WO1985004050A1 - Thermopile a rendement eleve - Google Patents

Thermopile a rendement eleve Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1985004050A1
WO1985004050A1 PCT/US1984/000316 US8400316W WO8504050A1 WO 1985004050 A1 WO1985004050 A1 WO 1985004050A1 US 8400316 W US8400316 W US 8400316W WO 8504050 A1 WO8504050 A1 WO 8504050A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
thermopile
junctions
leg
cross
legs
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1984/000316
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Harry A. Beale
Original Assignee
Omnimax Energy Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Omnimax Energy Corporation filed Critical Omnimax Energy Corporation
Priority to PCT/US1984/000316 priority Critical patent/WO1985004050A1/fr
Priority to JP59501269A priority patent/JPS61500088A/ja
Priority to EP19840901287 priority patent/EP0174305A4/fr
Publication of WO1985004050A1 publication Critical patent/WO1985004050A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B21/00—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
    • F25B21/02—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N10/00—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects
    • H10N10/01—Manufacture or treatment

Definitions

  • thermocouples are formed of two dis ⁇ similar materials joined at a junction with the open legs of the thermocouple connected to an electrical loan and at a lower temperature than the junction where the two dissimilar materials are joined. The temperature differ ⁇
  • thermocouple 10 ential produces a flow of electrons and this flow can be measured.
  • Common use of the thermocouple is to measure temperature.
  • Thermopiles are usually made of thermocouples connected in series with the strings of series connected , c thermocouples connected in parallel in order to maximize current and voltage output.
  • thermocouple conductor elements When thermocouple conductor elements are con ⁇ nected together in series to form a thermopile, one group of junctions will be in a cold zone where heat is 2Q removed, and the other group of junctions will be in a heated area. The electrons which carry the current and the heat energy, surrender the heat at the lower tem ⁇ perature junction. The Peltier effect, is produced at each junction but in the opposite direction at each. Be- c cause there is a temperature difference between the re ⁇ servoirs in contact with the legs of the thermocouples, the temperature gradient is produced along their length. This temperature gradient also leads to the production of an electric current and this process is called the
  • thermo ⁇ couples can be connected in series to produce sizable voltages. Additional banks of thermocouples can then be connected in parallel with the net result that a source of a significant amount of current at high voltage is developed. This technique has been used to generate elec ⁇ tricity in extremely small quantities.
  • the Peltier effect can be utilized to produce a refrigerating device, again of low efficiency, however.
  • thermopile with markedly improved efficiency over conventional thermopiles. This is accomplished by providing a thermopile formed frcn ⁇ thermocouples each formed of two co ⁇ iuctors wherein the cross-sectional area of the junction is considerably larger than the cross-sectional area of the legs of the thermocouple and the cross-sectional area of junctions in one zone are disproportionately larger than the cross-sectional area of junctions in the other zone.
  • the cross- sectional area of the smaller junction can be the same cross-sectional area as that of the legs or smaller, if de- sired. If the thermopile is to be used to generate elec ⁇ trical energy, the junctions in the heated zone will be considerably larger in cross-section than the junctions in the zone from which heat is to be removed.
  • the cross-sectional area of the junctions in the cooling zone could be much larger than the cross-sectional area of the junctions in the ambient atmosphere zone when electrical energy is applied to the thermopile, as well as being much larger in ⁇ ross- sectional area than the legs of the thermocouples forming the thermopile.
  • Another embodiment of the invention which optimizes the Thomson effect involves the choice of materials for the legs which are dissimilar to the junc- tions having the larger cross-sectional area and to each other.
  • the junctions having the smaller cross-sectional area may also be made of dissimilar materials if desired.
  • thermopile by utilizing thin-film technology so as to provide a significant improvement in efficiency of the production of electrical energy.
  • thermopile which may be used as a refrigerating device with an input of electrical energy with a resul- tant significantly improved efficiency.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the thermopile.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the applica ⁇ tion of a thermopile formed in this fashion to generate electricity utilizing saturated spent steam from a turbine to apply heat and cooling water to remove the heat applied.
  • Fig. 3 is a similar use of a thermopile formed in accordance with Fig. 1 wherein the hot exhaust gases from the primary combustion process in an electric gener ⁇ ating system are utilized to heat the hot junctions of the thermopile.
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the thermopile constructed in accordance with this invention in which, the thermopile is used as a cooling device rather than generating electricity and electricity is applied to it.
  • Fig. 5 shows the use of the thermopile formed in accordance with Fig. 4 in an air conditioning system.
  • Figs. 6A, 6B, and 6C disclose a method of making a thermopile in accordance with this invention.
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 wherein the materials constituting the legs of the thermopile are dissimilar to the junction materials chosen so as to maximize the Thomson effect.
  • Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the thermopile constructed in accordance with this invention similar to that shown in Fig. 4 wherein the material constituting the legs of the thermopile are different from the junctions having the larger cross-sectional area and also from each other so as to maximize the Thomson effect.
  • thermopile is shown generally at 10 with the upper hot junctions 11-11 being separated from the lower cold junctions 12-12 by an insulating medium in- di ⁇ ated by the dotted line 13. It will be noted that the cross-sectional area of junctions 11-11 is not only much greater than the cross-sectional area of the junctions 12-12 but is also much greater than the cross-sectional area of either legs 14-14 or legs 15-15, which are made of dissimilar materials.
  • the upper junctions 11-11 shown in Fig. 1 of the thermopile 10 have heat applied thereto while the lower smaller junctions 12-12 of the thermopile 10 have heat removed therefrom.
  • thermopile operates at much greater efficiency and generates more electric energy.
  • Fig. 2 illustrated schematically is the exhaust from a turbine 16 connected to a heat exchanger 17 separated throughout its length by an insulating area 13.
  • a thermopile is positioned within the heat exchanger 17 provided with a multiplicity of junctions 11-11 in the heating zone and junctions 12-12 in the cooling zone, the output of the thermopile being connected by lines 18-18 to a suitable electrical load.
  • the junctions 11-11 and 12-12 are con ⁇ nected in series and strings of the aeries con ⁇ nected units are connected in paralle.
  • the spent saturated steam from the turbine 16 which could be used to generate electricity, as in a public utility, enters the heated zone of the heat ex ⁇ changer 17 causing the hot junctions 11-11 of the thermo ⁇ pile to be heated, while cooling water is introduced into the opposite insulated zone of the heat exchanger 17 whereby the cold junctions 12-12 of the thermopile are kept cool and thus a temperature differential is produced.
  • a boiler 19 and an exhaust stack 20 which permits the hot exhaust gases to go through a heat exchanger 17 com ⁇ ing in contact with the hot junctions 11-11 of the thermo ⁇ pile which are insulated by a suitable insulating medium
  • OMPI 13 from the cold junctions 12-l ⁇ T of the thermopile. Again, electrical energy produced is connected to a suitable load and the cooling water maintains the cool junctions 12-12 at a much lower temperature than the hot exhaust gases 19, the hot junctions 11-11, thus producing electrical energy output.
  • thermopile which is used as -a cooling device.
  • the hot junctions 11-11 in this instance are smaller in cross-section than the cross-section of the cold junctions 12-12 and, of course, the legs 14-14 and legs 15-15 are also smaller in the cross-sectional area.
  • the cold junc ⁇ tions 12-12 of this thermopile are placed in the cooling zone and hot junctions 11-11 of this thermopile are placed in the ambient atmosphere. In this instance, of course, rather than generating electricity, electrical energy is applied to the thermopile to produce cooling by means of the Peltier effect.
  • FIG. 5 the use of such a cooling device described in Fig. 4 is shown schematically with a blower 21 which takes air from the zone to be cooled, blows it through a heat exchanger 22, wherein the cold junctions 12-12 are contained and in ⁇ sulated from the hot junctions 11-11 which are in the atmosphere. The air flowing over the cold junctions 12-12 is thus cooled and sent to the zone to be cooled.
  • Fig. 6A shows a nonconducting substrate 23.
  • an appropriate metal is deposited on the sub ⁇ strate 23 using a mask to limit the location of the areas where the metal is to be deposited.
  • the metal may be deposited by sputtering, by evaporation, or by any other suitable means. Sputtering is the preferred process.
  • the mask may be made of any suitable material. ox ze me a e ng pre erre to ac ate remova o excess coating material.
  • a dissimilar metal is shown to be deposited over a portion of the metal deposited in Fig. 6B, again using a suitable mask to achieve this result.
  • the relative difference in the cross-sectional area between the legs 14-14 and legs 15-15 of the thermopile thus formed and the cross-sectional area of the junctions 11-11 and 12-12 can be dramatically different, by factors as great as one thousand or more, thus enabling the upper junctions 11-11 in this instance to be much broader and much greater in cross-sectional area than both the legs 14-14 and 15-15 as well as the lower junctions 12-12.
  • Fig. 7 there is shown another embodiment of the invention further to enhance the efficiency of the thermopile.
  • the upper junctions 16-16 in Fig. 7 are much broader and much greater in cross-section than both the legs 17-17 and the legs 18-18 as well as the lower junctions 19-19.
  • the legs 17-17 may be made from diff rent materials than the materials comprising the junctions 16-16. This is especial ⁇ ly convenient to fabricate utilizing thin-film technology.
  • the legs 18-18 may be made of different materi ⁇ als than the materials making up the junctions 16-16 and the legs 18-18 should. be made from different materials than the legs 17-17 in order to enhance the efficiency by improving the Thomson effect -
  • the junctions 19-19 may also be made of different materials than the legs 17-17 and 18-18,
  • the upper hot junctions 16-16 are separated from the lower cold junctions 19-19 by an insulating medium indicated by the dotted line 20, Referring now more particularly to Fig. 8, there is shown the same thermopile shown in Fig, 1 - The hot junctions 16-16 are smaller in cross-section than the
  • O PI cross-section of the cold junctions 19-19 and the legs 17-17 and the legs 18-18 are smaller in cross-section than the cross-section of the cold junctions 19-19.
  • the cold junctions 19-19 are placed in a cooling zone and the hot junctions 16-16 are placed in the ambient atmosphere.
  • electrical energy is applied to the thermopile to produce cooling by means of the Peltier effect.
  • the efficiency of the device is further-enhanced by making the legs 17-17 and legs 18-18 different from the materials constituting the junctions 19-19 and different from each other so as to enhance the Thomson effect.
  • the junctions 16-16 may be made of different materials than either the legs 17-17 or the legs 18-18. For certain thermal conditions, it may be more appropriate to have both junctions much larger than the legs.
  • thermopile which may be used either for generating electricity or for cool ⁇ ing purposes utilizing the Peltier effect and having much greater efficiency than those disclosed in the prior art has been disclosed.
  • thermopile which may be used either for generating electricity or for cooling, which provides for an enhancement of the Thomson effect, is also disclosed.
  • thermopile economically and in large quantities.
  • thermocouples While this invention has been illustrated with only a few thermocouples arranged in a thermopile, it must be recognized that in use, thousands of such thermo ⁇ couples are connected together to form thermopiles in series and the series strands are connected in parallel to produce significant current values at relatively high voltages.
  • OMPI thereon may be made without dep rting from the proper scope and spirit of the invention.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Measuring Temperature Or Quantity Of Heat (AREA)
  • Radiation Pyrometers (AREA)

Abstract

Thermopile (10) formée d'éléments conducteurs à base de matériaux différents, les jonctions (11-11) des matériaux différents étant bien plus grandes en coupe transversale que la zone de coupe transversale normale des éléments conducteurs (12-12, 14-14, 15-15) et les jonctions d'une zone de température étant bien plus grandes que les jonctions correspondantes de l'autre zone de température. Si la thermopile est utilisée pour produire de l'électricité, les jonctions chauffées seront bien plus grandes en coupe transversale que la zone de coupe transversale normale des éléments conducteurs, tout comme elles seront bien plus grandes en coupe transversale que les jonctions de la zone plus froide. Si la thermopile est utilisée comme dispositif de refroidissement plutôt que comme dispositif de production d'éléctricité et que de l'éléctricité est appliquée à la thermopile, les jonctions froides seront bien plus grandes en coupe transversale que les jonctions chaudes et la zone de coupe transversale de jonction froide sera elle aussi bien plus grande que la zone de coupe transversale des éléments conducteurs de la thermopile. Dans un mode de réalisation de la thermopile, les éléments conducteurs sont à base de matériaux différents des jonctions de zone de section transversale plus grands et différents entre eux. Les jonctions possédant une zone de section transversale plus petite peuvent également être à base de matériaux différents des matériaux dont sont faits les éléments conducteurs. Est également décrit un procédé de fabrication de telles thermopiles en recourant à la technologie des films minces.
PCT/US1984/000316 1984-02-29 1984-02-29 Thermopile a rendement eleve WO1985004050A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1984/000316 WO1985004050A1 (fr) 1984-02-29 1984-02-29 Thermopile a rendement eleve
JP59501269A JPS61500088A (ja) 1984-02-29 1984-02-29 高効率のサ−モパイル
EP19840901287 EP0174305A4 (fr) 1984-02-29 1984-02-29 Thermopile a rendement eleve.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1984/000316 WO1985004050A1 (fr) 1984-02-29 1984-02-29 Thermopile a rendement eleve

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1985004050A1 true WO1985004050A1 (fr) 1985-09-12

Family

ID=22182067

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1984/000316 WO1985004050A1 (fr) 1984-02-29 1984-02-29 Thermopile a rendement eleve

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0174305A4 (fr)
JP (1) JPS61500088A (fr)
WO (1) WO1985004050A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2012039858A (ja) * 2010-08-03 2012-02-23 General Electric Co <Ge> タービンエンジンから発生した廃熱を利用する熱電素子の乱流配置

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2011027652A (ja) * 2009-07-28 2011-02-10 Panasonic Electric Works Co Ltd 赤外線センサ
JP5735695B1 (ja) * 2014-10-22 2015-06-17 隆彌 渡邊 冷暖房装置の製造方法

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2519785A (en) * 1944-08-14 1950-08-22 Okolicsanyi Ferenc Thermopile
DE1059939B (de) * 1958-02-03 1959-06-25 Licentia Gmbh Elektrothermisches System
FR1280384A (fr) * 1960-02-22 1961-12-29 Licentia Gmbh Branche composite d'élément ou couple électrothermique ou thermoélectrique
US3125860A (en) * 1962-07-12 1964-03-24 Thermoelectric cooling system
GB1021486A (en) * 1963-04-30 1966-03-02 Du Pont Improvements in and relating to thermopiles
US4251290A (en) * 1979-01-02 1981-02-17 Gomez Ernesto E Thermopile formed of conductors
US4257822A (en) * 1979-01-02 1981-03-24 Gomez Ernesto E Continuous thermopile
US4362023A (en) * 1981-07-29 1982-12-07 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Thermoelectric refrigerator having improved temperature stabilization means

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2733071A1 (de) * 1977-07-21 1979-02-08 Siemens Ag Anordnung mit mehreren thermoelementen in reihenschaltung
US4444991A (en) * 1982-03-15 1984-04-24 Omnimax Energy Corporation High-efficiency thermopile

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2519785A (en) * 1944-08-14 1950-08-22 Okolicsanyi Ferenc Thermopile
DE1059939B (de) * 1958-02-03 1959-06-25 Licentia Gmbh Elektrothermisches System
FR1280384A (fr) * 1960-02-22 1961-12-29 Licentia Gmbh Branche composite d'élément ou couple électrothermique ou thermoélectrique
US3125860A (en) * 1962-07-12 1964-03-24 Thermoelectric cooling system
GB1021486A (en) * 1963-04-30 1966-03-02 Du Pont Improvements in and relating to thermopiles
US4251290A (en) * 1979-01-02 1981-02-17 Gomez Ernesto E Thermopile formed of conductors
US4257822A (en) * 1979-01-02 1981-03-24 Gomez Ernesto E Continuous thermopile
US4362023A (en) * 1981-07-29 1982-12-07 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Thermoelectric refrigerator having improved temperature stabilization means

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of EP0174305A4 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2012039858A (ja) * 2010-08-03 2012-02-23 General Electric Co <Ge> タービンエンジンから発生した廃熱を利用する熱電素子の乱流配置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS61500088A (ja) 1986-01-16
EP0174305A1 (fr) 1986-03-19
EP0174305A4 (fr) 1986-09-24

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