THERMAL TO ELECTRICAL POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM WITH SOLID-STATE SWITCHES WITH SEEBECK EFFECT COMPENSATION

• US 3,648,152 A
• Filed: 02/26/1971
• Issued: 03/07/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George M. Low
• Original Assignee: George M. Low
• Inventors: Low, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kozma, Thomas J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US05/119,282
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 310/2-4 136/207,208 322/2 321/2 317/235
• US Class Current: 322/2.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G21H 1/103 Cells provided with thermo-electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5381 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 11/002 Generators
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/00 Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N19/00

Abstract

A thermal to electrical power conversion system is disclosed in which switching of electrical currents to a load is performed by solid-state switches in which their Seebeck effect reduces the losses due to the ohmic voltage drops thereacross. In a system with a thermoelectric generator as the power source, the switches are designed with their source electrodes formed by the generator'"'"''"'"'s cold shoe at a temperature higher than a remotely located heat sink which forms the switches'"'"''"'"' drain electrodes. The gate electrodes of the switches are connected to an electronic switch controller, which controls their conduction and cutoff states.

Claims

1. A thermal to electrical power system comprising:

means for converting thermal energy to electrical energy, said means including an outer surface at a first temperature, defining a first output terminal, and a second output terminal;

solid-state means exhibiting Seebeck effect characteristics, and including first, second and third electrodes, said first electrode being in direct contact with said outer surface, said second electrode being positioned remotely from said outer surface at a temperature lower than said first temperature;

load means connected to said second output terminal of said source and to the second electrode of said solid-state means; and

control means connected to said third electrode of said solidstate means for controlling the state of conduction of said solid-state means, with the temperature difference between said first and second terminals of said solid-state means producing a Seebeck voltage across said solid-state means for counteracting the ohmic voltage drop across said solid-state means produced as a function of the current flowing therethrough from its first to second terminals and its internal resistance.

2. The arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein the temperature difference between said first and second electrodes of said solid-state means is about 300* K.

3. The arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said solid-state means has a Seebeck coefficient of 3 X 10 4 volt/*K.

4. The arrangement as recited in claim 3 wherein the temperature difference between said first and second electrodes of said solid state means is about 300* K.

5. The arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said source is a thermoelectric generator having an outer cold shoe at said first temperature with said outer surface being the outer surface of said cold shoe, and said solid-state means extend from said cold shoe defining said first electrode to a heat sink, defining the second electrode of said solid-state means.

6. The arrangement as recited in claim 5 wherein the temperature difference between said first and second electrodes of said solid-state means is about 300* K. and said solid-state means has a SeebecK coefficient in a range including the value of 3 X 10 4 volt/*K.

7. The arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said solid-state means includes first and second solid-state switches and said load means comprises a step-up transformer having a primary winding with a center tap and a secondary winding, means connecting the second output terminal of said source to said center tap and the second electrodes of said first and second switches to opposite ends of said primary winding, with the first electrodes of said first and second switches in direct contact with said outer surface, and the third electrodes connected to said control means.

8. The arrangement as recited in claim 7 wherein the temperature difference between said first and second electrodes of said solid-state means is about 300* K.

9. The arrangement as recited in claim 8 wherein said solid-state means has a Seebeck coefficient of 3 X 10 4 volt/*K.

10. The arrangement as recited in claim 7 wherein said source is a thermoelectric generator having an outer cold shoe at said first temperature with said outer surface being the outer surface of said cold shoe, and said solid-state means extend from said cold shoe defining said first electrode to a heat sink, defining the second electrode of said solid-state means.

11. The arrangement as recited in claim 10 wherein the temperature difference between said first and second electrodes of said solid-state means is about 300* K. and said solid-state means has a Seebeck coefficient of 3 X 10 4 volt/*K.