THERMOELECTRIC-BASED POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A power generation apparatus comprising:
- at least one exhaust tube having a curved outer shell configured to contain a flow of exhaust fluid;
at least a first heat exchanger extending through a first region of the at least one exhaust tube, the first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the curved outer shell;
a second region of the at least one exhaust tube extending through the at least one exhaust tube, the second region having a low exhaust fluid pressure drop;
at least one exhaust valve operatively disposed within the second region and configured to allow exhaust fluid to flow through the second region only when a flow rate of the exhaust fluid becomes great enough to result in back pressure beyond an allowable limit; and
at least one thermoelectric element in thermal communication with an outer surface of the curved outer shell, the at least one thermoelectric element configured to accommodate thermal expansion of the at least one exhaust tube during operation of the waste heat recovery system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments provide a waste heat recovery apparatus including an exhaust tube having a cylindrical outer shell configured to contain a flow of exhaust fluid; a first heat exchanger extending through a first region of the exhaust tube, the first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the cylindrical outer shell; a second region of the exhaust tube extending through the exhaust tube, the second region having a low exhaust fluid pressure drop; an exhaust valve operatively disposed within the second region and configured to allow exhaust fluid to flow through the second region only when a flow rate of the exhaust fluid becomes great enough to result in back pressure beyond an allowable limit; and a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with an outer surface of the outer shell.
149 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A power generation apparatus comprising:
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at least one exhaust tube having a curved outer shell configured to contain a flow of exhaust fluid; at least a first heat exchanger extending through a first region of the at least one exhaust tube, the first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the curved outer shell; a second region of the at least one exhaust tube extending through the at least one exhaust tube, the second region having a low exhaust fluid pressure drop; at least one exhaust valve operatively disposed within the second region and configured to allow exhaust fluid to flow through the second region only when a flow rate of the exhaust fluid becomes great enough to result in back pressure beyond an allowable limit; and at least one thermoelectric element in thermal communication with an outer surface of the curved outer shell, the at least one thermoelectric element configured to accommodate thermal expansion of the at least one exhaust tube during operation of the waste heat recovery system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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5. A power generation apparatus comprising:
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at least one exhaust tube configured to contain a flow of exhaust fluid, the exhaust tube having a high temperature end, a low temperature end opposite the high temperature end, and a middle section between the high temperature end and the low temperature end during operation of the waste heat recovery apparatus; a first plurality of thermoelectric elements connected to the high temperature end; a second plurality of thermoelectric elements connected to the middle section; and a third plurality of thermoelectric elements connected to the low temperature end; wherein the second plurality of thermoelectric elements are longer than the third plurality of thermoelectric elements; and wherein the first plurality of thermoelectric elements are longer than the second plurality of thermoelectric elements. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A power generation apparatus comprising:
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at least one curved exhaust tube configured to contain a flow of exhaust fluid; at least one bypass region extending through the at least one exhaust tube, the at least one bypass region having a low exhaust fluid pressure drop; at least one coolant conduit configured to contain a flow of coolant within a first tube, the at least one coolant conduit comprising a second tube enclosing at least a portion of the first tube and a conductive material system disposed between the first tube and the second tube; at least a first shunt extending from the at least one exhaust tube; at least a second shunt extending from the at least one coolant conduit and in thermal communication with the second tube; and at least one thermoelectric element thermally connected between the first shunt and the second shunt. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A thermoelectric system comprising:
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a plurality of thermoelectric elements; at least one cooler side shunt and at least one hotter side shunt in thermal communication with at least one of the plurality of thermoelectric elements; at least one heat exchanger in thermal communication and physically integrated with the at least one hotter side shunt; and wherein the at least one heat exchanger is substantially electrically isolated from the at least one thermoelectric element.
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17. A thermoelectric generator comprising:
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at least one heat exchanger; at least one combustor physically integrated into the at least one heat exchanger; at least one hotter side shunt physically integrated and in thermal communication with the at least one heat exchanger; at least one cooler side shunt; at least one thermoelectric element sandwiched between the at least one hotter side shunt and the at least one cooler side shunt; and wherein the at least one heat exchanger is substantially electrically isolated from the at least one thermoelectric element.
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Specification