Movable modular thermoelectric device unit, thermoelectric device module and high-power thermoelectric device

Abstract

The present application relates to a movable modular thermoelectric device unit, a thermoelectric device module and a high-power thermoelectric power generation device, and belongs to the field of thermoelectric power generation devices. The thermoelectric device unit comprises: a heat collecting block, which is a square block structure with an arc-shaped concave surface on one side, or is assembled from a square block and an arc-shaped concave block, wherein the arc-shaped concave block is pre-installed on a heat source pipeline; a refrigerant plate, in which a cooling flow path communicating with a cooling unit is arranged; a plurality of thermoelectric devices made of thermoelectric material arranged between the heat collecting block and the refrigerant plate, the high-temperature end of the thermoelectric device abutting against the heat collecting block, and the low-temperature end of the thermoelectric device abutting against the refrigerant plate; a spring assembly arranged on the side of the refrigerant plate away from the thermoelectric device; and a pair of mounting screws, the two ends of the pair of mounting screws being fixed to the heat collecting block and the spring positioning plate respectively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a movable modular thermoelectric device unit, a thermoelectric device module and a high-power temperature difference power generation device, belonging to the field of thermoelectric power generation devices. Background Art

[0002] Thermoelectric power generation technology utilizes the Seebeck effect of semiconductor materials to directly convert thermal energy into electrical energy. Due to their advantages of being pollution-free, noise-free, compact, safe, and reliable, thermoelectric power generation and refrigeration devices have gained widespread application in high-tech fields such as aerospace, space technology, and military equipment. They also have broad application prospects in the recovery and utilization of industrial waste heat.

[0003] The utilization of waste heat from steel mills, chemical plants, and other high-temperature equipment for power generation, as well as thermoelectric generation using molten salt heat storage, has long attracted attention. However, large-scale industrial application has been slow due to limitations in power generation efficiency, cost, device convenience, and versatility. Currently, there are few high-power thermoelectric devices that use medium- and high-temperature fluids as heat transfer media. In particular, there is a lack of modular, portable, and versatile thermoelectric devices that can be quickly installed, used, and maintained. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a movable modular thermoelectric device unit, a thermoelectric device module and a high-power temperature difference power generation device.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a thermoelectric device unit comprising:

[0006] A heat collecting block, which is a square block with an arc-shaped inner concave surface on one side, or is assembled from a square block and an arc-shaped concave block, wherein the arc-shaped concave block is pre-placed on the heat source pipe;

[0007] a refrigerant plate, wherein a cooling flow path communicating with the cooling unit is provided in the refrigerant plate;

[0008] A plurality of thermoelectric devices made of thermoelectric material are arranged between the heat collecting block and the refrigerant plate, wherein the high-temperature ends of the thermoelectric devices abut against the heat collecting block, and the low-temperature ends of the thermoelectric devices abut against the refrigerant plate;

[0009] A spring assembly is arranged on the side of the refrigerant plate away from the thermoelectric device, and the spring assembly includes a spring whose one end abuts the refrigerant plate, and a spring positioning plate having a positioning groove for accommodating the other end of the spring; and a pair of mounting screws, the two ends of the pair of mounting screws are respectively fixed to the heat collecting block and the spring positioning plate.

[0010] In the present invention, a pair of mounting screws can be used to compactly integrate the stacked heat collecting blocks, thermoelectric devices, and refrigerant plates. Furthermore, the provision of a spring assembly allows the mounting surfaces of the heat collecting blocks, thermoelectric devices, and refrigerant plates to maintain good contact with each other. Furthermore, during temperature changes, the mounting surfaces of the heat collecting blocks, thermoelectric devices, and refrigerant plates remain in good contact with each other, thereby reducing the contact thermal resistance between them and facilitating the establishment of an effective temperature difference and improving power generation performance. Furthermore, the provision of a spring assembly can release some of the additional thermal stress at high temperatures, reducing the impact on the thermoelectric devices and improving their reliability. Furthermore, the heat collecting blocks have an arc-shaped inner concave surface that can be used to accommodate the sheathed pipe components.

[0011] Preferably, a first temperature measuring hole is provided on the heat collecting block, and a second temperature measuring hole is provided on the refrigerant plate. This allows for effective monitoring of the temperature and its changes at the high-temperature and low-temperature ends of the thermoelectric device, and provides a reference for regulating the heat and cold sources.

[0012] Preferably, the spring is a rectangular spring, which is beneficial for ensuring the parallelism of the mounting surface abutting the spring, thereby ensuring uniform force on each part.

[0013] Preferably, the spring assembly further includes a spring guide post disposed within the spring. The spring guide post assists in maintaining the spring in a straight line. The length of the spring guide post is slightly less than the length of the spring in a fully compressed state to ensure that the spring is always in a freely retractable state. The outer diameter of the spring guide post is slightly less than the inner diameter of the spring to ensure the spring remains straight and freely retractable.

[0014] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a thermoelectric device module: a pair of thermoelectric device units are loaded together by a pair of loading screws with the arcuate inner concave surfaces of the heat collecting block facing each other to form a pipe through hole for accommodating a heat source pipe; alternatively, the arcuate concave block portion of the heat collecting block is pre-placed on the heat source pipe to form a mounting plane and is mounted flatly with the square block portion of the heat collecting block;

[0015] Both ends of the loading screw are respectively fixed to a pair of spring positioning plates of the thermoelectric device unit, and support legs are provided on the spring positioning plates.

[0016] In the present invention, a pair of loading screws can be used to load the pair of thermoelectric device units together in an opposing manner, thereby enabling rapid installation of the thermoelectric device units outside the heat source pipe. The present invention provides a pre-assembled modular thermoelectric device module that can be quickly selected and used according to power generation needs.

[0017] In a third aspect, the present invention provides a modular high-power thermoelectric power generation device, comprising:

[0018] a cavity with a removable side door;

[0019] A plurality of thermoelectric device modules disposed in the cavity;

[0020] A cooling unit comprising a cooling fluid main circuit connected to an external cooling source, and cooling fluid branches branching from the cooling fluid main circuit and connected to refrigerant plates of each thermoelectric device;

[0021] A heat source unit, the heat source unit comprising a heat source pipe passing through the pipe through-hole of the thermoelectric device module, the heat source pipe being in communication with an external heat source;

[0022] an atmosphere unit, the atmosphere unit comprising an inlet valve disposed on a first side of the chamber and an exhaust valve disposed on a second side of the chamber, the inlet valve selectively communicating with a vacuum pump and an inert gas source; and

[0023] A power management unit is used to monitor the working status of the thermoelectric device module and make adjustments based on the monitoring results and power demand.

[0024] By constructing a universal, modular power generation device consisting of a thermoelectric device module, a cooling unit, a heat source unit, an atmosphere unit, and a power management unit, this invention can achieve high-power thermoelectric power generation from a variety of high-temperature fluid heat sources and utilize heat flow gradients, thus addressing the lack of versatility in existing thermoelectric power generation devices. The use of inert atmosphere protection, modular thermoelectric device assembly installation, and multi-system coordinated control facilitate the safe and stable operation of the power generation device. The power generation device's output parameters, such as power generation, can be controlled and adjusted, while the modular structural design facilitates rapid assembly, flexible installation, and device portability.

[0025] Preferably, a first heat source temperature sensor is provided on the heat source pipe, and a second heat source temperature sensor is provided on the heat collecting block, so as to monitor and control the temperature of the heat source pipe and the heat collecting block in real time.

[0026] Preferably, the power management unit includes a testing module, a control module and a conversion module.

[0027] Preferably, at least one pair of lifting rings is provided on the upper side of the cavity, so that the power generation device can be carried by the lifting rings and quickly hoisted to a desired location.

[0028] Preferably, the cavity is filled with a heat-insulating material, which can reduce heat loss from the heat source, increase the effective temperature difference between the heat collecting block and the refrigerant plate of the thermoelectric device unit, and improve power generation efficiency and heat source utilization efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an exemplary movable modular high-power thermoelectric power generation device according to the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an exemplary thermoelectric device module of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of a movable modular high-power thermoelectric power generation device according to an example of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of a thermoelectric device module in an exemplary modular high-power thermoelectric power generation device of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the assembly and application of multiple modular high-power power generation devices according to the present invention;

[0034] Reference numerals:

[0035] 1. Atmosphere unit, 2. Thermoelectric device module, 3. Heat source unit, 4. Cooling unit, 5. Power management unit, 6. Cavity

[0036] Body, 6a, cavity side door, 7, vacuum pump, 8, safety valve, 9, cavity and heat source pipe connection seal, 10, cavity exhaust

[0037] Gas solenoid valve, 10a, cavity air inlet solenoid valve, 11, thermoelectric device, 12, rectangular spring, 13, spring guide column, 14, cold

[0038] Media plate, 14a, low temperature end temperature measuring hole (second temperature measuring hole), 15, spring positioning plate, 16, loading screw, 17, mounting screw

[0039] Rod, 18, heat source pipeline, 19, heat collecting block, 19a, high temperature end temperature measuring hole (first temperature measuring hole), 20, device wiring, 21, support leg, 22, heat source pipeline inlet, 23, heat source pipeline outlet, 24, heat source circuit, 25, liquid flow meter, 26, hydraulic gauge, 27, cooling fluid inlet pipe, 28, cooling fluid outlet pipe, 29, cooling fluid inlet and outlet temperature sensors, 30, electric flow regulating valve, 31, test module, 32, control module, 33, conversion module, 34, airtight electrical connector, 35, high temperature pipeline temperature sensor (first heat source temperature sensor), 36, heat collecting block temperature sensor (second heat source temperature sensor), 37, lifting ring, 38, ground pin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The present invention is further described below through embodiments. It should be understood that the following embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, rather than to limit the present invention.

[0041] The following is an example of the portable modular high-power temperature difference power generation device provided by the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1As shown, the power generation device adopts a modular structural design, including: an atmosphere unit 1, a thermoelectric device module 2, a heat source unit 3, a cooling unit 4, and a power management unit 5. The modular design of the power generation device can better meet the requirements of rapid device movement, installation and maintenance, and assembly of high-power power generation systems.

[0042] See also Figure 2 The thermoelectric device module 2 includes a pair of thermoelectric device units facing each other vertically. It should be understood that the pair of thermoelectric device units shown here are facing each other vertically, but they can also be facing each other horizontally. Each thermoelectric device unit includes: a thermoelectric device 11, a heat collecting block 19, and a refrigerant plate 14. The thermoelectric device 11 is arranged between the heat collecting block 19 and the refrigerant plate 14. Specifically, the high-temperature end plane of the thermoelectric device 11 is installed on the plane of the heat collecting block 19, and the two are in good contact through graphite paper with good thermal conductivity, while the low-temperature end plane of the thermoelectric device 11 is installed on the plane of the refrigerant plate 14, and thermal grease or graphite paper is added between the contact surfaces to maintain good contact between the two.

[0043] A spring unit is provided on the side of the refrigerant plate 14 facing away from the thermoelectric device 11. The spring unit comprises a spring 12, a spring guide 13, and a spring positioning plate 15. One end of the spring 12 abuts the refrigerant plate 14, while the other end rests on the spring positioning plate 15. The spring positioning plate 15 includes receiving slots for accommodating the spring 12 and spring guide 13, respectively. The spring 12 can be a rectangular spring.

[0044] The components of the thermoelectric device unit can be fastened together by installing screws 17. Specifically, the heat collecting block 19, thermoelectric device 11, refrigerant plate 14, spring 12, spring guide 13 and spring positioning plate 15 are stacked in sequence, and the ends of a pair of installation screws 17 are fixed to the heat collecting block 19 and the spring positioning plate 15 respectively. The heat collecting block 19 and the spring positioning plate 15 can each be provided with screw holes for screwing into the installation screws 17, and can be fixed by fastening nuts. Then, the pair of thermoelectric device units can be as follows Figure 2 As shown, they are placed symmetrically (the respective heat collecting blocks 19 are abutted on the inner side, and the spring positioning plate 15 is located on the outer side), and then a pair of thermoelectric device units are fixed together by loading screws 16 to form a thermoelectric device module 2. Specifically, the two ends of the pair of loading screws 16 are respectively fixed to the spring positioning plates 15 of the pair of thermoelectric device units. Similarly, the spring positioning plate 15 is provided with screw holes for screwing in the pair of loading screws 16 and fastened by nuts.

[0045] The heat collection block 19 can be a block with a curved inner concave surface on one side, or it can be composed of a square block and a concave block. The concave block is pre-placed on the heat source pipe, and the shape of the curved inner concave surface matches the outer circumference of the heat source pipe. In this way, the heat collection blocks 19 of the upper and lower pairs of thermoelectric device units are placed together to form a circular through hole for the heat source pipe 18 to pass through and enclose the heat source pipe 18.

[0046] Support legs 21 can also be installed on the outer sides of a pair of spring positioning plates.

[0047] Multiple thermoelectric devices 11 can be provided in each thermoelectric device unit, and the multiple thermoelectric devices can be connected in series, in parallel, or in series and in parallel via wires (device wiring 20). The type (thermoelectric material) of the thermoelectric device 11 can be adjusted according to the type of external heat source and the structure of the thermoelectric device module 2. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric device 11 used in the thermoelectric device module 2 can be a half-Heusler-based, skutterudite-based, or bismuth telluride-based thermoelectric device. The thermoelectric device 11 can also be connected to the measurement and control circuit of the power generation device via the device wiring 20.

[0048] The heat collecting block 19 and the refrigerant plate 14 are respectively provided with a first temperature measuring hole 19 a and a second temperature measuring hole 14 a for measuring the temperature of the high-temperature end and the low-temperature end of the thermoelectric device 11 .

[0049] See also Figure 1 Multiple thermoelectric device modules 2 can be placed side by side in the cavity 6, for example, the upper and lower legs 21 of the thermoelectric device module 2 respectively abut the bottom and top surfaces of the cavity 6. The cavity 6 has a detachable side door 6a to facilitate the placement and replacement of the thermoelectric device module 2.

[0050] The heat source unit 3 includes a heat source pipe 18 that enters the cavity 6 through the side wall of the cavity 6. The side for the external heat source to flow in is the heat source pipe inlet 22, and the side for the heat source to flow out of the cavity is the heat source pipe outlet 23. The heat source pipe inlet 22 allows for quick access to various external heat sources. The external heat source flows sequentially through multiple thermoelectric device modules 2 placed side by side, so that the heat source can be used in a gradient. It should be understood that the heat source flowing out of one heat source pipe outlet can flow back into another heat source inlet to form a loop 24. When an external heat source providing heat flow using the loop 24 provides heat flow to the power generation device, the high-temperature fluid enters the heat source pipe 18 of the power generation device through the heat source pipe inlet 22, flows out of the power generation device through the heat source pipe outlet 23, and flows back into the high-temperature fluid loop 24. The high-temperature fluid flows back into the heat source inlet to be heated again. If the heat source pipe 18 is connected using a heat pipe heat transfer method, a loop structure is not required. Preferably, the heat source unit 3 is further provided with a structure for controlling the flow and temperature of the high-temperature fluid to adjust the heat input to the power generation device, thereby controlling the high-temperature end temperature of the thermoelectric device 11 inside the power generation device.

[0051] The heat source can be a high-temperature fluid or gas, such as thermal oil, molten salt, or high-temperature gas. The interface between the heat source pipe 18 and the external heat source can be adjusted based on the actual heat source's conditions, and the internal structure of the power generation device is not affected by the external interface. The heat source unit 3 directs the external high-temperature heat flow into the power generation device via the heat source pipe 18. The heat collection block 19 is disposed outside the heat source pipe 18 and wraps around it, collecting heat from the heat source pipe 18 and transferring it to the thermoelectric device 11.

[0052] The heat source pipe 18 can be a main pipe connected to a branch pipe, or multiple heat pipes can be connected in parallel to the power generation device. The pipe material can be copper or stainless steel. The heat source pipe 18 can be connected and sealed to the device's cavity 6 using a high-temperature resistant stainless steel vacuum bellows.

[0053] The cooling unit 4 may include: a cold water pump, a water cooling pipeline, a cooling water inlet pipe 27, a cooling water outlet pipe 28, a flow and pressure regulating valve, a liquid flow meter 25, a hydraulic gauge 26, an electric flow regulating valve 30, a backup water channel switching valve and an inlet and outlet water temperature sensor 29.

[0054] The water inlet pipe 27 and the water outlet pipe 28 are both provided with a temperature sensor 29. The water inlet pipe 27 is provided with the liquid flow meter 25 for measuring the cooling water flow and the hydraulic gauge 26 for measuring the water pressure. At the same time, the water inlet pipe is also provided with an electric flow regulating valve 30 for controlling the cooling water flow to adjust the cooling water flow.

[0055] After entering the cavity 6, the cooling water provided by the cooling unit 4 is fed into each set of refrigerant plates 14 via a branch circuit. The cooling water flowing out of the refrigerant plates 14 is then fed through the branch circuit into the main water outlet pipe 28 and out of the cavity of the power generation device. A water chiller and flow valve for regulating the cooling water temperature and flow can also be included in the cooling water circuit.

[0056] The cooling medium of the cooling unit 4 can be water or other coolant. The refrigerant plate 14 is made of copper, aluminum, or a copper-aluminum composite material. The water cooling pipeline is connected to the power generation device using a single main pipe or a single main pipe divided into several branches. The water cooling pipeline is connected to the branch pipes within the power generation device. The cooling water flow rate can be adjusted as needed. The cooling system uses a main water channel and a backup water channel structure, and the water channel is switched according to actual conditions by an automatic control system.

[0057] The cooling method of the cooling unit 4 can be adjusted according to actual conditions on site, and the adjustment method is not limited to changing the cooling medium and the refrigerant plate structure.

[0058] The atmosphere unit 1 may include: an air pipeline, an air source, an automatic air controller, a vacuum pump 7, a cavity exhaust solenoid valve 10, a gas flow meter, and a cavity inlet solenoid valve 10a. The cavity 6 is provided with side doors 6a and sealing rings at the front and rear ends. The side doors 6a are used to accommodate the internal thermoelectric device module 2 and support structure. The cavity 6 is connected to an inert atmosphere gas source via an air pipeline, which is equipped with an automatic air controller and the cavity inlet valve 10a. Preferably, the inlet pipeline of the atmosphere unit 1 is also equipped with a gas flow meter for measuring gas flow.

[0059] The cavity 6 is connected to the heat source pipe 18 by a seal 9. An exhaust solenoid valve 10 is provided on the cavity 6. The exhaust valve 10 can cooperate with the vacuum pump 7 to clean the inside of the cavity 6 and replace the inert gas to ensure the inert atmosphere inside the device cavity 6.

[0060] The external air circuit of the atmosphere unit 1 is sealed to the interior of the cavity 6 to prevent leakage. The atmosphere unit 1 can have both open and closed loop circuits. Software-controlled, the open loop circuit can automatically refill and circulate inert gas, while the closed loop circuit can circulate inert gas internally. This coordinated operation of the open and closed loop circuits continuously maintains the atmosphere and pressure within the cavity. Preferably, an automatic pressure relief valve 8 can also be installed within the cavity circuit of the thermoelectric generator to ensure that the pressure within the cavity does not exceed a set pressure.

[0061] The power management unit 5 includes: an airtight electrical connector 34, a high-temperature pipe temperature sensor 35, a heat collecting block temperature sensor 36, a test module 31, a control module 32, a conversion module 33, an MPPT maximum power tracking module, a DC-DC and DC-AC conversion module, and measurement and control software.

[0062] The thermoelectric device 11 is connected to the airtight electrical connector 34 on the cavity 6 through wiring and is connected to the measurement and control system through the test module 31. The test module 31 mainly tests the output current, voltage, and output power of the thermoelectric device 11 and collects the parameters of various sensors, test instruments, and control components. The control module 32 is used to control the various flow meters, valves, and switches installed on the inert gas, cooling water, and high-temperature fluid pipelines. The conversion module 33 adjusts the output of the power generation device to the parameters required by the external application through DC-DC and DC-AC conversion and cooperates with the MPPT maximum power tracking module. The measurement and control software integrates various modules, tests and records the input and output parameters of various sensors and instruments, and calculates test results.

[0063] The MPPT maximum power tracking module, DC-DC and DC-AC conversion modules, control module 32 and measurement and control software can monitor the working status of the thermoelectric devices inside the power generation device in real time and can be adjusted according to power demand.

[0064] The power management unit 5 can automatically scan the output parameters of the thermoelectric device 11 and adjust the MPPT operating parameters according to a set program through a multi-channel self-monitoring structure to achieve optimal matching with the load. The measurement and control system can automatically activate the device's safety self-test, fault alarm, and safety self-locking protection functions; the output of the power generation device can be adjusted via a DC-DC or DC-AC conversion module.

[0065] The installation and use process of the movable modular high-power temperature difference power generation device is as follows: (1) selecting appropriate thermoelectric devices according to actual working conditions and installing thermoelectric device modules; (2) installing multiple sets of thermoelectric device modules inside the power generation device and completing the water, electricity, and gas connections in the device; (3) connecting the power generation device to the heat source and the cooling system; (4) adjusting various parameters and starting power generation.

[0066] Specifically, when installing the power generation device, the modular power generation device (thermoelectric device module) is first assembled, such as Figure 2 As shown: Multiple thermoelectric devices 11 are placed with their high-temperature ends flat on the surface of a heat collecting block 9. Graphite paper is placed between the hot end faces of the thermoelectric devices 11 and the front face of the heat collecting block 19, evenly arranging the multiple thermoelectric devices 11 on the heat collecting block 19. Then, the refrigerant plate 14 is placed flat on the low-temperature end faces of the thermoelectric devices 11, evenly covering the multiple thermoelectric devices 11. Thermal grease or graphite paper is placed between the refrigerant plate 14 and the low-temperature end faces of the thermoelectric devices 11. The spring guide 13 and spring 12 are installed on the other side of the refrigerant plate 14, with the other end of the spring 12 placed in the positioning groove of the spring positioning plate 15. Finally, the heat collecting block 19, thermoelectric devices 11, refrigerant plate 14, spring 12, and spring positioning plate 15 are assembled into a thermoelectric unit using mounting screws 17. The spring 12 on the spring positioning plate 15 is adjusted by a press, and the spring 12 in the spring positioning plate 15 is locked by installing the screw 17 to complete the installation of the device assembly. The same method is used to assemble other thermoelectric device modules 2.

[0067] The installed thermoelectric device module 2 is placed in the cavity 6 of the device through the cavity side door 6a. The heat collecting blocks 19 of each two device components are symmetrically installed on both sides of the high-temperature fluid pipeline 18. The heat collecting blocks 19 cover the high-temperature fluid pipeline 18. The two sets of thermoelectric device units and the high-temperature fluid pipeline are assembled together by the loading screw 16. Then, the installed module is installed in the middle position of the cavity 6 by the support feet 21 of the support assembly. Figure 1 、 Figure 3 As shown, the same method is used to install other modules inside the cavity 6.

[0068] The thermoelectric device 11 and the fixing support constitute a modular thermoelectric device module, and its structure and installation method can be adjusted according to the number of thermoelectric devices, the power generation requirements of the power generation device, and the layout of the internal space of the power generation device.

[0069] After the module is installed, use a hose to connect the refrigerant plate 14 of the device module to the cold water pipe of the cooling unit 4, start the cooling water, and check the cooling water system pipes and the refrigerant plate 14. Figure 4 As shown, connect the thermoelectric device module 2 as required and connect the thermoelectric module device wiring 20 to the measurement and control system. Connect the thermocouples to the temperature measurement holes 19a and 14a at the high-temperature and low-temperature ends of the thermoelectric device 11. Start preheating the heat source unit 3 and automatically control the temperature to no more than 50°C. Check the operation of the heat source unit 3 of the device. Start the measurement and control software and check the measurement and control system.

[0070] After completing all inspections of the device, insulation is placed inside the power generation device and around the thermoelectric device module 2. The internal spaces within the power generation device are filled with low-thermal-conductivity insulation material to minimize heat loss. Next, the side door 6a of the cavity 6 is installed, completing the installation and sealing of the cavity 6.

[0071] The software sets the number of automatic cleaning and ventilation cycles to clean cavity 6, creating an inert atmosphere inside the cavity. The system automatically opens the inlet solenoid valve 10a of the inert atmosphere unit 1, turns on the vacuum pump, and waits until the pressure inside cavity 6 reaches 10 Pa. The vacuum pump is then turned off, and the inlet valve is opened to fill with argon. When the pressure in cavity 6 reaches -0.01 MPa, the vacuum pump is turned on again. This cycle repeats three or more times to complete the ventilation inside cavity 6 and maintain the pressure inside cavity 6 at a slightly positive state.

[0072] After the modular power generation device is assembled, the device is debugged, and the heat source and cooling system interfaces reserved in the power generation device are connected to the external heat source and cooling water interfaces. Turn on the cooling unit 4 to adjust the flow of cooling water. Turn on the heat source unit 3 to control the flow of high-temperature fluid. The heating rate of the thermoelectric device is controlled by monitoring the temperature of the high-temperature end 19a and the low-temperature end 14a of the thermoelectric device, so that the thermoelectric device is heated at a certain heating rate (5-10℃ / min) to prevent the heating rate from being too fast. After the temperature reaches the set test temperature, the system automatically tests the output voltage, current, power and internal resistance of a single group of device modules according to the set test method, or automatically switches to test the various output parameters of the entire device. The test software automatically records and saves relevant data.

[0073] After completing the performance test at a temperature point, control module 32 adjusts the input heat flux of heat source unit 3 and the cooling capacity of cooling unit 4 according to the output parameter requirements of the power generation device, further adjusting the high and low temperature end temperatures of thermoelectric device 11, thereby adjusting the output parameters of the power generation device. The DC-DC and DC-AC conversion modules 33, in conjunction with the MPPT maximum power point tracking module, adjust the power generation device's output parameters, such as voltage and current, to match the user's application requirements.

[0074] The power generation device provided by the present invention is provided with a safety guarantee mechanism. During operation, the pressure gauge outside the cavity 6 of the device monitors the pressure inside the cavity to ensure that the internal inert atmosphere is a slightly positive pressure (0.01-0.03MPa), and the safety valve 8 prevents the internal pressure of the cavity 6 from exceeding the safety pressure. The high-temperature pipe sensor 35 and the temperature sensor 36 of the heat collecting block monitor the temperature of the heating system to prevent overheating and damage to the thermoelectric devices. The cooling water circuit of the cooling system is equipped with a backup water circuit, which automatically switches to the backup water circuit when the main water circuit is abnormal. After the device has been running for a period of time, the inert atmosphere system can automatically clean and replace the inert atmosphere inside the cavity 6 by controlling the air intake solenoid valve 10a, the exhaust solenoid valve 10 and the vacuum pump.

[0075] like Figure 5 As shown, when the power generation device is used, power generation devices suitable for various application types can be assembled according to the optimal performance temperature range of the thermoelectric device 11, and multiple devices of the same type can be installed in parallel for modularization, or multiple devices can be installed in series according to the temperature distribution of the heat source to fully utilize the heat of the heat source and meet the needs of high-power power generation.

[0076] In addition, the modularly assembled power generation device can be hoisted to the desired location using the device's lifting rings 37 and adjusted using the feet 38. The device can also be hoisted onto a movable platform, moved to the desired installation location using the mobile platform, and quickly connected and installed using the reserved interfaces. The interfaces can then be quickly removed to move the device to another desired location.

[0077] The present invention installs multiple groups of thermoelectric device modules 2 consisting of thermoelectric devices 11, refrigerant plates 14 and fixed supports inside the cavity 6 of the inert gas system. The power generation device is connected to the external heat source through a reserved heat source interface. The heat source and the cooling system establish a temperature difference at both ends of the thermoelectric device. The power management unit 5 manages various parameters of the device and optimizes the output performance.

[0078] The present invention constructs a highly versatile mobile modular high-power temperature difference power generation device, which can be connected to various heat sources through reserved interfaces to realize modular installation, use and maintenance of the device. Through universal and modular design and the overall mobility of the device, it realizes the efficient recovery and utilization of various types of industrial waste, waste heat, such as waste gas and waste liquid, and heat storage such as molten salt.

[0079] The power generation device has a modular design. Depending on the power generation requirements and the power of the heat source, a single device can be installed, or multiple devices can be assembled in series or parallel. The power generation device has an integrated structure and is connected to the external heat source system interface and cooling system interface through reserved interfaces, allowing the power generation device to be moved to the required location and quickly connected.

[0080] Although the present invention has been described in detail through the above preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the above description is not intended to limit the present invention. After reading the above description, various modifications and substitutions of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A modular high-power thermoelectric power generation device, characterized in that: include: a cavity with a removable side door; a plurality of thermoelectric device modules disposed in the cavity; as well as A heat source unit, the heat source unit comprising a heat source pipe passing through the pipe through-hole of the thermoelectric device module, the heat source pipe being in communication with an external heat source; in The thermoelectric device module includes at least one pair of thermoelectric device units, each of which includes: A heat collecting block, which is a square block with an arc-shaped inner concave surface on one side, or is assembled from a square block and an arc-shaped concave block, wherein the arc-shaped concave block is pre-placed on the heat source pipe; a refrigerant plate, wherein a cooling flow path communicating with the cooling unit is provided in the refrigerant plate; A plurality of thermoelectric devices made of thermoelectric material are arranged between the heat collecting block and the refrigerant plate, wherein the high-temperature ends of the thermoelectric devices abut against the heat collecting block, and the low-temperature ends of the thermoelectric devices abut against the refrigerant plate; a spring assembly disposed on a side of the refrigerant plate facing away from the thermoelectric device, the spring assembly comprising a spring having one end abutting against the refrigerant plate and a spring positioning plate having a positioning groove for accommodating the other end of the spring; and a pair of mounting screws, with ends of the pair of mounting screws respectively fixed to the heat collecting block and the spring positioning plate; A pair of thermoelectric device units are loaded together by a pair of loading screws in a manner such that the arc-shaped inner concave surfaces of the heat collecting block face each other to form a pipe through hole for accommodating the heat source pipe; alternatively, the arc-shaped concave block portion of the heat collecting block is pre-placed on the heat source pipe to form a mounting plane and is mounted flatly with the square block portion of the heat collecting block; The multiple thermoelectric device modules are placed side by side in the cavity, and the heat source pipe enters the cavity through the side wall of the cavity. The side for the external heat source to flow in is the heat source pipe inlet, and the side for the heat source to flow out of the cavity is the heat source pipe outlet. The external heat source flows through the multiple thermoelectric device modules placed side by side in sequence.

2. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first temperature measuring hole is provided on the heat collecting block, and a second temperature measuring hole is provided on the refrigerant plate.

3. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The spring is a rectangular spring.

4. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The spring assembly also includes a spring guide disposed in the spring.

5. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both ends of the loading screw are respectively fixed to a pair of spring positioning plates of the thermoelectric device unit, and support legs are provided on the spring positioning plates.

6. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A cooling unit comprising a cooling fluid main circuit connected to an external cooling source, and cooling fluid branches branching from the cooling fluid main circuit and connected to refrigerant plates of each thermoelectric device; an atmosphere unit, the atmosphere unit comprising an inlet valve disposed on a first side of the chamber and an exhaust valve disposed on a second side of the chamber, the inlet valve selectively communicating with a vacuum pump and an inert gas source; and A power management unit is used to monitor the working status of the thermoelectric device module and make adjustments based on the monitoring results and power demand.

7. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first heat source temperature sensor is provided on the heat source pipeline, and a second heat source temperature sensor is provided on the heat collecting block.

8. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The power management unit includes a testing module, a control module and a conversion module.

9. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one pair of hanging rings is provided on the upper side of the cavity.

10. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cavity is filled with heat insulation material.

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