Thermoelectric devices and applications for the same
First Claim
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1. A method for providing electrical energy to an electrical device in an environment having a first and a second temperature region comprising the steps of:
- providing a means for transmitting ambient energy collected in the first temperature region,providing a thermoelectric device having a plurality of thermoelectric couples, the thermoelectric couples comprising;
a thin film p-type thermoelement, a thin film n-type thermoelement and an electrically conductive member electrically connecting a first end of the p-type thermoelement with a second end of the n-type thermoelement, wherein the thermoelectric couples are formed on a single flexible substrate and the flexible substrate is in a coil configuration;
wherein the p-type or the n-type thermoelements comprise BixTey, SbxTey, or BixSey wherein x and y form a non-stoichiometric compound wherein x is about 2 and y is about 3 and have L/A ratios from about 100 cm−
1 to about 10,000 cm−
1;
providing the means for transmitting the ambient energy collected in the first temperature region in communication with a first side of the thermoelectric device, andproviding a second side of the thermoelectric device in communication with the second temperature region.
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Abstract
High performance thin film thermoelectric couples and methods of making the same are disclosed. Such couples allow fabrication of at least microwatt to watt-level power supply devices operating at voltages greater than one volt even when activated by only small temperature differences.
54 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for providing electrical energy to an electrical device in an environment having a first and a second temperature region comprising the steps of:
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providing a means for transmitting ambient energy collected in the first temperature region, providing a thermoelectric device having a plurality of thermoelectric couples, the thermoelectric couples comprising; a thin film p-type thermoelement, a thin film n-type thermoelement and an electrically conductive member electrically connecting a first end of the p-type thermoelement with a second end of the n-type thermoelement, wherein the thermoelectric couples are formed on a single flexible substrate and the flexible substrate is in a coil configuration; wherein the p-type or the n-type thermoelements comprise BixTey, SbxTey, or BixSey wherein x and y form a non-stoichiometric compound wherein x is about 2 and y is about 3 and have L/A ratios from about 100 cm−
1 to about 10,000 cm−
1;providing the means for transmitting the ambient energy collected in the first temperature region in communication with a first side of the thermoelectric device, and providing a second side of the thermoelectric device in communication with the second temperature region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for generating electrical energy from an environment having a first temperature region and a second temperature region comprising a thermoelectric device having a first side and a second side wherein the first side is in communication with a first means for transmitting ambient thermal energy collected in the first temperature region and the second side is in communication with a second means for transmitting ambient energy collected in the second temperature region in communication with the second side of the thermoelectric device;
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the first means for transmitting ambient thermal energy comprising a high-temperature heat pipe connected to a hot connection of the thermoelectric device to operate in the Seebeck mode to transfer heat spontaneously by direct conduction to and from the thermoelectric device utilizing a working fluid; the apparatus not including an electrical and/or mechanical power device, other than gravity, external to the high temperature heat pipe acting on the working fluid to transfer heat to and from the thermoelectric device; and the thermoelectric device selected from the group consisting of metallic wire thermocouples and discrete thin film thermoelements formed of semiconductor materials, the thin film thermoelements assembled in alternating p- and n-type arrays, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification