Thermoelectric generator

Abstract

A thermoelectric generator includes a plurality of thermoelectric modules that generate electrical power when subjected to a temperature differential. The generator also includes a plurality of first thermal elements to which heat is supplied by a first fluid and a plurality of second thermal elements from which heat is removed by a second fluid. The first and second thermal elements are arranged in a stack of alternating first and second thermal elements having one of the plurality of thermoelectric modules between each adjacent pair of first and second thermal elements. Each thermoelectric module is in contact on its first side with one of the first thermal elements and in contact on its second side with one of the second thermal elements such that no face of any thermal element contacts more than one of the thermoelectric modules.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 61 / 060,377, filed Jun. 10, 2008 and titled “Combined Heat and Power and Hydrogen Generation for Whole Home or Building with Ground Heat Exchanger Using Thermoelectric Seebeck Modules”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes.CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0002]This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney docket number 027483-000210US), titled “Integrated Energy System for Whole Home or Building”, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney docket number 027483-000300US), titled “Automatic Configuration of Thermoelectric Generation System to Load Requirements”, both having the same inventor as the present application and filed Jun. 10, 2009. The disclosures of those two applications are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A thermoelectric module is a de...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]In some embodiments, the thermoelectric generator further comprises one or more flexible tubes, at least one of the tubes connecting each of the manifolds with each of its respective first or second thermal elements. At least one of the flexible tubes may be press fit into its respective manifold and thermal element. The first fluid may be water. The second fluid may be water.

[0008]In another embodiment, a method of fabricating a thermoelectric generator for generating electrical power from a difference in temperature comprises providing a plurality of thermoelectric modules, each thermoelectric module having a first side and a second side, and each thermoelectric module generating electrical power when subjected to a temperature differential between its respective first side and second side. The method further comprises providing a plurality of first thermal elements configured to receive heat from a first fluid, and providing a plurality of second thermal elements configured to be cooled by a second fluid. The first and second thermal elements are arranged in a stack of alternating first and second thermal elements having one of the thermoelectric modules between each adjacent pair of first and second thermal elements. Each thermoelectric module is in contact on its first side with

Problems solved by technology

For example, a typical commercially available thermoelectric module about 34×31 millimeters may produce about 1.5 watts of power at about 2.8 volts when subjected to a temperature differential of about 100° C. While this amount of power is sufficient for certain small loads, it is small in comparison with the power requirements of a typical home.

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