Method and apparatus for using thermionic devices to recover energy from light sources and other energy conversion devices

• US 8,531,110 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robertson Transformer Company
• Original Assignee: Robertson Transformer Company
• Inventors: Beasley, Denny D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Crystal L
• Application Number:
  US13/131,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20110279037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 315/112
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/51 using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/54 using thermoelectric means, e.g. Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/00 Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters coloured shades F21V1/00; elements characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/502
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/167 comprising optoelectronic devices, e.g. LED, photodiodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/645 the elements being electrically controlled, e.g. Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/10 operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects

Abstract

A lamp having a light emitting diode, a Peltier device, a heat sink, a translucent thermally conductive window, and an optical fluid. The Peltier device is in thermal communication with the light emitting diode and converts a waste thermal energy discharged by the light emitting diode into an electrical energy. Conductors transfer the electrical energy from the Peltier device to a boost circuit which converts a level of a voltage associated with the electrical energy output from the Peltier device to a higher, more useful value. The heat sink transfers a second thermal energy from the Peltier device. The optical fluid is located between the translucent, thermally conductive window and the light emitting diode. The optical fluid has an angle of diffraction having an intermediate value relative to an angle of diffraction associated with the light emitting diode and an angle of diffraction associated with the translucent, thermally conductive window.

Claims

1. A lamp comprising:

a means for illumination;

a means for converting a waste thermal energy from the means for illumination in thermal communication with the means for illumination, wherein the means for converting the waste thermal energy converts the waste thermal energy into an electrical energy;

a means for conducting the electrical energy from the means for converting the waste thermal energy;

a means for converting a level of a voltage associated with the electrical energy output from the means for converting the waste thermal energy;

a heat sink for transferring a second thermal energy from the means for converting the waste thermal energy;

a translucent thermally conductive window; and

an optical fluid between the translucent thermally conductive window and the means for illumination, the optical fluid having an angle of diffraction having an intermediate value relative to an angle of diffraction associated with the means for illumination and an angle of diffraction associated with the translucent thermally conductive window,

wherein a recovered energy is converted to usable voltage levels and recycled to a power input to the means for illumination and reused in a primary function of the lamp.

2. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the means for illumination is a light emitting diode, wherein the means for converting a waste thermal energy is a Peltier device in thermal communication with the light emitting diode, and wherein the Peltier device converts a waste thermal energy discharged by the light emitting diode into an electrical energy.

3. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the means for illumination is a light emitting diode in thermal communication with the means for converting the waste thermal energy.

4. The lamp of claim 1 further comprising:

a fluid carrying conduit in thermal communication with the means for illumination; and

a fluid pressure within the fluid carrying conduit, wherein the fluid pressure is adapted to receive a transfer of a thermal energy from the means for illumination.

5. The lamp of claim 4, wherein the fluid pressure is in thermal communication with the means for converting a waste thermal energy to an electrical energy, and wherein a thermal energy is transferable from the fluid pressure to the means for converting a waste thermal energy to an electrical energy.

6. The lamp of claim 1 further comprising a microcontroller for controlling an operation of the means for converting a level of a voltage.

7. The lamp of claim 6, wherein the means for converting a level of a voltage is a boost circuit, and wherein the level of the voltage associated with the electrical energy output of the means for converting the thermal energy is increased to a second voltage by the boost circuit.

8. The lamp of claim 1 further comprising:

a reflector defining a chamber in which the means for illumination is at least partially within the means for illumination being a metal halide lamp;

a fluid carrying conduit in thermal communication with the means for illumination; and

a fluid pressure within the fluid carrying conduit, wherein the fluid pressure is adapted to receive a transfer of a thermal energy from metal halide lamp, wherein the fluid pressure is in thermal communication with the means for converting a waste thermal energy to an electrical energy, and wherein a thermal energy is transferable from the fluid pressure to the means for converting a waste thermal energy to an electrical energy.

9. A method to extract thermal energy from lighting fixtures comprising the step of:

using one or more modes of recovery comprising thermal couples, fluids used in a Carnot cycle, and Peltier generators,

wherein the extracted thermal energy is used to either improve an overall operational cycle efficiency of the means for illumination or fixture thermal management.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a thermal flow is directed through a thermal-electrical recovery device comprising a Peltier junction, and wherein a plurality of modes direct a thermal energy flow from the means for illumination to a heat sinking reservoir.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a recovered energy is reconverted to usable energy/voltage levels and recycled to a power input to the means for illumination and reused in a primary function of the light fixture.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a boost circuit is provided to increase a recovered energy level to a usable level by the light fixture.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the light fixture includes a flat clear thermal conducting material to laterally redirect a thermal energy to a recovery area, and wherein the light fixture comprises a plurality of layers.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein a fluid having an intermediate index of refraction adapted to increase an optical transfer between the layers.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a ¼

wave coating is provided to reduce internal reflections.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein a recovered energy from the light fixture is used to operate auxiliary attachments to enhance, communicate, or redirect energy flows in and around a prime source operating object.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the recovered the energy is divided between enhancement functions and regeneration to the prime source operating object.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein a thermal energy from the means for illumination is used either summated or fractionalized to drive a working fluid in a Carnot-type thermal cycle for altering a local thermal gradient to enhance work space via recovered energies.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a thermal energy stored in the working fluid is stored for time displaced usage or other recovery via low head turbines or other thermal-fluid manipulators.

20. A light fixture comprising:

a means for illumination;

a housing having a chamber in which the means for illumination is at least partially within;

a fluid carrying conduit in thermal communication with the means for illumination;

a fluid pressure within the fluid carrying conduit wherein a wasted thermal energy from the means for illumination causes a heated fluid pressure within the fluid carrying conduit;

a means for converting a thermal energy radiating from the fluid pressure into an electrical energy;

a means for conducting the electrical energy from the means for converting the thermal energy from the fluid pressure;

a means for converting a level of a voltage associated with the electrical energy output of the means for converting the thermal energy radiating from the fluid pressure; and

a heat sink for transferring a second thermal energy from the means for converting the wasted thermal energy.