Apparatus and method for use in thermoelectric power generation
First Claim
1. A thermoelectric generator apparatus comprising:
- a hollow shell member having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining a cavity;
a hollow cartridge member disposed within said cavity, at least a portion of said cartridge member having an interior surface which defines a combustion chamber, said cartridge member also having an exterior surface and first and second radially extending generally annular flanges, each flange being in contact with said shell member interior surface around at least a portion of its circumference so as to define a generally annular space between said flanges and between said shell member interior surface and said cartridge member exterior surface;
a means for introducing a mixture of fuel and oxidant gas into said combustion chamber;
at least one thermoelectric element in direct thermal contact with the exterior surface of said shell member such that substantially no air spaces exist between said shall member exterior surface and said at least one thermoelectric element, said at least one thermoelectric element being adapted for generating electrical energy when receiving heat from said shell member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for generating thermoelectric power utilizes a hollow shell member having a cavity defined therein and a cartridge member disposed within the cavity, wherein the cartridge member has a combustion chamber defined therein. The cartridge member is mounted such that a space exists between the interior surface of the shell member and the exterior surface of the cartridge member. Thermoelectric elements are mounted to the exterior surface of the shell member such that no air spaces exist therebetween. A mixture of a combustible fuel and air is introduced into the chamber, the air/fuel ratio being less than the stoichiometric ratio for methane. Heat generated within the combustion chamber upon combustion of the fuel is transferred via the shell member to the thermoelectric elements which generate electrical energy in response thereto.
38 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A thermoelectric generator apparatus comprising:
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a hollow shell member having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining a cavity; a hollow cartridge member disposed within said cavity, at least a portion of said cartridge member having an interior surface which defines a combustion chamber, said cartridge member also having an exterior surface and first and second radially extending generally annular flanges, each flange being in contact with said shell member interior surface around at least a portion of its circumference so as to define a generally annular space between said flanges and between said shell member interior surface and said cartridge member exterior surface; a means for introducing a mixture of fuel and oxidant gas into said combustion chamber; at least one thermoelectric element in direct thermal contact with the exterior surface of said shell member such that substantially no air spaces exist between said shall member exterior surface and said at least one thermoelectric element, said at least one thermoelectric element being adapted for generating electrical energy when receiving heat from said shell member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of thermoelectric power generation comprising:
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positioning a hollow cartridge member, having an interior surface and an exterior surface, within a hollow shell member also having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said hollow cartridge member having first and second generally annular radially extending flanges and also having a chamber defined by the interior surface of at least a portion of said cartridge member wherein said cartridge member is positioned so that each flange contacts said shell member interior surface around at least a portion of its circumference so as to define a generally annular space between said flanges and between said shell member interior surface and said cartridge member exterior surface; generating heat within said chamber; providing heat generated in said chamber to at least one thermoelectric element in direct thermal contact with the exterior surface of said shell member such that substantially no air spaces exist between said shell member exterior surface and said at least one thermoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a hollow shell member having an interior surface and an exterior surface; a hollow cartridge member generally coaxially disposed within said shell member, said cartridge member having an exterior surface, an interior surface of which at least a portion defines a combustion chamber within said cartridge member, and at least one radially extending flange which contacts the interior surface of said shell member around at least a portion of the circumference of said at least one flange so that a space is defined by said flange and between said shell member interior surface and said cartridge member exterior surface, said space extending substantially around the circumference of said cartridge member; a means for introducing a combustible mixture into said combustion chamber; a means for igniting combustible mixture introduced to said combustion chamber so as to initiate combustion of said mixture to thereby generate heat; at least one thermoelectric element in direct thermal contact with the exterior surface of said shell member, said thermoelectric element being adapted for generating electrical energy upon receiving heat from said shell member. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of thermoelectric power generation comprising:
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positioning a hollow cartridge member generally coaxially within a hollow shell member, said cartridge member having a combustion chamber therein and at least one radially extending flange, said cartridge member being positioned so that said at least one flange contacts, around at least a portion of its circumference, the interior surface of said shell member so as to define a space between the exterior surface of said cartridge member and the interior surface of said shell member, the space extending around the circumference of said cartridge member; combusting a combustible mixture in said combustion chamber to thereby generate heat; providing said heat to at least one thermoelectric element in direct thermal contact with the exterior surface of said shell member, said element generating electrical energy.
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Specification