Energy Harvesting Devices

• US 20080066796A1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mitchell, Bradley J., Laib, Trevor M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,294,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/205
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/00 Power installations for auxiliary purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

Energy harvesting devices, wherein one illustrative embodiment includes a crease beam, a thermoelectric element disposed in thermally-conductive contact with the crease beam and a heat exchanger disposed in thermally-conductive contact with the thermoelectric element. An energy harvesting system and a method of harvesting electrical power are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An energy harvesting device, comprising:

a crease beam;

a thermoelectric element disposed in thermally-conductive contact with said crease beam; and

a heat exchanger disposed in thermally-conductive contact with said thermoelectric element.

2. The energy harvesting device of claim 1 wherein said crease beam comprises a base and a flange extending from said base and said thermoelectric element is disposed in thermally-conductive contact with said flange.

3. The energy harvesting device of claim 1 wherein said crease beam comprises aluminum or carbon fiber.

4. The energy harvesting device of claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger plate disposed in thermally-conductive contact with said thermoelectric device.

5. The energy harvesting device of claim 4 further comprising at least one heat exchanger fin disposed in thermally-conductive contact with said heat exchanger plate.

6. The energy harvesting device of claim 1 further comprising a first thermal interface between said crease beam and said thermoelectric element.

7. The energy harvesting device of claim 6 further comprising a second thermal interface between said heat exchanger and said thermoelectric element.

8. The energy harvesting device of claim 7 wherein said first thermal interface comprises thermal pad, said second thermal interface each comprises thermal epoxy.

9. An energy harvesting system, comprising:

an aircraft wall having an interior cabin wall portion, an exterior aircraft skin portion spaced-apart with respect to said interior cabin wall portion and a wall interior between said interior cabin wall portion and said exterior aircraft skin portion;

a return air vent provided in said interior cabin wall portion;

a crease beam;

a thermoelectric element disposed in thermally-conductive contact with said crease beam; and

a heat exchanger disposed in thermally-conductive contact with said thermoelectric element and in pneumatic communication with said return air vent.

10. The energy harvesting system of claim 9 further comprising at least one insulation blanket provided in said wall interior.

11. The energy harvesting system of claim 9 wherein said crease beam comprises a base and a flange extending from said base and said thermoelectric element is disposed in thermally-conductive contact with said flange.

12. The energy harvesting device of claim 9 wherein said crease beam comprises aluminum or carbon fiber.

13. The energy harvesting device of claim 9 wherein said heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger plate disposed in thermally-conductive contact with said thermoelectric device.

14. The energy harvesting device of claim 13 further comprising at least one heat exchanger fin disposed in thermally-conductive contact with said heat exchanger plate.

15. The energy harvesting device of claim 9 further comprising a first thermal interface between said crease beam and said thermoelectric element.

16. The energy harvesting device of claim 15 further comprising a second thermal interface between said heat exchanger and said thermoelectric element.

17. The energy harvesting device of claim 16 wherein said first thermal interface comprises thermal pad, said second thermal interface comprises thermal epoxy.

18. A method of harvesting electrical power, comprising:

providing an aircraft wall having an interior cabin wall portion, an exterior aircraft skin portion spaced-apart with respect to said interior cabin wall portion, a wall interior between said interior cabin wall portion and said exterior aircraft skin portion and at least one return air vent provided in said interior cabin wall portion;

providing a heat exchanger in pneumatic communication with said at least one return air vent;

providing a thermoelectric element in thermally-conductive contact with said heat exchanger; and

providing a crease beam in thermally-conductive contact with said thermoelectric element and said exterior aircraft skin portion of said aircraft wall.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said crease beam comprises a base and a flange extending from said base and wherein said providing a crease beam in thermally-conductive contact with said thermoelectric element comprises providing said flange in thermally-conductive contact with said thermoelectric element.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger plate and at least one heat exchanger fin disposed in thermally-conductive contact with said heat exchanger plate, and wherein said providing a thermoelectric element in thermally-conductive contact with said heat exchanger comprises providing said thermoelectric element in thermally-conductive contact with said heat exchanger plate.