STRUCTURAL ELEMENT FOR THERMALLY SHIELDING ENGINES OR ENGINE COMPONENTS, IN PARTICULAR A HEAT SHIELD FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES

• US 20120055527A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elringklinger AG
• Original Assignee: Elringklinger AG
• Inventors: Zika-Beyerlein, Beate
• Application Number:
  US13/254,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20120055527A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/205
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 5/02 Profiting from waste heat of exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/52 Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

The invention relates to a structural element for thermally shielding engines or engine components, in particular a heat shield for combustion engines, the structural element having a planar extension and comprising a first side that faces a hot element of the engine, and a second side that faces away from the hot element of the engine, characterized in that the structural element comprises a thermoelectric generator, which can be used to generate electric energy from a temperature difference resulting between the first side and the second side of the structural element during operation of the engine.

Claims

1. A structural element for thermally shielding engines or engine components, in particular a heat shield for combustion engines, the structural element comprising:

a flat expanse, with a first side that faces a hot component of an engine and a second side that faces away from the hot engine component; and

a thermoelectric generator that is able to generate electric energy from a temperature difference that arises between the first side and the second side of the structural element during operation of the engine.

2. The structural element as recited in claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric generator has a first section and a second section that each have a first end and a second end;

the two sections are composed of different materials or combinations of materials and/or are differently doped;

the first ends of the two sections are electrically connected to each other and are connected in a thermally conductive fashion to one of the two sides of the structural element; and

the second ends of the two sections are connected in a thermally conductive fashion to the other of the two sides of the structural element.

3. The structural element as recited in claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric generator has first and second sections that are spaced apart from each other and the a region between the sections is at least partially filled with a thermal insulation material.

4. The structural element as recited in claim 1, wherein the structural element is multilayered, having a first layer constituting the first side and a second layer constituting the second side, and the thermoelectric generator is situated between the two layers and is connected to the two layers in a thermally conductive fashion.

5. The structural element as recited in claim 4, wherein the two layers of the structural element overlap the thermoelectric generator and in a region adjacent to the thermoelectric generator, the two layers are spaced apart from each other by a thermal insulation material in a region adjacent the thermoelectric generator.

6. The structural element as recited in claim 4, wherein electrical connecting lines of the thermoelectric generator are at least partially routed between the two layers of the structural element.

7. The structural element as recited in claim 4, wherein at least one of the two layers of the structural element, on its side oriented toward the thermoelectric generator, has connecting electrodes for electrically contacting the thermoelectric generator and/or has electric conductor tracks.

8. The structural element as recited in claim 1, wherein the first side of the structural element comprising a first layer of a multipart structural element, at least in some regions, has a coating and/or surface topography that promotes thermal absorption and/or heat absorption.

9. The structural element as recited in claim 1, wherein the second side of the structural element comprising a second layer of a multipart structural element, at least in some regions, has a coating and/or surface topography that promotes thermal radiation and/or heat dissipation.

10. The structural element as recited in claim 1, wherein the structural element has a connecting section from which it is possible to tap energy generated by the thermoelectric generator.

11. The structural element as recited in claim 1, wherein the structural element has a compensating section that is able to compensate for a temperature-induced change in the expanse of the structural element so that no impermissible mechanical stresses are exerted on a fastening section for fastening the structural element and/or on a connecting section from which it is possible to tap the energy generated by the thermoelectric generator.

12. The structural element as recited in claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric generator is manufactured, at least in part, using a thick-film or thin-film technique applied to an entire surface of the structural element.

13. The structural element as recited in claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric generator is at least partially composed of polymer-electronic, thermoelectric sections.

14. The structural element as recited in claim 1, wherein it is also possible to operate the thermoelectric generator as a heat pump by connecting the thermoelectric generator to an electrical energy source.