Energy Conversion Apparatus and Method for Generating Electric Energy from Waste Heat Source

• US 20180077821A1
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HCL Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: HCL Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Rajendran, Sabarigiridharan
• Application Number:
  US15/700,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20180077821A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/0252 Motors; Energy harvesting or waste energy recovery
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/06 using expansion or contraction of bodies due to heating, cooling, moistening, drying or the like using thermal expansion of non-vaporising liquids F01K
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/0613 using layers of different materials joined together, e.g. bimetals
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/0641 Motors; Energy harvesting or waste energy recovery
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/93 on a structure floating on a liquid surface
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20727 within server blades for removing heat from heat source
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for generating electric energy from hot air dissipated by a system. The apparatus may comprise two chambers, a set of tubular arrangements, and an outlet port. The two chambers may comprise a first chamber and a second chamber. In one embodiment, the first chamber and the second chamber may comprise a first electrode and a second electrode respectively. The set of tubular arrangements may be mounted over the first electrode and the second electrode in a manner such that the hot air may be passed through a first end towards a second end of each tubular arrangement. The passing of the hot air may enable each tubular arrangement to contract in a manner such that second end of each tubular arrangement establishes a contact with the second electrode thereby completing an electric circuit to generate the electric energy.

Claims

1. An energy conversion apparatus for generating electric energy from hot air dissipated by at least one system, the energy conversion apparatus comprising:

at least two chambers for capturing hot air dissipated by at least one system, the at least two chambers comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber is separated by a separating unit, and wherein the first chamber and the second chamber comprise a first electrode and a second electrode respectively;

a set of tubular arrangements mounted over the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein each tubular arrangement comprises a first end and a second end connected to the first electrode and the second electrode respectively, and wherein the tubular arrangement is arranged in a manner such that the hot air is passed through the first end towards the second end; and

an outlet port, connected with the second electrode, to dissipate the hot air passed through each tubular arrangement, wherein the passing of the hot air enables each tubular arrangement to contract in a manner such that second end of each tubular arrangement establishes a contact with the second electrode thereby completing an electric circuit to generate the electric energy.

2. The energy conversion apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separating unit is one of a plate and a diaphragm.

3. The energy conversion apparatus of claim 1, wherein a tubular arrangement of the set of tubular arrangements is made of a bimetal.

4. The energy conversion apparatus of claim 1 further comprises an inlet port deployed at the first chamber, wherein the inlet port facilitates to reutilize the hot air dissipated from the at least system or from second end of each tubular arrangement.

5. The energy conversion apparatus of claim 1 further comprises a capacitor, a resistor, and an external power storing unit, wherein the capacitor and the resistor are connected with the first electrode and the second electrode to complete the electric circuit for generating the electric energy and thereby storing the electric energy in the external power storing unit.

6. The energy conversion apparatus of claim 1 further comprises a fan assembly, coupled with the energy conversion apparatus for directing the hot air dissipated by at least one system towards the energy conversion apparatus.

7. The energy conversion apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end is a stationery end and the second end is a moveable end.

8. A method for generating electric energy from hot air dissipated by at least one system, the method comprising:

capturing, by an energy conversion apparatus, hot air dissipated by at least one system, wherein the energy conversion apparatus comprises at least two chambers comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber is separated by a separating unit, and wherein the first chamber and the second chamber comprises a first electrode and a second electrode respectively;

passing, by the energy conversion apparatus, the hot air through a first end towards a second end of each tubular arrangement, of a set of tubular arrangements, mounted over the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first end and the second end are connected to the first electrode and the second electrode respectively;

enabling each tubular arrangement to contract in a manner such that second end of each tubular arrangement establishes a contact with the second electrode when the hot air through each tubular arrangement; and

completing an electric circuit to generate the electric energy from the hot air dissipated by at least one system.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprises dissipating the hot air passed through each tubular arrangement via an outlet port connected with the second electrode.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprises enabling, by an inlet port deployed at the first chamber, reutilization of the hot air dissipated from the at least system or from second end of each tubular arrangement.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the electricity is generated by completing the electric circuit using a capacitor and a resistor.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first end is a stationery end and the second end is a moveable end.