of thermocouples is formed within a toroid 60, with each thermocouple 55 (as illustrated in Figures 10 and 15) comprising a hot fin 66 and a cold fin 65 and an element 64 of low thermal conductivity sandwiched therebetween. As illustrated in Figures 10, 15 and 16, a layer of layers 67T, 94Au and 94Ag of electrically conductive material can be interposed between the element 64 of low thermal conductivity and the fins 65 and 66. The thermoelectric generator 40 also comprises a circumferential element (joining strip 61) for retaining the thermocouples in the toroid 60, an element for heating the hot fins 66 (in Figures 6, 7, and 10), a cooling element (water 82 or air 100 in the Figures) 17-20) the cold fins 65 at the cooling end 53 of the cold fins 65, and an element for extracting an electrical output current from the toroid 60 (vibrating switch 70 in Figures 3 and 23-27, effect generator 140 of Hall in Figure 29, or oscillator 159 of Colpits in Figure 39). As illustrated in Figure 35, the heat flowing from a heat source 150 through the thermocouples included in the toroid 60 to a heat drain 151 induces an electric current to flow through the toroid 60, as it is indicated by the letter I and the arrow in Figure 35. In Figures 6 and 7 each hot fin 66 is formed within an elongate element having a contact end 52 and a heating end 51, and each fin 65 cold it is formed within an elongate element having a contact end 54 and a cooling end 53. Each of the fins 65 and 66 is formed of the same material, i.e., a metal having a high electrical conductivity, preferably commercially pure copper. The hot and cold fins 66 and 65 are separated by, and in contact at the contact end, with at least one element 64 of low thermal conductivity having a surface formed of a different conductive metal having a high complementary Seebeck voltage. If the element 64 of low thermal conductivity is formed of a single material, then the material is preferably commercially pure nickel. Each element 64 of low thermal conductivity can be coated with a layer of a layer 67 or 67A of electrically conductive material, such as a layer 67 of commercially pure copper, or an iron layer 67A for contacting the fins 65 and 66. In Figures 8 and 10-16 the elements 64T and 64FT of low thermal conductivity and the layer 67 of electrically conductive material are structured to have low surface contact with the hot and cold fins 66 and 65, to reduce the transfer of hot. The low thermal conductivity elements 64T and the layer 67T of electrically conductive material are formed with threads on the outer surface having contact with the hot and cold fins 66 and 65. As illustrated in the graph in Figure 8, the elements 64T of low thermal conductivity of threaded rod and the layer 67T of electrically conductive material produce an increase of ten times in the temperature difference through the hot and cold thermoelectric joints, which results in an increased thermal to electrical conversion efficiency over the non-threaded low thermal conductivity elements 64 shown in Figure 9.
In Figures 13 and 14 the low thermal conductivity elements 64FT and the layer 67FT of electrically conductive material are partially flattened, as well as threaded to reduce the distance between the hot and cold fins 66G and 65G, and the length of the path L of the electrical current circulating through the toroid 60. The elements 64T and 64FT of low thermal conductivity and the electrical conductors are threaded rods that can be made of nickel and copper, respectively, which are partially flattened inside an oval shape to reduce the resistance electrical while maintaining a maximum temperature differential between hot and cold fins 66 and 65, and by reducing the length of current travel. In Figures 10, 11, 12, and 14, to further reduce the length of L, each of the hot and cold fins 66G and 65G includes at least one slot 38, formed on each side of each fin 65G and 66G in the contact end 52 and 54. The slots 38 receive the elements 64FT of low thermal conductivity which are in contact with the layer 67FT of electrically conductive material, thereby reducing the path length L of the current, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. In the Figures 15 and 16, each of the threaded elements 64t of low thermal conductivity, and the layer 67T of electrically conductive material, and each of the grooves 38 of the hot and cold fins 66G and 65G, is plated with layers 94Au and / or 94Ag of a noble metal, selected from the group consisting of silver, and gold to increase the electrical conductivity in the joint between the element 64 of low thermal conductivity and the slots 38 in the fins 65 and 66. The selection of a system of material to interconnect the thermoelectric elements that constitute the toroid 60, is done by considering whether a material with very low electrical resistivity, but that does not contribute any A Seebeck voltage will contribute more to increasing the electric current flowing through the toroid 60, or if an opposite thermoelectric type material will contribute enough complementary Seebeck voltage to offset the higher electrical resistivity of the material of that material. For example, a copper threaded element 64 of low thermal conductivity, sandwiched between the hot and cold copper fins 66 and 65, does not produce any Seebeck voltage, but the resistivity of the copper is 1.72 x 10"6 Ohms-centimeter, which is very low compared to a metal such as nickel at 6.80 x 10"6 Ohms-centimeter, which would produce a complementary Seebeck voltage. For a toroid 60 that uses threaded iron elements 64 of low thermal conductivity, which produces 18.5 x 10"6 microvolts / ° C, with a resistivity of 9.71 x 10" 6 Ohm-centimeter, iron would be the logical choice to maximize the circulating current. The difficulty is, however, that the best available iron (99.99 percent pure) produces only 3.0 x 10"6 microvolts / ° C not 18.5 x 10" ß microvolts / ° C. In view of this limitation of material, a better selection of materials would be to use elements 64 of copper of low thermal conductivity, to maximize the electric current flowing through the toroid 60. If it were possible to obtain better iron at a reasonable price, than producing Seebeck voltage as stated in the manuals, low-thermally conductive threaded iron elements 64 could be used to form thermoelectric junctions in the toroid 60. Figure 37 illustrates a particularly preferred embodiment of the element 64 of low thermal conductivity that HE
15 interposes between the hot and cold fins 66 and 65 immediately adjacent. The element 64 of low thermal conductivity is preferably formed as a cylindrical pin which fits into the grooves 38 formed in the hot and cold fins 66 and 65. These preferred 64 elements of low
The thermal conductivity is formed by the thermocompression or thermofusion connection of two semicircular copper halves that adjoin one another along an electrically conductive longitudinal surface of low thermal conductivity. Before the two halves
25 semicircular are joined by thermocompression or thermofusion one to the other, the surfaces that are going to juxtapose are scratched to create ridges that intersect with each other when the two halves are juxtaposed. The thermocompression or hot melt joint fuses the peaks of the intersecting flanges together, to provide good electrical conductivity between the two halves, while the valleys between the flanges remain open as air holes 89. After the two halves have been joined together, the elements 64 of low thermal conductivity between the adjacent hot and cold fins 66 and 65 are placed with the longitudinal surface of low thermal conductivity oriented halfway between the hot fins 66 and 65 and cold. To establish thermoelectric splices, each element 64 of low thermal conductivity can be coated, for example, by plating with a layer of material that provides a complementary Seebeck voltage. The coating materials may be selected from the group consisting of bismuth, constantane, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nickel-chromium, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper, zinc, and silver, bismuth and antimony being the preferred materials for respectively providing type p and type n joints. The preferred n-type coating would be a bismuth layer 67Bi, illustrated in Figure 38A. The preferred p-type coating would be a 67Sb layer of antimony in Figure 38A. As illustrated in Figure 38A, the layers 67Bi and 67Sb are different on opposite sides of the hot fins 66 and on opposite sides of the cold fins 65. As illustrated in Figure 12, flattened and threaded elements p and type n, of low thermal conductivity are also coated with conductive layers 67 of the materials listed above, preferably either bismuth or antimony, which are then formed to have elements 64 of low thermal conductivity having different layers 67 on opposite sides of the hot and cold fins 66 and 65. As illustrated in Figure 38B, in addition to, or instead of coating the low thermal conductivity elements 64 with a high complementary Seebeck voltage material to form the thermoelectric splices, the slots 38 in the fins 65 and 66 can be coat with that material. Slot 38 on the first side of each flap 65 or 66 is coated with a layer of material, e.g. 88Bi, which provides a type of thermoelectric splice, while slot 38 on the opposite side of each flap 65 or 66 is Coat with a layer of material, for example, 88Sb, that provides the other type of thermoelectric splice. The fins 65 and 66 are then configured, so that the same material forms the layer covering the slots 38 receiving the same element 64 of low thermal conductivity. If the element 64 of low thermal conductivity is not coated with a high complementary Seebeck voltage material, it is still necessary to join material types for the slots 38 of the hot and cold fins 66 and 65 which are in contact with a common element 64 of low thermal conductivity. However, if the low thermal conductivity elements 64 are coated with a high complementary Seebeck voltage material, then the coating on both the element 64 and the cladding juxtaposed on the fins 65 or 66 should be the same material. As illustrated in Figure 38C, the layer of the high complementary Seebeck voltage material that covers either the fins 65 and 66, or the elements 64 of low thermal conductivity, can be overcoated additionally with a layer of copper 87Cu material. The overcoating of the Seebeck high voltage materials complementary to the 67Bi layers, 67Sb, 88Bi and / or 88Sb with the 87Cu layer facilitates the formation of a good electrical connection ben each element 64 of low thermal conductivity and the fins 65 and 66 with which the element 64 is in contact. In Figures 3, 4 , and 5, a circumferential element retains the fins 65 and 66 and the elements 64 of low thermal conductivity of the toroid 60. Accordingly, the connecting strip 61 encircles the toroid 60 to contain the Lorentz Force resulting from the circulating electric current. The tie strip 61, preferably a metal band for strength, is secured around the toroid 60 (which is a current storage device) to maintain a pre-stress on the electrical splice connections. The tie strip 61 includes an intermediate gap 63 for insulation, preferably a dielectric material such as a ceramic, constructed within the tie strip 61 with a ring 68 and spring rolls 69 (in Figure 4) to maintain a pre-stress on the toroid 60. The intermediate open space 63 for decoupling the connecting strip 61 to prevent it from becoming a secondary winding of the toroid 60. A layer 62 of dielectric and thermal insulation is secured to the connecting strip 61 ben the connecting strip 61 and the toroid 60, to prevent the connection strip 61 from electrically or thermally short-circuiting the thermocouples. In Figure 5 the circuit also comprises a plurality of coil springs 72 secured ben the thermocouple toroid 60 and the tie strip 61. The compressed coil springs 72 allow the joining strip 61 to maintain the necessary force to overcome the Lorentz Force, despite the contraction and expansion of the toroid 60 due to temperature changes. After the toroid 60 has been assembled with the surrounding tie strip 61, and regardless of the shape of the elements of low thermal conductivity 64 interposed ben the pairs of hot and cold fins 66 and 65, the entire assembly is compressively joined. vacuum at 450 ° C for 5 minutes.
After the thermocompression bond, the entire toroid 60 is plated with a high phosphorus process, of nickel material without electrons such as ELNIC 100, distributed by MacDermid, Incorporated of Waterbury, Connecticut. In Figures 1 and 17 an element for heating the hot fins 66 at the heating end 51 of the hot fins 66 comprises a ventilated fuel combustion area 79, below the hot fins 66 with an exhaust opening 90 over the area of fuel combustion, and each heating end 51 of each hot fin 66 placed in the fuel combustion area 79. In the fuel combustion area, as in a catalytic burner 77, any type of fuel can be burned. As illustrated in Figure 15, each of the hot fins 66G can be coated with a layer 71 of platinum or palladium at the non-slotted heating end 51 of the hot fin 66, which is in contact with the combustion gases. , to serve as a catalytic converter to discharge the gases from the combustion area. The coating of the hot fin 66 with the layer 71 reduces contamination and prevents oxidation of the hot fin 66. The electric output current produced by the thermoelectric generator 40 can be controlled by controlling the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel combustion area. The fuel combustion area 79 is provided with a burner 56, which in the illustration of Figure 19 is a series of gas jets, and the fuel supplied thereto through a tube 57, comprises a stream of compressed gas fed from an exterior tank 50 (Figure 1). The gaseous fuel supplied to the burner 56, preferably methane, propane or butane gas. The burner 56 can also be supplied with a gasified liquid fuel such as kerosene, diesel fuel, fuel oil, Jet-A, JP-4, JP-6, JP-8 and gasoline. Alternatively, the element for heating the hot fins 66 at the heating end 51 can be a source of heat energized by nuclear energy. In Figure 17, a black box re-heater 75 covers the fuel combustion area 79 around the hot fins 66 to re-irradiate the infrared heat produced by the fuel, back to the hot fins 66, to Increase thermal efficiency. The black box re-heater 75 includes an outer thermal insulation layer 74 having a black lower surface 76 and a baffle 78 to prevent radiant heat from flowing directly out of an exhaust opening 90. In Figure 1, the thermoelectric generator 40 also comprises a support base 44 enclosing the toroid 60, a cover 43, and a grate 42, over the heat exhaust opening to receive pots and pans for use in cooking. A 49 '•' • - 'handle 41 on the outside of the thermoelectric generator 40 allows easy transportation of the relatively light unit. In Figures 17-19, an element for cooling the cold fins 65 at the cooling end 53 of the cold fins 65 comprises a cooling chamber 81 or 102. The cooling chamber 81 or 102 contains a fluid 82 or 100 for extracting heat from the cooling end 53 of the cooling fins 65 placed in the fluid. In Figure 18, the fluid is air 100, and the cooling element includes an air inlet opening 104 inside the cooling chamber, an air outlet 101 from the cooling chamber, and a fan 103 in communication with the cooling chamber. cooling chamber 102, for circulating the air 100 through the cooling chamber that extracts heat from the cold fins 65. The air from the cooling chamber can be circulated through an external heating system 105, the air discharging the heat to the heating system, and the air is also circulated by the fan 103 back to the cooling chamber 102. In Figures 17 and 19 the cooling fluid is a liquid, such as water 82, the cooling chamber is an open basin 81, and the cooling ends 53 of the cold fins 65 are submerged in water 82 which evaporates, the steam 80 discharging water to cool the cooling ends 53 of the cold fins 65. In Figure 20 the cooling liquid is a | liquid, such as water 82, the cooling chamber is a closed distribution tube 83 that surrounds the cooling ends 53 of the cold fins 65, and further comprises a pump 85 that communicates with the distribution tube 83. The pump 85 circulates the liquid through the distribution tube 83, the liquid comes into contact and extracts the heat from the cold fins 65. The heated water 84 coming out of the tube
10 of distribution 83 can be circulated through an external radiator 86, to heat another system and cool the water, then pump 85 returns to circulate water through distribution tube 83. In Figures 22-27 illustrates an element for
15 extracting an electrical output current from the toroid 60. The energy output element illustrated in these Figures includes a switch 70 having a longitudinally vibrating threaded armature 131. The armature 131 is coupled through a connecting rod to a solenoid 115, capable of
20 move the armature 131 in one direction. A spring 138 urges the armature 131 to move in the opposite direction to that of the solenoid 115. Between a hot fin 66T and a cold fin 65T, both made of similar electrically conductive metals such as copper commercially
25 pure, a threaded hole 139 is formed, larger than the armature. The hot and cold fins 66T and 65T are separated by threaded ceramic spacers 134 (in Figure 27). The threaded armature 131 moves longitudinally inside the threaded hole 139. The armature 131 is preferably made of a metal that is a material thermoelectrically different from the material forming the hot and cold fins 66 or 65. Both the armature 131 and the threaded hole formed inside the hot and cold fins 66T and 65T are threaded with the same advance, and all together form an on / off switch to interrupt the surrounding electric current flowing through the toroid 60. The longitudinal movement of the armature 131 of different metal results in the production of a Seebeck voltage, due to the contact of the metal armature 131 with the material of the hot and cold vanes 66T and 65T, when the switch is in a position electrically closed. The movement of the armature 131 to an upper, electrically closed position, which is illustrated in Figure 25A, is effected by the solenoid 115, and the movement to a lower, electrically closed position, which is illustrated in Figure 25C, is effected by the spring 138. When the armature 131 is between any of the electrically closed positions, the switch 70 is in the open position illustrated in Figure 25B, without any thread contact, and the flow of the circulating current is interrupted. through the toroid 60, to produce an electrical output voltage that is useful for driving an external electrical load. An electrical output circuit 130, as illustrated in Figures 23, 24, and 26, is connected to the electrical outputs 39 on the outside of the thermoelectric generator 40 illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 23 shows the vibrating switch 70 open to generate the current I in the output circuit 130. In Figure 24, the vibrating switch 70 is closed, so that no current flows into the output circuit 13"0. The alternation between the open and closed positions supplies an alternating current to the load 95. A circuit 133 of capacitor tank (in Figure 26) incorporated in the output circuit 130, filters out the malfunctions in the alternating current output, and improves the quality of the electrical output, making it more like a sinusoid, fins 66T and 65T of the hot switch and cold, as illustrated in Figure 27, provide output terminals 135 for energizing a home or commercial electrical load 95. Alternatively, the opening and closing of the electrical circuit provided by the toroid 60, produces an alternating voltage in the range of 120/208 volts at 50/60 Hertz Armature 131 vibrates longitudinally at half the frequency of the output voltage that is induced by the collapse of a field 143 magn tico illustrated in Figure 30, caused by breaking circulating electric current. In Figure 22, to energize the solenoid 115, a sine-wave generator 116 receives energy through the electrical contacts 114 from the thermoelectric generator 40, after it is operating. To start the thermoelectric generator 40 by means of mechanical elements, a pendulum 120 energized by manually operated unidirectional spring mechanically couples to the solenoid 115. By rotating in the pivot 123, the pendulum 120 is normally biasa by means of a spring 122 against a stop 124. The pressure from the end of the pendulum loaded with a mass 121, causes a lifter 125 at the opposite end to activate the solenoid 115. The pendulum is capable of exciting the solenoid 115 to vibrate a number of cycles, until the electrical output of the generator 40 The thermoelectric generator can self-energize the sine-wave generator 116 to drive the solenoid 115. In Figure 21 an alternative element for starting the thermoelectric generator comprises a digitally operated piezoelectric generator 110, which is used to supply a flame of the burner that ignites the spark 118 through Press the activation button 111. The piezoelectric generator 110 can also be used to store electrical energy 112 in a capacitor 117, connected through a voltage regulator 113 to energize the sine-wave generator 116, to energize the solenoid 115 connected to the vibrating switch 70, as in the Figure 22. In Figures 28-34 the element for extracting an electrical output current from the toroid 60, includes a Hall effect generator 140. The Hall effect generator 140 includes an electromagnet 147 for applying a magnetic field 137, perpendicular to the current I flowing in the toroid 60. The electrical contacts 149 are connected in series with a number of Hall effect thermoelectric elements 146, placed between the hot and cold fins 66 and 65 along the segment of the toroid 60. As illustrated in Figure 31, the heat flux indicated by the small arrows 144 flows from the hot fin 66, through the thermoelectric element 146 Hall effect, to cold fin 65. Concurrently, a large current indicated by large arrows 145 flows through the toroid 60. The external magnetic field 137, applied perpendicular to the current 145 induces a voltage through the Hall effect thermoelectric element 146. An electrical output circuit 142, illustrated in Figure 32, is connected to the Hall effect thermoelectric elements 146 connected in series, so that electric power can be withdrawn to operate an electrical load 95 of the thermoelectric generator 40, without interrupting the flow I of current in the toroid 60. A preferred form for the thermoelectric elements 146 is a piece of oval shape, of nickel and copper, for the elements of low thermal conductivity and the conductors, respectively, having a different plated metal in the oval shaped part in a threaded configuration. Figure 28 illustrates a magnetic field 137, applied perpendicular to the current I flowing in the toroid 60, which generates a voltage across the toroid, perpendicular to the current, and perpendicular to an external magnetic field 137. This transverse voltage is referred to as the Hall voltage. The voltage is caused by a current 136 which is crowded-on one side in the conductor, as a result of the applied magnetic field 137. If the magnetic field 137 changes the polarity (or is sinusoidal in nature), the Hall voltage will also be sinusoidal, producing alternating current. As illustrated in Figures 29, 32, and 34, the magnetic field 137 is generated by coils 148 connected in series, which are connected in parallel through the Hall-effect thermoelectric elements 146. A mosfet 141, also connected in series with the coils 148, allows to interrupt an electric current flowing through the coils 148, which produce the external applied magnetic field 137. Thus, by opening and closing the mosfet 141, the applied external magnetic field 137 can be applied alternatively, and then removed from the Hall effect thermoelectric elements 146 '. In this way the electrical energy that is extracted from the toroid 60 energizes both the external load 95 and the production of that electrical energy by the Hall effect elements 146. Three-phase power can be generated with three different outputs that are available through the use of three independent Hall effect generators 140, each comprising Hall effect elements 146, coils 148 to generate the external applied magnetic field 147, and the mosfet 141 The coordination of the applied external magnetic fields 137 for each of the Hall effect generators 140 required for the production of three-phase power is achieved by means of switching the mosfet 141 on and off in response to the signals of a microprocessor controller. The generation of the three phase power in phase with a grid of electrical energy can be achieved by means of the operation of detecting the energy grid, and equalizing the output frequency and the phase produced by the generator 40 with those of the grid. Figure 39 illustrates an alternative technique for producing electrical power from the toroid 60. In the illustration of Figure 39, a capacitor 160 is connected diametrically through the toroid 60, thereby forming an oscillator 159 Colpits of parallel resonant circuit with torcid inductances 60. An electrically operated short circuit switch 161 is connected through many thermoelectric splices located in one half of the toroid 60. Alternatively, the opening and closing of the switch 161 energizes the 159 Colpits oscillator to oscillate at its natural resonant frequency determined by a quarter of the inductance of the toroid 60 and the capacitance of the capacitor 160. Consequently, an alternating current voltage 162, indicated by a double-headed arrow in Figure 39, appears through the terminals 163 connected to the capacitor 160 and the toroid 60. The ac voltage 162 can be supplied to drive the 95 external load. A rectifying diode 164, connected to one of the terminals 163, rectifies the alternating current voltage, while a capacitor 165 filters the rectified alternating current, to produce a direct current voltage through the terminals 166 which can also be supplied for boost external load 95
Industrial Applicability The applications for this new generator product range from emergency home energy, mobile homes, and air conditioning for recreation and construction, to rural electrification in third world countries. The generator 40 is all solid state, without any moving parts that wear out, it does not make any noise in operation, the construction is made of stainless steel. This 5-kW generator 40 weighs 12 kilograms (27 pounds), including a fuel supply for one hour. The thermal-to-electrical efficiency is about 12 percent at this time, much higher than traditional thermoelectric generators, but half the efficiency of a generator powered by gasoline / diesel. At one-tenth the weight of a motor-powered generator, this thermoelectric-type generator has much greater utility for portable applications due to size, weight, capacity, and cost. As illustrated in Figure 36, if an electric current flows through the thermoelectric junctions that constitute the toroid 60, the Peltier effect causes a temperature gradient. The heat is absorbed on a cold side 151A and rejected on the hot side 150A, thereby producing a silent cooling capacity. Thermoelectric coolers are also very stable and can be used for the temperature stabilization of laser diodes or electrical components such as charge coupled devices, infrared detectors, low noise amplifiers, and computer chips. In view of the harmful effect of standard chlorofluorocarbon and natural refrigeration gases on the environment, and the need for small-scale localized cooling in computers and electronics, the thermoelectric field is in need of higher temperature materials at room temperature. performance than those that currently exist. In addition, in the field of cryo-electronics (using superconducting high-temperature transition materials), the need for thermoelectric devices of lower temperature (100 to 200 K) and higher performance is becoming more widespread. Thermoelectric concepts have also been considered in the automotive industry for use in the next generation vehicle, not only for traction, but also for climate control. Other possible automotive uses range from power generation using engine waste heat, to energized seat coolers for comfort, or cooling of electronic components. The most common application of these materials today is the small thermoelectric cooler-heater, which sells for $ 80 to $ 100 at many local stores. This provides cooling to approximately 25 ° C under room temperature, and heating to approximately 55 ° C above room temperature with only a tap to a switch. It can be plugged into the cigarette lighter of a car, or it can be operated by a small source of direct current energy, useful in remote locations away from the AC outlets or ice supplies. A larger version of this cooler may be important, for example, in biological applications for the temperature stabilization of specimens, as well as just keeping a favorite cold drink. The high-performance thermoelectric unit 40 initially developed for a 500ow generator, although not intended to be a chiller, will provide thermoelectric cooling because the same advanced material systems used in the 5000W generator design may also work well as a solid state cooler. Figure 40 illustrates an approach for operating the thermoelectric unit 40 for cooling. In the illustration of Figure 40 a magnetic coil 170 surrounds the toroid 60. A winding 171 in the magnetic coil 170 is connected in series with an electronic switch 172 and with a capacitor 173 and resistor 174 connected in series. A pulse signal supplied to the electronic switch 172 alternately closes and opens the series circuit, to apply a voltage V through resistor 174, capacitor 173 and winding 171 connected in series. The voltage applied through this series-connected circuit periodically and repetitively injects an electric current 175, indicated by a small arrow in Figure 40, into the toroid 60, which is to be superimposed on a much larger circulating electric current 176 ( for example, 10,000 amps), indicated by a larger arrow in Figure 40. The electric current injected into the toroid 60 in this manner causes heat to be transferred from the cold fins 65 to the hot fins 66, operating by means of the same 60 toroid as a thermoelectric cooler. Other applications for the thermoelectric unit 40 include generator operation and storage in applications such as: charging and use as an alternate power supply for an electric automobile, a surge shaver for the industry, a protection system of practical use for the commercial sector, and as a day grid leveler of 600 MWh for the Practical Use Industry. Although the present invention has been described in terms of the currently preferred embodiment, it will be understood that this description is purely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting. For example, although the present invention has been described in terms of a toroidal configuration of thermoelectric splice groups, it will be understood that the toroidal shape of the invention is preferred by the symmetry of the forces, and for ease of fabrication and assembly. That is, all or substantially all of the elements sequentially configured in groups to form the thermoelectric generation and / or cooling unit are formed in an identical manner, thereby simplifying their manufacture and assembly into an operable unit. However, the thermoelectric groups of the present invention can be configured in different ways from those of the toroid 60, for example, an elliptically formed closed circuit of thermoelectric elements, a rectangularly shaped closed circuit, a hexagonally formed closed circuit, and so on. In accordance with the foregoing, it is intended that the following claims encompass all geometric configurations of groups of thermoelectric elements in which a closed circuit is formed in which an electric current flows through that closed circuit. Consequently, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, those skilled in the art will undoubtedly suggest different alterations, modifications, and / or alternative applications of the invention, after having read the above description. In accordance with the foregoing, it is intended that the following claims be construed as encompassing all alterations, modifications, or alternative applications as falling within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (39)
- CLAIMS 1. A thermoelectric unit that can be adapted to either generate electricity or for cooling, the thermoelectric unit using a high circulating current in a closed circuit of tightly packaged thermocouples, the thermoelectric unit comprising: a series of thermocouples configured to form a closed circuit, each thermocouple comprising a hot fin and a cold fin, and an electrically conductive element, of low thermal conductivity, sandwiched between each pair of hot and cold fins, each hot fin formed with an elongated shape having a contact end and a heated end, and each cold fin formed with an elongated shape having a contact end and a cooled end; and each hot fin and cold fin being formed of a material of high electrical conductivity, and being separated by, and in contact at the contact end with at least one element of low thermal conductivity, the materials forming splices between the fins, and the elements of low thermal conductivity providing a high complementary Seebeck voltage for the thermocouple, whereby after heating the heated ends of the hot fins and cooling the cooled end of the cold fins, an electric current circulates through the closed loop thermocouples; and a circumferential element for maintaining the thermocouples configured in the closed circuit. 2. The thermoelectric unit of claim 1, wherein the elements of low thermal conductivity are structured to have low surface area contact with the hot and cold fins, to reduce heat transfer therebetween. '3. The thermoelectric unit of claim 2, wherein the elements of low thermal conductivity have a threaded outer surface which is in contact with the hot and cold fins. The thermoelectric unit of claim 3, wherein the elements of low thermal conductivity are partially flattened, thereby reducing a distance between the adjacent hot and cold fins for the electric current flowing through the closed circuit. The thermoelectric unit of claim 3, wherein each of the hot and cold fins is formed with at least one slot on opposite sides of each fin, to receive one of the elements of low thermal conductivity, thereby reducing a travel distance for the electric current flowing through the closed circuit. The thermoelectric unit of claim 5, wherein the elements of low thermal conductivity and the grooves in the hot and cold fins are coated with a different material for the joints between the fins and the elements of low thermal conductivity that provide a voltage of high complementary Seebeck for thermocouples. 7. The thermoelectric unit of the claim 6, wherein the different metal is selected from the group consisting of bismuth, constantane, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nickel-chromium, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper, zinc, and silver . The thermoelectric unit of claim 1, wherein: the hot and cold fins are formed with at least one slot on both a first side and a second side of each fin, each slot receiving one of the elements of low thermal conductivity , thereby reducing a distance of travel for the electric current flowing through the closed circuit; and the elements of low thermal conductivity being formed with two halves that adjoin one another along an electrically conductive longitudinal surface, of low thermal conductivity, the elements of low thermal conductivity being oriented in such a way that the surface of low conductivity Thermal integrity is placed between the hot and cold fins that are in contact with the element of low thermal conductivity, thereby reducing the thermal conductivity between the hot and cold fins. The thermoelectric unit of claim 8, wherein each element of low thermal conductivity is coated with a layer of material for the joints between the fins and the elements of low thermal conductivity that provide a high Seebeck voltage complementary to the thermocouples, which is selected from the group consisting of bismuth, constantane, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nickel-chromium, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper, zinc, and silver. 10. The thermoelectric unit of claim 9, wherein the layer that coats each element of low thermal conductivity is overcoated with an electrically conductive layer. 11. The thermoelectric unit of the claim 8: wherein the groove of the first side of each fin is coated with a layer of material for the joints between the fins and the elements of low thermal conductivity, which provide a high Seebeck voltage complementary to the thermocouples, which is selected to from a group consisting of bismuth, constantane, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nickel-chromium, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper, zinc, and silver; and wherein the slot of the second side of each fin is coated with a layer of material for the joints between the fins and the elements of low thermal conductivity, which provide a high Seebeck voltage complementary to the thermocouples, which is also selected to from a group consisting of bismuth, constantane, nickel, selenium, tellurium, silicon, germanium, antimony, nickel-chromium, iron, cadmium, tungsten, gold, copper, zinc, and silver, and the material that forms the layer in the second side of each fin having opposite Seebeck voltage with respect to the material forming the layer on the first side of each fin, the fins being configured so that the same material forms the layer that lines the slots receiving the same element of low thermal conductivity 12. The thermoelectric unit of claim 11, wherein the layers that line the grooves in each fin are overcoated with an electrically conductive layer. The thermoelectric unit of claim 1, wherein the circumferential element for maintaining the thermocouples configured in the closed circuit comprises a connecting strip encircling the closed circuit of thermocouples, to contain the Lorentz Force that accumulates in the closed circuit , the binding strip secured around the closed circuit, applying a pre-stress to the hot and cold fins and to the elements of low thermal conductivity of the thermoelectric unit, and the joining strip including an intermediate open space of insulation that uncouples the strip as a secondary winding coupled to an electric current that circulates through the closed circuit of thermocouples. 14. The thermoelectric unit of claim 13, characterized in that it also comprises a plurality of coil springs secured between the thermocouple closed circuit and the joining strip, the coil springs normally under compression, allow the joining strip to maintain the stress necessary to overcome the Lorentz Force, despite the contraction and expansion of the closed circuit due to temperature changes. 15. The thermoelectric unit of the claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises: a finning element for supplying heat to the heated end of the hot fins; a fin cooling element for removing heat from the cooled end of the cold fins; and an energy output element for extracting an electric output current from the closed circuit, whereby the thermoelectric unit becomes a thermoelectric generator. 16. The thermoelectric unit of claim 15, wherein the heated end of the hot fins is coated with a material selected from a group consisting of platinum and palladium, to provide a catalytic converter for the exhaust gases of the heating element. heating of fins, thereby reducing both the contamination and the oxidation of the heating fin. 17. The thermoelectric unit of claim 15, wherein the finned heating element comprises a ventilated fuel combustion area, below the hot fins with an exhaust opening over the fuel combustion area, the heated end of the hot fins being placed in the fuel combustion area. 18. The thermoelectric unit of claim 17, wherein the fuel combustion area further comprises a series of gas jets receiving a fuel comprising a stream of compressed gas fed into the gas jets. 19. The thermoelectric unit of claim 18, wherein the compressed gas is selected from a group consisting of methane, propane and butane. 20. The thermoelectric unit of claim 17, characterized in that it also comprises a grill on the top of the thermoelectric unit above the exhaust opening, for receiving pots and pans for use in cooking. 21. The thermoelectric unit of claim 17, characterized in that it also comprises a black box re-heater in the fuel combustion area around the hot fins to re-irradiate the infrared heat produced by the fuel, back to the fins hot 22. The thermoelectric unit of claim 17, wherein the fuel combustion area also comprises a burner that receives a gasified liquid fuel selected from a group consisting of kerosene, diesel fuel, fuel oil, Jet-A, JP -4, JP-6, JP-8 and gasoline. 23. The thermoelectric unit of claim 15, wherein the finned heating element comprises a heat source energized by nuclear energy. 24. The thermoelectric unit of claim 15, wherein the finned heating element comprises a cooling chamber included in the thermoelectric unit, the cooled end of the cold fins being placed in the cooling chamber, the cooling chamber being adapted to retain a fluid to extract heat from the cooled end of the cold fins placed in the cooling chamber. 25. The thermoelectric unit of claim 24, wherein the fluid is air, and characterized in that it also comprises an air inlet opening within the cooling chamber, and an air outlet opening from the cooling chamber, and a fan in communication with the cooling chamber, to circulate the air through the cooling chamber that extracts heat from the cold fins. 26. The thermoelectric unit of claim 25, wherein the air from the cooling chamber is circulated through an external heating system, the air discharging the heat to the heating system, and then circulated by the air blower. return through the cooling chamber. 27. The thermoelectric unit of claim 24, wherein the fluid is a liquid, the cooling chamber is an open basin, and the cooled ends of the cold fins are immersed in the liquid. The thermoelectric unit of claim 24, wherein the fluid is a liquid, and the cooling chamber is a closed distribution tube that surrounds the cooled end of the cold fins, and the thermoelectric unit also comprises a communicating pump. with the distribution tube, the pump pumping the liquid through the distribution tube, the liquid coming into contact and extracting the heat from the cold fins. 29. The thermoelectric unit of claim 28, wherein the fluid from the closed distribution tube circulates through an external radiator to cool the fluid, and then circulates again through the distribution tube. 30. The thermoelectric unit of claim 15, wherein the energy output element for extracting an electrical output current from the closed circuit comprises: a switch that includes a longitudinally vibratory, electrically conductive threaded armature, a solenoid for pushing the armature so that it moves longitudinally in one direction, and a spring for urging the armature to move longitudinally in an opposite direction; a threaded hole larger than the armature that is formed between a pair of fins that are held apart by ceramic spacers, inside of which the largest threaded hole in the armature can be moved longitudinally, both the armature and the hole being threaded with the same advance, and all together forming an on / off switch to open and close the closed circuit that responds to the longitudinal movement of the armature, the armature moving from an electrically closed position by the solenoid, to an alternative electrically closed position by means of the spring, and when the armature is between any of the electrically closed positions, the current flow in the closed circuit is interrupted to produce an electrical output to drive an external electrical load through an electrical output circuit. 31. The thermoelectric unit of the claim 30, wherein the electrical output circuit includes a capacitor tank circuit. 32. The thermoelectric unit of claim 30, characterized in that it also comprises a sine-wave generator that is coupled to the solenoid, and that receives e-electric power from the thermoelectric unit, after which the thermoelectric unit is operating to drive an external electrical load , and a manually operated excitation element, mechanically coupled to the threaded armature and the solenoid, until the electrical output of the thermoelectric unit can energize the operation of the sine-wave generator. 33. The thermoelectric unit of claim 30, characterized in that it also comprises: a sinusoid generator which is coupled to the solenoid, and which receives electric power from the thermoelectric unit, after the thermoelectric unit is operating to energize the solenoid; and a digitally operated piezoelectric element for storing electrical energy to energize the sinusoid generator. 34. The thermoelectric unit of claim 30, wherein the materials forming the splices between the threaded truss and the threaded hole, provide a high complementary Seebeck voltage. 35. The thermoelectric unit of the claim 15, wherein the power output element for extracting an electric output current from the closed circuit, comprises a Hall Effect switch that includes elements to apply a magnetic field perpendicular to the current flowing in the closed circuit, electrical contacts connected through a segment of the closed circuit, and an electrical output circuit connected to the contacts, in such a way that electrical energy can be withdrawn to operate an external electrical load, without interrupting the flow of current in the closed circuit. 36. The thermoelectric unit of claim 35, comprising connecting three Hall Effect switches with three different outputs to the closed circuit, and appropriately applying the perpendicular magnetic field, to generate three-phase electric power. 37. The thermoelectric unit of claim 15, wherein the power output element for extracting an electrical output current from the closed circuit comprises: an electronic switch connected through a plurality of thermocouples of the closed circuit, which can be closed for electrically short circuit the plurality of thermocouples; a capacitor connected through a plurality of thermocouples of the closed circuit, thereby forming a resonant circuit parallel with the inductances of the closed circuit; and pulse elements of the electronic switch to cause the electronic switch to open and close alternately, thereby inducing an alternating current ("AC") voltage across the capacitor to drive an external electrical load. 38. The thermoelectric unit of claim 37, characterized in that it also comprises a rectifier for converting the alternating current voltage across the capacitor to a direct current ("DC") voltage. 39. The thermoelectric unit of claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises: a fin cooling element for removing heat from the heated end of the hot fins; a fin heating element for supplying heat to the cooled end of the cold fins; and a power supply element for supplying an electric input current to the closed circuit, with which the thermoelectric unit is converted into a thermoelectric cooler.
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