Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100024859 | THERMOELECTRIC POWER GENERATOR FOR VARIABLE THERMAL POWER SOURCE - A thermoelectric generator includes a first thermoelectric segment including at least one thermoelectric module. The first thermoelectric segment has a working fluid flowing therethrough with a fluid pressure. The thermoelectric generator further includes a second thermoelectric segment including at least one thermoelectric module. The second thermoelectric segment is configurable to allow the working fluid to flow therethrough. The thermoelectric generator further includes at least a first variable flow element movable upon application of the fluid pressure to the first variable flow element. The first variable flow element modifies a flow resistance of the second thermoelectric segment to flow of the working fluid therethrough. | 02-04-2010 |
20100031987 | ENHANCED THERMALLY ISOLATED THERMOELECTRICS - In certain embodiments, a thermoelectric system includes at least one cell. The at least one cell can include a first plurality of electrically conductive shunts extending along a first direction, a second plurality of electrically conductive shunts extending along a second direction non-parallel to the first direction, and a first plurality of thermoelectric (TE) elements. The first plurality of TE elements can include a first TE element between and in electrical communication with a first shunt of the first plurality of shunts and a second shunt of the second plurality of shunts, a second TE element between and in electrical communication with the second shunt and a third shunt of the first plurality of shunts, and a third TE element between and in electrical communication with the third shunt and a fourth shunt of the second plurality of shunts. | 02-11-2010 |
20110067742 | THERMOELECTRIC-BASED POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - 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. | 03-24-2011 |
20120111386 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS - In some embodiments, an integrated power generation system includes a primary power source supplying power to a primary power user, a thermoelectric power generator system thermally coupled to a heat source, and an electronic controller unit. In certain embodiments, an electronic controller unit monitors the power output of the primary power source and operatively connects the thermoelectric power generating system to the primary power user when one or more power usage factors occurs. One power usage factor that can occur is the power output of the primary power source falling below a threshold power level. | 05-10-2012 |
20120305043 | THERMOELECTRIC DEVICES WITH REDUCTION OF INTERFACIAL LOSSES - In certain embodiments, a thermoelectric system can include a first thermoelectric assembly and a second thermoelectric assembly. Both the first and second thermoelectric assemblies can be configured to receive heat from at least one heat source and to transmit heat to at least one heat sink. The first and second thermoelectric assemblies can be in electrical communication with one another. The thermoelectric system can further include at least one electrically insulating element mechanically coupled to the first thermoelectric assembly and to the second thermoelectric assembly. The at least one electrically insulating element is not in a thermal path of either (i) heat flow from the at least one heat source to either the first thermoelectric assembly or the second thermoelectric assembly or (ii) heat flow to the at least one heat sink from either the first thermoelectric assembly or the second thermoelectric assembly. | 12-06-2012 |
20130104953 | CARTRIDGE-BASED THERMOELECTRIC SYSTEMS | 05-02-2013 |
20130276849 | TEG-POWERED COOLING CIRCUIT FOR THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR - A system includes at least one thermoelectric generator configured to generate electricity in response to a temperature difference across at least a portion of the at least one thermoelectric generator. The system further includes at least one fluid conduit in thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric generator. The at least one fluid conduit is configured to have at least one working fluid flow through the at least one fluid conduit. The system further includes at least one device configured to direct the at least one working fluid through the at least one fluid conduit. The at least one device is powered by at least a portion of the electricity generated by the at least one thermoelectric generator. | 10-24-2013 |
20130327368 | CROSSMEMBER THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR WITH IMPROVED THERMAL EXPANSION PROTECTION - A thermoelectric system includes a plurality of cold-side conduits extending parallel to one another along a first direction and configured to have a first working fluid flowing therethrough. Each cold-side conduit includes a cold-side tube and a plurality of cold-side shunts in thermal communication with the cold-side tube. The system further includes a plurality of hot-side conduits extending parallel to one another along a second direction and configured to have a second working fluid flowing therethrough. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. Each hot-side conduit includes a hot-side tube and a plurality of hot-side shunts in thermal communication with the hot-side tube. The system further includes a plurality of thermoelectric stacks. Each thermoelectric stack of the plurality of thermoelectric stacks extends along a third direction and is configured to have electrical current flow through the thermoelectric stack along the third direction. | 12-12-2013 |
20130340802 | THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR FOR USE WITH INTEGRATED FUNCTIONALITY - A thermoelectric system includes at least one thermoelectric generator which includes at least one cold-side heat exchanger, at least one hot-side heat exchanger, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the at least one cold-side heat exchanger and in thermal communication with the at least one hot-side heat exchanger. The system further includes a combustible fluid, wherein the at least one cold-side heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat to the combustible fluid. | 12-26-2013 |
20140034102 | HIGH EFFICIENCY THERMOELECTRIC GENERATION - A thermoelectric power generating system is provided that includes at least one thermoelectric assembly. The at least one thermoelectric assembly includes at least one first heat exchanger in thermal communication with at least a first portion of a first working fluid. The first portion of the first working fluid flows through the at least one thermoelectric assembly. The at least one thermoelectric assembly includes a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the at least one first heat exchanger. The at least one thermoelectric assembly further includes at least one second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the plurality of thermoelectric elements and with a second working fluid flowing through the at least one thermoelectric assembly. The second working fluid is cooler than the first working fluid. The thermoelectric power generating system further includes at least one heat exchanger portion configured to have at least some of the first portion of the first working fluid flow through the at least one heat exchanger portion after having flowed through the at least one thermoelectric assembly. The at least one heat exchanger portion is configured to recover heat from the at least some of the first portion of the first working fluid. | 02-06-2014 |