Power generator

• US 9,184,363 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ICEPIPE Corporation
• Original Assignee: ICEPIPE Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-Cheol
• Primary Examiner(s): Mowla, Golam
• Application Number:
  US13/947,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20130306123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 136/205
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/00 Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/04 with tubes having a capillary structure
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/10 operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects

Abstract

Disclosed is a generator. The generator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a thermoelectric element, which creates an electromotive force by using a temperature difference between a high-temperature portion and a low-temperature portion; a heat source, which is thermally coupled to the high-temperature portion and transfers heat to the high-temperature portion; and a vibrating capillary-shaped heat-pipe, which has a working fluid injected therein, is thermally coupled to the low-temperature portion, and discharges heat of the low-temperature portion. The generator in accordance with the present invention can increase an efficiency of power generation using the thermoelectric element by employing a highly exothermic vibrating capillary-shaped heat-pipe to maintain the temperature difference required for power generation.

Claims

1. A generator comprising:

a thermoelectric element configured to generate an electromotive force by use of a temperature difference between a high-temperature portion and a low-temperature portion;

a heat source thermally coupled to the high-temperature portion and configured to transfer heat to the high-temperature portion, wherein the heat source comprises a fluid pipe having high-temperature fluid transported therein, and wherein the high-temperature portion of the thermoelectric element is coupled to the fluid pipe; and

a vibrating capillary-shaped heat-pipe having a working fluid injected therein, being thermally coupled to the low-temperature portion, and configured to discharge heat of the low-temperature portion, wherein the vibrating capillary-shaped heat-pipe comprises at least one heat-pipe loop thermally coupled to the low-temperature portion of the thermoelectric element, and wherein the heat-pipe loop has a spiral structure surrounding the fluid pipe.

2. The generator of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric element is disposed in a lengthwise direction of the fluid pipe.

3. The generator of claim 1, wherein the fluid pipe has a plurality of thermoelectric elements disposed thereon, and

wherein the heat-pipe loop is thermally coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric elements.

4. The generator of claim 1, further comprising a heat-dissipating plate, the heat-dissipating plate having one surface thereof coupled to the low-temperature portion of the thermoelectric element and the other surface thereof coupled to the heat-pipe loop.

5. The generator of claim 1, further comprising a heat transfer member coupled to an inner wall of the fluid pipe and disposed in a lengthwise direction of the fluid pipe.

6. The generator of claim 5, wherein the heat transfer member comprises a heat pipe.

7. The generator of claim 1, further comprising a heat-insulating cover covering the fluid pipe.

8. The generator according to claim 1, wherein the fluid pipe is installed in an exhaust gas passage of an engine.

9. The generator according to claim 2, wherein the fluid pipe is installed in an exhaust gas passage of an engine.

10. The generator according to claim 1, wherein the fluid pipe is installed in an exhaust gas passage of an engine.

11. The generator according to claim 1, wherein the fluid pipe is installed in an exhaust gas passage of an engine.

12. The generator according to claim 3, wherein the fluid pipe is installed in an exhaust gas passage of an engine.

13. The generator according to claim 4, wherein the fluid pipe is installed in an exhaust gas passage of an engine.

14. The generator according to claim 5, wherein the fluid pipe is installed in an exhaust gas passage of an engine.

15. The generator according to claim 6, wherein the fluid pipe is installed in an exhaust gas passage of an engine.

16. The generator according to claim 7, wherein the fluid pipe is installed in an exhaust gas passage of an engine.