Apparatus and method for pyroelectric and piezoelectric power generation and thermoelectric heat transfer

• US 7,479,727 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2006
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winston Grace
• Original Assignee: Winston Grace
• Inventors: Grace, Winston
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): UHLIR, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US11/489,126
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 310/361, 310/306, 310/308, 310/324, 310/339
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 15/10 Thermoelectric devices using thermal change of the dielectric constant, e.g. working above and below the Curie point

Abstract

A roof system for a building is adapted to harness pyroelectric and piezoelectric effects to generate electric power. A roof system is provided wherein roof tiles, or other covering structure, are adapted with piezoelectric materials capable of converting mechanical energy from falling rain into electric energy by compression or deformation of the piezoelectric material, and further adapted with a pyroelectric system that generates electric power from temperature changes. The use of polyvinylidene fluoride, a material having both piezoelectric and pyroelectric characteristics, is discloses as a preferred material for accomplishing the goals of the present invention. The power generated supplies thermoelectric cooling systems that provide temperature conditioning of the building'"'"'s interior space.

Claims

1. A roof system adapted for generating electrical energy, said roof system comprising:

a roof having a top surface, said roof top surface incorporating piezoelectric material capable of generating electrical energy in response to small mechanical deformation sufficient to generate an electrical charge;

said roof further incorporating pyroelectric material capable of generating electrical energy in response to ambient temperature changes;

said roof member further including at least one thermoelectric electrical generating unit having a first portion in thermal communication with the interior space and a second portion in thermal communication with said roof member for generating electrical energy in response to temperature differential between said roof member and the interior space;

means for consuming electrical energy generated by said piezoelectric material, said thermoelectric electrical generating unit, and said pyroelectric material;

said means for consuming electrical energy including a thermoelectric heat pump in thermal communication with an interior space and in thermal communication with said roof.

2. A roof system adapted for generating electrical energy according to claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric material comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

3. A roof system adapted for generating electrical energy according to claim 1, wherein said pyroelectric material comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

4. A roof system adapted for generating electrical energy, said roof system installed on a structure over an interior space, said roof system comprising:

a roof member including at least one piezoelectric surface for generating electrical energy in response to mechanical deformation of said surface caused by a rain drop impact;

said roof member further incorporating pyroelectric material capable of generating electrical energy in response to ambient temperature changes;

said roof member further including at least one thermoelectric electrical generating unit having a first portion in thermal communication with the interior space and a second portion in thermal communication with said roof member for generating electrical energy in response to temperature differential between said roof member and the interior space; and

a thermo-electric heat pump electrically connected to said at least one piezoelectric electrical generating surface and said at least one pyroelectric generating unit, said thermo-electric heat pump in thermal communication with an interior space and in thermal communication with said roof member.

5. A roof system adapted for generating electrical energy, said roof system installed on a structure over an interior space, said roof system comprising:

at least one roof covering member fabricated from polyvinylidene fluoride having piezoelectric and pyroelectric characteristics such that said member is capable of generating electrical energy in response to mechanical deformation of said member and is capable of generating electrical energy in response to ambient temperature changes;

said roof covering member further including at least one thermoelectric electrical generating unit having a first portion in thermal communication with the interior space and a second portion in thermal communication with said roof member for generating electrical energy in response to temperature differential between said roof member and the interior space;

a thermo-electric heat pump electrically connected to said roof covering member said thermo-electric heat pump in thermal communication with the interior space and in thermal communication with said roof covering member such that electrical energy generated by said roof covering member powers said thermo-electric heat pump to selectively extract heat from the interior space.