Fuel flexible thermoelectric micro-generator with micro-turbine
First Claim
1. A system for generating electrical energy, comprising:
- a micro-combustor having a fuel inlet, an exhaust outlet, a combustion chamber and an igniter operative to initiate combustion of fuel within said combustion chamber which produces hot exhaust gas directed to said exhaust outlet;
a micro-controller coupled to said igniter of said micro-combustor;
a fluid control device which supplies fuel from a source to said micro-combustor, said fluid control device being coupled to said micro-controller which controls opening and closing of said fluid control device;
a thermoelectric module having a first end mounted in thermal communication with said micro-combustor, and a second end spaced from said first end, a temperature differential being produced between said first and second ends of said thermoelectric module which induces said thermoelectric module to generate a first supply of electrical energy; and
a micro-turbine communicating with said exhaust outlet of said micro-combustor to receive said hot exhaust gas, said micro-turbine being effective to generate a second supply of electrical energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A micro-generator for providing electrical energy to portable electronic devices and MEMS includes a micro-combustor, a micro-turbine connected to the exhaust outlet of the micro-combustor and a thermoelectric module consisting of a number of quantum well thermoelectric panels connected between spaced heat spreaders, one of which is mounted in thermal communication with the micro-combustor. Different types of hydrocarbon fuel may be supplied to the micro-combustor where it is burned within a combustion chamber. The entire system is controlled in real time by a micro-controller which is powered upon start up by an ultra capacitor and thereafter by the electric energy produced by the thermoelectric module and/or the micro-turbine.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A system for generating electrical energy, comprising:
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a micro-combustor having a fuel inlet, an exhaust outlet, a combustion chamber and an igniter operative to initiate combustion of fuel within said combustion chamber which produces hot exhaust gas directed to said exhaust outlet; a micro-controller coupled to said igniter of said micro-combustor; a fluid control device which supplies fuel from a source to said micro-combustor, said fluid control device being coupled to said micro-controller which controls opening and closing of said fluid control device; a thermoelectric module having a first end mounted in thermal communication with said micro-combustor, and a second end spaced from said first end, a temperature differential being produced between said first and second ends of said thermoelectric module which induces said thermoelectric module to generate a first supply of electrical energy; and a micro-turbine communicating with said exhaust outlet of said micro-combustor to receive said hot exhaust gas, said micro-turbine being effective to generate a second supply of electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for generating electrical energy comprising:
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a micro-combustor having a fuel inlet, an exhaust outlet, a combustion chamber and an igniter operative to initiate combustion of fuel within said combustion chamber which produces hot exhaust gas directed to said exhaust outlet; a micro-controller coupled to said igniter of said micro-combustor; a thermoelectric module having a first heat spreader mounted in thermal communication with said micro-combustor, a second heat spreader spaced from said first heat spreader and a number of quantum well thermoelectric panels connected between said first and second panels, a temperature differential being produced between said first and second heat spreaders which induces said quantum well thermoelectric modules to generate a first supply of electrical power; and a micro-turbine communicating with said exhaust outlet of said micro-combustor to receive said hot exhaust gas, said micro-turbine being effective to generate a second supply of electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A system for generating electrical energy, comprising:
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a micro-combustor having a fuel inlet, an exhaust outlet, a combustion chamber and an igniter operative to initiate combustion of fuel within said combustion chamber which produces hot exhaust gas directed to said exhaust outlet; a fluid control device which supplies fuel from a source to said micro-combustor; a thermoelectric module having a first end mounted in thermal communication with said micro-combustor, and a second end spaced from said first end, a temperature differential being produced between said first and second ends of said thermoelectric module which induces said thermoelectric module to generate a first supply of electrical energy; a micro-turbine communicating with said exhaust outlet of said micro-combustor to receive said hot exhaust gas, said micro-turbine being effective to generate a second supply of electrical power; a micro-controller coupled to said fuel control device, to said igniter of said micro-combustor and to said thermoelectric module, said micro-controller being effective to open and close said fuel control device, to activate said igniter and to monitor the operation of said thermoelectric module.
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Specification