Heat-pipe electric power generating device and hydrogen/oxygen gas generating apparatus and internal combustion engine system having the same

• US 8,418,456 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Tain, Ra-Min, Peng, Wen-Yang, Chen, Yao-Shun
• Primary Examiner(s): Low, Lindsay
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLBROOK, TEUTA BAJRAMOVIC
• Application Number:
  US12/390,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20100162969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 123/3, 605/31, 606/70, 219/629, 219/630
• US Class Current: 60/531
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/00 Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 27/00 Plants for converting heat or fluid energy into mechanical energy, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/02 the devices using heat
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2043/106 Hydrogen obtained by electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2260/00 Recuperating heat from exhaust gases of combustion engines and heat from cooling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A heat-pipe electric power generating device including a fan disposed between an evaporating end and a condensing end of a heat-pipe is provided. A magnetic substance is disposed on the fan to form a magnetic field. A stator coil of a generator is disposed at the outer of the heat-pipe, which is corresponding to the position of the fan. An induced current is generated by the stator coil of the generator when the magnetic substance spins. Since the heat-pipe is made of copper, and the magnetic field is not shielded by copper, a current is induced when a relative motion between the magnetic substance on the fan and the stator coil of the generator at the outer of the heat-pipe is generated. Further, the heat-pipe electric power generating device can be applied on a hydrogen/oxygen gas generating apparatus and an internal combustion engine system of a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A heat-pipe electric power generating device, suitable for converting a heat energy or a heat source energy into an electrical energy, comprising:

a heat-pipe, having a sealed internal chamber, and generating an airflow from an evaporating end to a condensing end due to a pressure difference between two ends of the heat-pipe, wherein an inner wall of the heat-pipe is disposed with a capillary structure;

a magnetic field change generating device, disposed within the internal chamber of the heat-pipe, comprising;

at least a fan, wherein a permanent magnetic substance is disposed on the fan to generate a magnetic field;

a hollow case, aligned with an inner wall of the heat-pipe, wherein the hollow case is disposed at the evaporating end of the heat-pipe entire outer wall of the hollow case contacts with the capillary structure, and at least an opening is disposed at the sidewall of the first end of the hollow case so that a vapor generated at the inner wall of the heat-pipe enters the hollow case through the opening;

a bearing, disposed on a second end corresponding to the first end of the hollow case to install a shaft of the fan;

at least an airflow passage, directing the vapor inside the hollow case to the fan; and

a stator coil of a generator, disposed on a position corresponding to the fan at an outer of the heat-pipe.

2. The heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material of the heat-pipe is copper.

3. The heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material of the hollow case is polytetrafluoroethylene or polyetheretherketone.

4. The heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a movement manner of the fan is a rotary or a back and forth movement.

5. A hydrogen/oxygen gas generating apparatus having the heat-pipe electric power generating device, comprising:

a heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 1;

a container, containing an electrolytic solution and having a gas outlet; and

a set of positive and negative electrodes, disposed within the electrolytic solution in the container, wherein the set of positive and negative electrodes and a power output end of a stator coil of a generator of the heat-pipe electric power generating device are electrically connected.

6. The hydrogen/oxygen gas generating apparatus having the heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stator coil of the generator is disposed with a rectification apparatus, so that an alternating current generated by the stator coil of the generator is converted to a direct current.

7. The hydrogen/oxygen gas generating apparatus having the heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electrolytic solution is electrolyzed water.

8. The hydrogen/oxygen gas generating apparatus having the heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a material of the heat-pipe is copper.

9. The hydrogen/oxygen gas generating apparatus having the heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a material of the hollow case is polytetrafluoroethylene or polyetheretherketone.

10. An internal combustion engine system having the heat-pipe electric power generating device, comprising:

a heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 1;

a container, containing an electrolytic solution and having a gas outlet;

a set of positive and negative electrodes, disposed within the electrolytic solution in the container, wherein the set of positive and negative electrodes and an power output end of a stator coil of a generator of the heat-pipe electric power generating device are electrically connected; and

an internal combustion engine, connected to the gas outlet, wherein a gas product directed from the gas outlet is used as a fuel of the internal combustion engine.

11. The internal combustion engine system having the heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a heat-conductive component, connected to the heat-pipe electric power generating device and the internal combustion engine to transmit a heat generated by the internal combustion engine to the evaporating end of the heat-pipe.

12. The internal combustion engine system having the heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the heat-conductive component is a radiator used to cool the internal combustion engine.

13. The internal combustion engine system having the heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the stator coil of the generator is disposed with a rectification apparatus, so that an alternating current generated by the stator coil of the generator is converted to a direct current.

14. The internal combustion engine system having the heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electrolytic solution is electrolyzed water.

15. The internal combustion engine system having the heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the internal combustion engine has an air inlet connected to the gas outlet.

16. The internal combustion engine system having the heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a material of the heat-pipe is copper.

17. The internal combustion engine system having the heat-pipe electric power generating device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a material of the hollow case is polytetrafluoroethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene.