Thermal effluent to electric energy harvesting system

• US 8,823,316 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Navy The USA As Represented By The Secretary of The
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Woodall, Robert C., Adams, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/199,513
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction

Abstract

A system for harvesting electric energy from thermal energy includes energy conversion assemblies that can be distributed about a conduit through which a heated effluent flows. Each energy conversion assembly includes two heat sinks, a thermoelectric cell sandwiched between the two heat sinks, and a thermal insulating gasket surrounding the thermoelectric cell and separating the two heat sinks. Circuit wiring electrically connects to each thermoelectric cell where the energy conversion assemblies are electrically connected to one another in parallel. An electric power storage device is coupled to the circuit wiring.

Claims

1. A system for harvesting electric energy from thermal energy, comprising:

a plurality of energy conversion assemblies, each of said energy conversion assemblies including a first heat sink, a second heat sink, a thermoelectric cell with a first side thereof in contact with said first heat sink and a second side thereof in contact with said second heat sink, and a thermal insulating gasket surrounding said thermoelectric cell and separating said first heat sink from said second heat sink;

circuit wiring for electrically connecting to each said thermoelectric cell wherein said energy conversion assemblies are electrically connected to one another; and

an electric power storage device coupled to said circuit wiring.

2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a diode electrically disposed in said circuit wiring for preventing current discharge from said battery back into said circuit wiring.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein each said first heat sink and each said second heat sink includes thermally-conductive fins.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein each of said energy conversion assemblies further includes a bracket adapted to position a corresponding one of said energy conversion assemblies at a selected standoff distance with respect to a conduit through which a heated effluent flows.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein each of said energy conversion assemblies further includes mechanical couplers for mechanically coupling adjacent ones of said energy conversion assemblies.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein said mechanical couplers comprise pivoting links.

7. A system as in claim 5, wherein said mechanical couplers comprise stacking links.

8. A system as in claim 5, wherein said mechanical couplers comprise pivoting links and stacking links.

9. A system for harvesting electric energy from thermal energy, comprising:

a plurality of energy conversion assemblies adapted to be distributed about a conduit through which a heated effluent flows, each of said energy conversion assemblies including a first finned heat sink and an opposing second finned heat sink with fins thereof extending in opposing directions, a thermoelectric cell, and a thermal-insulating gasket, said first finned heat sink and said second finned heat sink encasing said thermoelectric cell with a first side of said thermoelectric cell in contact with said first finned heat sink and a second side of said thermoelectric cell in contact with said second finned heat sink, said gasket surrounding said thermoelectric cell and separating said first finned heat sink from said second finned heat sink;

circuit wiring for electrically connecting to each said thermoelectric cell wherein said energy conversion assemblies are electrically connected to form at least one of a parallel connection configuration and a series connection configuration; and

a chargeable battery electrically coupled to said circuit wiring.

10. A system as in claim 9, further comprising a diode electrically disposed in said circuit wiring for preventing current discharge from said battery back into said circuit wiring.

11. A system as in claim 9, wherein each of said energy conversion assemblies further includes a bracket adapted to position a corresponding one of said energy conversion assemblies at a selected standoff distance with respect to the conduit.

12. A system as in claim 9, wherein each of said energy conversion assemblies further includes mechanical couplers for mechanically coupling adjacent ones of said energy conversion assemblies.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said mechanical couplers comprise pivoting links.

14. A system as in claim 12, wherein said mechanical couplers comprise stacking links.

15. A system as in claim 12, wherein said mechanical couplers comprise pivoting links and stacking links.

16. A system for harvesting electric energy from thermal energy, comprising:

a plurality of energy conversion assemblies adapted to be distributed about a conduit through which a heated effluent flows, each of said energy conversion assemblies including a first heat sink, a second heat sink, a thermoelectric cell with a first side thereof in contact with said first heat sink and a second side thereof in contact with said second heat sink, a thermal insulating gasket surrounding said thermoelectric cell and separating said first heat sink from said second heat sink, and mechanical couplers coupled to at least one of said first heat sink and said second heat sink for mechanically coupling adjacent ones of said energy conversion assemblies;

circuit wiring for electrically connecting to each said thermoelectric cell wherein said energy conversion assemblies are electrically connected to form at least one of a parallel connection configuration and a series connection configuration;

a chargeable battery electrically coupled to said circuit wiring; and

a diode electrically disposed in said circuit wiring for preventing current discharge from said battery back into said circuit wiring.

17. A system as in claim 16, wherein each said first heat sink and said second heat sink includes thermally-conductive fins.

18. A system as in claim 16, wherein each of said energy conversion assemblies further includes a bracket adapted to position a corresponding one of said energy conversion assemblies at a selected standoff distance with respect to the conduit.

19. A system as in claim 16, wherein said mechanical couplers comprise pivoting links.

20. A system as in claim 16, wherein said mechanical couplers comprise stacking links.

21. A system as in claim 16, wherein said mechanical couplers comprise pivoting links and stacking links.