WO2008000018A1 - Thermoelectric generator in a vacuum - Google Patents
Thermoelectric generator in a vacuum Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2008000018A1 WO2008000018A1 PCT/AU2007/000844 AU2007000844W WO2008000018A1 WO 2008000018 A1 WO2008000018 A1 WO 2008000018A1 AU 2007000844 W AU2007000844 W AU 2007000844W WO 2008000018 A1 WO2008000018 A1 WO 2008000018A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- evacuated environment
- thermoelectric generator
- atmosphere
- air pressure
- electrically conductive
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims 20
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 4
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003365 glass fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011491 glass wool Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003292 glue Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012212 insulator Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- DMXYITVFDCOJPK-UHFFFAOYSA-N iron nickel Chemical compound [Fe].[Fe].[Ni].[Ni] DMXYITVFDCOJPK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000005923 long-lasting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- XOLBLPGZBRYERU-UHFFFAOYSA-N tin dioxide Chemical compound O=[Sn]=O XOLBLPGZBRYERU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910001887 tin oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 210000002268 wool Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- 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
- H10N10/10—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects
- H10N10/17—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device
Definitions
- thermoelectric array as described in Provisional Specification Improvements in Thermoelectric Generators is an array of thermocouple devices in a parallel and series arrangement and is used to convert heat into electricity for electrical energy use like powering lights.
- the array in a chamber would require electrical and thermal connection to the outside for operation. These can be made with simple metal and glass and glue technology. Thermal expansion differences can be taken account of be using loaded polymers or mete) balls in sack technology. This will allow movement and good thermal conductivity where required.
- Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a thermocouple device (1) in a vacuum chamber (2)
- thermocouple device could be comprised of 50m jcrometer diameter wires made form iron and nickel.
- the wires could be connected with 50 of the same metal in parallel and then the 50 thread bunches connected in series.
- the series connection would alternated iron nickel iron nickel. Every second series connection would be either heated or cooled to create a thermal temperature difference along the wires.
- the wire array would be placed inside a vacuum sealed chamber made mostly of glass and the chamber evacuated to less then 1000mbar of pressure. One end would be connected to a heat source and the other to a cooler or in an ambient environment.
- thermocouple array Inside the chamber high heat conducting pads (3) would connect the thermocouple array to the ends of the chamber.
- High electrical conductivity wires would connect the array to the outside of the chamber via a feed though component that is not shown.
- the inside of the chamber would be lined with an infra red reflective material like metal or doped tin oxide.
- One use of the device could be to convert heat form solar energy into usable electricity. Solar energy or sunlight can be converted to heat with high efficiency, as high as 80% and the heat can be converted to electricity by this device with over 83% efficiency. This device could be used across any temperature difference to produce electricity.
Landscapes
- Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
This invention is about putting a thermoelectric generator in a vacuum to prevent heat loss and corrosion. This makes the device more efficient and last longer.
Description
Thermoelectric Generator in a vacuum
This invention is to simply put a thermoelectric array in a vacuum chamber. A thermoelectric array as described in Provisional Specification Improvements in Thermoelectric Generators is an array of thermocouple devices in a parallel and series arrangement and is used to convert heat into electricity for electrical energy use like powering lights.
There was to problem with the current state of the art One was that you need insulation to prevent heat loss, which is a source of inefficiency in the heat conversion process. This insulation took the form of glass fibre wool which is a very good thermal insulator. It would have required a meter thick of glass wool to get high efficiency from the device. The second problem was that the metal array required sophisticated corrosion protection which is costly and still not very long lasting.
By putting the array into an evacuated chamber we have prevented nearly all heat loss from conduction and convection. If we use an infrared reflective material on the inside of the chamber most heat loss by radiation can be prevented as well. In a vacuum corrosion of metal is nearly impossible depending on the vacuum pressure.
The array in a chamber would require electrical and thermal connection to the outside for operation. These can be made with simple metal and glass and glue technology. Thermal expansion differences can be taken account of be using loaded polymers or mete) balls in sack technology. This will allow movement and good thermal conductivity where required.
Example
Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a thermocouple device (1) in a vacuum chamber (2)
The thermocouple device could be comprised of 50m jcrometer diameter wires made form iron and nickel. The wires could be connected with 50 of the same metal in parallel and then the 50 thread bunches connected in series. The series connection would alternated iron nickel iron nickel. Every second series connection would be either heated or cooled to create a thermal temperature difference along the wires.
The wire array would be placed inside a vacuum sealed chamber made mostly of glass and the chamber evacuated to less then 1000mbar of pressure. One end would be connected to a heat source and the other to a cooler or in an ambient environment.
Inside the chamber high heat conducting pads (3) would connect the thermocouple array to the ends of the chamber.
High electrical conductivity wires would connect the array to the outside of the chamber via a feed though component that is not shown.
The inside of the chamber would be lined with an infra red reflective material like metal or doped tin oxide.
One use of the device could be to convert heat form solar energy into usable electricity. Solar energy or sunlight can be converted to heat with high efficiency, as high as 80% and the heat can be converted to electricity by this device with over 83% efficiency. This device could be used across any temperature difference to produce electricity.
Claims
1. A thermoelectric generator comprising a first conductor element in series with a second conductor element, the first conductor element being made of a first electrical conductor material and the second element being made from a second electrically conductive material that is different from to the first electrical conductor element material, wherein each conductive element is formed as a multifilament array of parallel electrical conductors joined at their ends located in an evacuated environment where an evacuated environment has less air pressure then the atmosphere.
2. A thermoelectric generator comprising a plurality of thermoelectric generators of claim 1 connected in series such that contact is only made between different electrically conductive materials located in an evacuated environment where an evacuated environment has less air pressure then the atmosphere.
3. A thermoelectric generator comprising a plurality of thermoelectric generators of claim 1 connected in parallel such that contact is only made between similar electrically conductive materials located in an evacuated environment where an evacuated environment has less air pressure then the atmosphere.
4. A thermoelectric generator comprising a plurality of thermoelectric generators of claim 2 connected in parallel such that contact is only made between similar electrically conductive material to achieve the desired electrical potential and current characteristics located in an evacuated environment where an evacuated environment has less air pressure then the atmosphere,
5. A thermoelectric generator comprising a first conductor element in series with a second conductor element, the first conductor element being made of a first electrical conductor material and the second element being made from a second electrically conductive material mat is different from to the first electrical conductor element material located in an evacuated environment where an evacuated environment has less air pressure then the atmosphere,
6. A thermoelectric generator comprising ihermoelectric generators of claim 5 connected in series such that contact is only made between different electrically conductive materials located in an evacuated environment where an evacuated environment has less air pressure then the atmosphere.
7. A thermoelectric generator comprising of thermoelectric generators of claim 5 connected in parallel such mat contact is only made between similar electrically conductive materials located in an evacuated environment where an evacuated environment has less air pressure then the atmosphere.
8. A thermoelectric generator comprising of thermoelectric generators of claim 6 connected in parallel such that contact is only made between similar electrically conductive material to achieve the desired electrical potential and current characteristics located in an evacuated environment where an evacuated environment has less air pressure then the atmosphere.
9. A thermoelectric generator as of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7and 8 that contacts the ends of the vacuum chamber via thermally conductive material.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2006903437A AU2006903437A0 (en) | 2006-06-27 | Thermo Electric Generator in a Vacuum | |
| AU2006903437 | 2006-06-27 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2008000018A1 true WO2008000018A1 (en) | 2008-01-03 |
Family
ID=38845027
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU2007/000844 WO2008000018A1 (en) | 2006-06-27 | 2007-06-19 | Thermoelectric generator in a vacuum |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO2008000018A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2733756A3 (en) * | 2012-11-20 | 2014-06-11 | Astrium GmbH | Method for converting heat to electrical energy |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH09149666A (en) * | 1995-11-22 | 1997-06-06 | Nisshin Steel Co Ltd | Thermoelectric generator |
| WO2002044676A1 (en) * | 2000-12-01 | 2002-06-06 | Institut Francais Du Petrole | Method for making thermo-electric converters |
| NL1025218C1 (en) * | 2004-01-12 | 2005-07-13 | Edgar Gerardus Johann Korteweg | Electricity generating device, comprises thermopile system of thermocouple arrays connected in parallel or series |
-
2007
- 2007-06-19 WO PCT/AU2007/000844 patent/WO2008000018A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH09149666A (en) * | 1995-11-22 | 1997-06-06 | Nisshin Steel Co Ltd | Thermoelectric generator |
| WO2002044676A1 (en) * | 2000-12-01 | 2002-06-06 | Institut Francais Du Petrole | Method for making thermo-electric converters |
| NL1025218C1 (en) * | 2004-01-12 | 2005-07-13 | Edgar Gerardus Johann Korteweg | Electricity generating device, comprises thermopile system of thermocouple arrays connected in parallel or series |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN * |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2733756A3 (en) * | 2012-11-20 | 2014-06-11 | Astrium GmbH | Method for converting heat to electrical energy |
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