Vehicle having a thermoelectric generator

• US 7,878,283 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Eder, Andreas, Richter, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US12/501,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20090272586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.3, 180/339, 180/54.1, 180/65.21, 429/13, 429/26, 603/20, 602/84, 123/193.5, 123/145.A
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 5/00 Profiting from waste heat of combustion engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A vehicle has a heat-emitting component and a thermoelectric generator, which has a heat-absorbing component thermally coupled with the heat-emitting component, and which generates electric energy from the temperature gradient between the heat-absorbing element and a heat sink. The thermoelectric generator is arranged directly on the heat-emitting component and is connected thereto in a thermally conductive manner.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a heat-emitting component;

a thermoelectric generator, the thermoelectric generator comprising a heat-absorbing component thermally coupled with the heat-emitting component, the thermoelectric generator generating electric energy from a temperature gradient between the heat-absorbing component and a heat sink; and

a shielding element operably configured to shield the thermoelectric generator from thermal radiation released by the heat-emitting component,

wherein one side of the thermoelectric generator is arranged directly on an exterior surface of the heat-emitting component in a thermally conductive manner so as to be between the shielding element and the heat-emitting component.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the heat-emitting component is an engine of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the thermoelectric generator is arranged directly on a crankcase of the engine.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the engine is an internal-combustion engine.

5. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the engine is an internal-combustion engine.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric generator is arranged directly on an oil pan of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the heat-emitting component is a transmission of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric generator further comprises a thermoelectric generator heat-emitting component configured with cooling ribs.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the thermoelectric generator heat-emitting component is arranged to have air flowing around or through said component during driving of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising a blower operably arranged to blow cooling air to the thermoelectric generator heat-emitting component.

11. The vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising a liquid cooling circuit of the vehicle, the thermoelectric generator heat-emitting component being operably connected to the liquid cooling circuit.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an electric energy accumulator arranged in the vehicle, and being electrically coupled with the thermoelectric generator, wherein the electric energy generated by the thermoelectric generator charges the electric energy accumulator.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an on-board electric power supply system of the vehicle directly coupled with the thermoelectric generator, wherein the thermoelectric generator supplies the electric energy to individual loads arranged in the vehicle.

14. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an electrically operable temperature control device, the temperature control device being supplied with electric energy via the thermoelectric generator, and after switching-off the vehicle, heating or keeping warm an electric energy accumulator of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the temperature control device heats or keeps warm the electric energy accumulator in the form of a vehicle battery for a predetermined time period.

16. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature-control device, the temperature device being supplied with electric energy by the thermoelectric generator and, when an engine of the vehicle is switched-off, heats or keeps warm at least one operating liquid of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the at least one operating liquid is an engine oil or a cooling water for the vehicle engine.

18. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature-control device, the temperature device being supplied with electric energy by the thermoelectric generator and, when an engine of the vehicle is switched-off, heats or keeps warm at least one individual component or assembly of the vehicle engine.