Meso-to- micro-scaleable device and methods for conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy
First Claim
1. A device for converting thermal energy to electrical energy comprising:
- a working fluid contained within at least one region, wherein the region is exposed to thermal energy from at least a first thermal energy accepting layer for transferring heat from a heat source to the working fluid, wherein the working fluid thermodynamically expands and contracts, at least one diaphragm that is acted upon as the working fluid expands and contracts so as to flex the diaphragm, a mechanism for converting the structural flexure of the diaphragm to electrical energy, and at least one thermal energy transfer device for transferring thermal energy from the working fluid through the diaphragm to cool the working fluid and cause contraction thereof, whereby the at least one diaphragm cyclically flexes in response to a the device being exposed to thermal energy.
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Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy. The devices and methods according to the invention allow for efficient conversion of thermal energy to electrical power in a meso-to-micro scale device. In general, the present invention relates to a device for converting thermal energy to electrical energy comprising a working fluid contained within at least one region. The region is exposed to a thermal gradient and thermal energy is transferred through at least a first thermal energy-accepting layer for transferring thermal energy to the working fluid. At least one diaphragm is acted upon by the working fluid, which thermodynamically expands upon thermal energy being transferred thereto to flex the diaphragm. A mechanism is provided for converting the structural flexure of the diaphragm to electrical energy, along with at least one thermal energy transfer mechanism for transferring thermal energy from the working fluid through the diaphragm to cool the working fluid and cause thermodynamic contraction thereof. The thermodynamic cycle of heating and cooling the working fluid causes expansion and contraction thereof in turn causes cyclic flexure of the diaphragm in response to the device being exposed to thermal energy. The cyclic flexure of the diaphragm in conjunction with other structures produces the desired conversion to electrical energy.
19 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for converting thermal energy to electrical energy comprising:
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a working fluid contained within at least one region, wherein the region is exposed to thermal energy from at least a first thermal energy accepting layer for transferring heat from a heat source to the working fluid, wherein the working fluid thermodynamically expands and contracts, at least one diaphragm that is acted upon as the working fluid expands and contracts so as to flex the diaphragm, a mechanism for converting the structural flexure of the diaphragm to electrical energy, and at least one thermal energy transfer device for transferring thermal energy from the working fluid through the diaphragm to cool the working fluid and cause contraction thereof, whereby the at least one diaphragm cyclically flexes in response to a the device being exposed to thermal energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of converting thermal energy into electrical energy comprising the steps of:
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providing a device having at least one thermal energy accepting surface and a working fluid contained within at least one region, wherein the region is exposed to thermal energy from the at least one first thermal energy accepting layer, wherein the working fluid thermodynamically expands in response to such exposure, exposing at least one diaphragm to be acted upon by the working fluid so as to flex in response to expansion of the working fluid, a piezoelectric material being disposed such that flexure of the diaphragm converts at least a portion of the mechanical energy of the diaphragm to electrical energy, and transferring thermal energy from the working fluid to cool the working fluid and cause contraction thereof, whereby the at least one diaphragm cyclically flexes in response to a the device being exposed to a thermal energy gradient.
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Specification