Composite thermal system
First Claim
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1. A composite thermal system comprising:
- a thermoelectric system that converts electrical energy into thermal energy; and
a photovoltaic system that converts light energy into electrical energy, wherein the photovoltaic system is integral with and electrically connected to the thermoelectric system for providing electrical energy to the thermoelectric system.
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Abstract
There is provided a composite thermal system. The composite thermal system includes a thermoelectric system and a photovoltaic system. The photovoltaic system converts light energy into electrical energy. The thermoelectric system converts electrical energy into thermal energy. The photovoltaic system is integral with and electrically connected to the thermoelectric system for providing electrical energy to the thermoelectric system.
40 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A composite thermal system comprising:
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a thermoelectric system that converts electrical energy into thermal energy; and
a photovoltaic system that converts light energy into electrical energy, wherein the photovoltaic system is integral with and electrically connected to the thermoelectric system for providing electrical energy to the thermoelectric system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 42, 43, 44)
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39. A method of controlling the temperature of a structure, the structure comprising a thermoelectric system that converts electrical energy into thermal energy, a photovoltaic system that converts light energy into electrical energy, wherein the photovoltaic system is integral with and electrically connected to the thermoelectric system for providing electrical energy to the thermoelectric system, and a plurality of thermoelectric regions, the method comprising:
controlling the electrical energy provided by the photovoltaic system to the thermoelectric system so that at least some of the thermoelectric regions have different temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. A method of controlling the temperature of a building, the building comprising a thermal envelope comprising a thermoelectric system that converts electrical energy into thermal energy, a photovoltaic system that converts light energy into electrical energy, wherein the photovoltaic system is integral with and electrically connected to the thermoelectric system for providing electrical energy to the thermoelectric system, the method comprising:
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converting light energy to electrical energy via the photovoltaic system during the day and transferring the electrical energy to thermoelectric system;
converting the transferred electrical energy via the thermoelectric system to thermal energy to heat a heat storage layer of the thermal envelope;
dissipating heat from the heat storage layer to the thermoelectric system towards air external to the building during the night; and
using the dissipating heat to generate electricity via the thermoelectric system.
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Specification