Heat power generation apparatus and heat management system

Abstract

To provide a heat power generation apparatus, etc., capable of eliminating the need of a cooling source.SOLUTION: A heat power generation apparatus 40 comprises: a heat storage ceramic 41 which stores heat; a heat power generation film 42 which generates power in accordance with an absolute temperature of the heat storage ceramic 41; and a pair of electrodes 431 and 432 mounted in different portions of the heat power generation film 42 and extracting currents by power generation. The pair of electrodes 431 and 432 are mounted in both end portions of the heat power generation film 42 in a film shape wound around an outer periphery of the heat storage ceramic 41 which is long in an axial direction. A heat conduction sheet 44 conducting heat from the power storage ceramic 41 to the heat power generation film 42 is provided between the outer periphery of the heat storage ceramic 41 and an inner periphery of the heat power generation film 42. The heat conduction sheet 44 has an electric insulation property. A heat dissipation case 46 is provided in an outer periphery of the heat power generation film 42.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a thermoelectric power generating device. [Background technology]

[0002] Thermoelectric conversion elements that convert heat into electric power by the Seebeck effect are known. Patent Document 1 discloses a thermoelectric power generation device that uses such a thermoelectric conversion element. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-88176 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional thermoelectric conversion elements generate electricity in response to a temperature difference or relative temperature, and therefore require a low-temperature cold source in addition to a high-temperature heat source.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide a thermoelectric power generation device and the like that can eliminate the need for a cold source. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a thermoelectric power generation device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a heat storage member that stores heat, a thermoelectric power generation member that generates electricity according to the absolute temperature of the heat storage member, and a pair of electrodes attached to different portions of the thermoelectric power generation member to extract the generated current.

[0007] According to this aspect, by using a thermoelectric generator that generates electricity in response to absolute temperature, a cold source can be made unnecessary.

[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a thermal management system that includes a heat storage member that is long in an axial direction and has a flow path therein through which a heat medium flows in the axial direction and that stores heat from the heat medium, a thermoelectric generator that generates electricity according to the absolute temperature of the heat storage member, a pair of electrodes attached to different portions of the thermoelectric generator and extracting current generated by the electricity generation, a motor, an inverter that supplies AC power to the motor, and a heat medium circulator that circulates a heat medium that cools at least one of the motor and the inverter between the heat storage member and the heat storage member.

[0009] Any combination of the above components, or any conversion of these components into a method, device, system, recording medium, computer program, or the like, is also encompassed by the present disclosure. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The thermoelectric power generation device according to the present disclosure can eliminate the need for a cold source. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric power generating device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic development view of a thermoelectric film. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric power generating device provided with a mechanism for charging a heat storage ceramic. [Figure 4] 4 shows a schematic diagram of a thermal management system constituted by the thermoelectric power generation device shown in FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] In the following, the form for carrying out the present disclosure (hereinafter, also referred to as an embodiment) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description and / or drawings, the same or equivalent components, members, processes, etc. will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted. The scale and shape of each part shown in the drawings are set for convenience in order to simplify the description, and are not to be interpreted as being limiting unless otherwise specified. The embodiment is an example, and does not limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. All features and their combinations presented in the embodiment are not necessarily essential to the present disclosure. The embodiment is presented by decomposing it into components for each function and / or each functional group that realizes it for convenience. However, one component in the embodiment may be realized by a combination of multiple components that are actually separate, or multiple components in the embodiment may be realized by one component that is actually integrated. In addition, multiple embodiments and variations may be disclosed in parallel, but any components of each embodiment and / or each variation may be combined in any manner as long as they do not inhibit each other's functions.

[0013] 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of a thermal power generating device 40 according to this embodiment. The thermal power generating device 40 includes a heat storage ceramic 41 as a heat storage member or a heat dissipation member, a thermoelectric film 42 as a thermoelectric generating member, an electrode pair 43, thermally conductive sheets 44 and 45, and a heat insulating case 46 as a heat insulating member. To realize the basic function of the thermal power generating device 40, which is to generate electricity from heat, all that is required is a heat storage member or a heat dissipation member such as the heat storage ceramic 41, a thermoelectric generating member such as the thermoelectric film 42, and an electrode pair 43, and the other components 44 to 46 may be omitted as long as they do not impair the basic function.

[0014] The heat storage ceramic 41 is a heat storage member that stores heat. The heat storage ceramic 41 also serves as a heat dissipation member that dissipates its own heat to the nearby thermoelectric generating film 42. The heat storage ceramic 41 or the heat storage member can be made of any heat storage material. As described later, a heat storage material that stores low-temperature heat, for example, below 100°C, generated by a motor or inverter is preferably a heat storage ceramic material such as block-type lambda trititanium pentoxide. Such heat storage ceramic materials have advantages or characteristics, such as the ability to store thermal energy for a long period of time, a large amount of heat storage, ease of processing, and the ability to instantly dissipate heat at low pressure.

[0015] The heat storage ceramic 41 is preferably formed in a columnar or cylindrical shape that is long in the axial direction, which is the vertical direction in Fig. 1. The heat storage ceramic 41 in the example of Fig. 1 is formed in a columnar or cylindrical shape that is long in the axial direction.

[0016] The thermoelectric generating film 42 or thermoelectric generating member generates electricity in response to heat dissipated by the heat storage ceramic 41 or heat storage member. Specifically, the thermoelectric generating film 42 or thermoelectric generating member generates electricity in response to the absolute temperature of the heat storage ceramic 41 or heat storage member. Unlike conventional thermoelectric conversion elements that convert heat into electricity by the Seebeck effect based on a temperature difference or relative temperature, such a thermoelectric generating film 42 or thermoelectric generating member can generate electricity using only the heat from the heat storage ceramic 41 or heat storage member as a heat source. In other words, the thermoelectric generating film 42 or thermoelectric generating member according to this embodiment does not require a low-temperature cold source in addition to a high-temperature heat source (the heat storage ceramic 41 or heat storage member).

[0017] Examples of thermoelectric power generation components or elements that generate electricity in response to absolute temperature in this manner include those that convert radiant heat from a heat source into electric current using a resonant tunneling diode or the like, those that thermally excite electrons in a semiconductor using heat from a heat source, and those that convert Brownian motion based on heat from a heat source into graphene waves and extract this as AC power.

[0018] The thermoelectric film 42 is a film-like thermoelectric generating member that is wound around the outer periphery of the columnar or cylindrical heat storage ceramic 41. FIG. 2 is a schematic development of the thermoelectric generating film 42. In this figure, the up-down direction is the axial direction, and the left-right direction is the circumferential direction. The axial length of the thermoelectric generating film 42 is approximately equal to the axial length of the heat storage ceramic 41 (not shown). The circumferential length or width of the thermoelectric generating film 42 is equal to or greater than the outer periphery or circumference of the heat storage ceramic 41 (not shown), and is preferably at least twice as long. The wider the thermoelectric generating film 42, the more efficiently it can convert heat from the heat storage ceramic 41 into electricity without losing it.

[0019] An electrode pair 43 is attached to both ends in the circumferential or width direction of the thermoelectric film 42. The electrode pair 43 includes a first electrode 431 attached to the left end of the thermoelectric film 42 in FIG. 2, and a second electrode 432 attached to the right end of the thermoelectric film 42 in FIG. 2. However, the electrode pair 43 may be attached to any different portion of the thermoelectric film 42, not limited to both ends. Electricity generated by the thermoelectric film 42 in response to the heat or absolute temperature of the heat storage ceramic 41 is extracted as a current between the electrode pair 43.

[0020] 1, the first electrode 431 and the second electrode 432 may be exposed from the top surface and / or the bottom surface of the generally substantially columnar or cylindrical thermoelectric generator 40. By connecting a pair of conductors (not shown) to the pair of electrodes 43 exposed to the outside of the thermoelectric generator 40 in this manner, electricity or current generated by the thermoelectric film 42 can be supplied to a load (not shown).

[0021] A sheet-like or film-like thermally conductive sheet 44 that conducts heat from the heat storage ceramic 41 to the thermoelectric film 42 may be provided between the outer periphery of the heat storage ceramic 41 and the inner periphery of the thermoelectric film 42. The thermally conductive sheet 44 has electrical insulation properties to prevent electricity generated in the thermoelectric film 42 from acting on the heat storage ceramic 41 on the inner periphery side.

[0022] A heat conductive sheet 45 similar to the heat conductive sheet 44 may be provided on the outer periphery of the thermoelectric generation film 42. The heat conductive sheet 45 has electrical insulation properties to prevent the electricity generated in the thermoelectric generation film 42 from acting on the heat insulating case 46 on the outer periphery.

[0023] An insulating case 46 may be provided as a heat insulating member on the outer periphery of the thermoelectric generation film 42 and / or the thermal conduction sheet 45. The insulating case 46 prevents the heat radially dissipated from the heat storage ceramic 41 to the outer periphery from escaping to the outside of the thermoelectric generation device 40. In this way, the heat trapped between the heat storage ceramic 41 and the insulating case 46 is efficiently supplied to the thermoelectric generation film 42 via the thermal conduction sheet 44 on the inner periphery side and the thermal conduction sheet 45 on the outer periphery side, thereby improving power generation efficiency.

[0024] The thermal power generation device 40 as shown in FIG. 1 may have, for example, the same size and / or shape as a general dry battery. Such a portable thermal power generation device 40 can be used in the same way as a dry battery. In such a case, by making the heat storage ceramic 41 as a heat source or an electric source detachable from the thermal power generation device 40, it is possible to replace a used low-temperature heat storage ceramic 41 with an unused high-temperature heat storage ceramic 41. Also, similar to charging a secondary battery, a mechanism as described below for replenishing heat to the heat storage ceramic 41 (hereinafter, also referred to as a heat charging mechanism following charging) may be provided.

[0025] 3 is a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric generator 40 provided with a mechanism for charging a heat storage ceramic 41. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0026] A flow path 411 through which a heat medium flows in an axial direction is provided inside the heat storage ceramic 41 as a heat storage member. In the illustrated example, the flow path 411 axially penetrates the heat storage ceramic 41 on the central axis of the cylindrical heat storage ceramic 41. The heat medium flowing through the flow path 411 is any fluid that functions as a medium for transferring heat, and may be, for example, water or air.

[0027] In the illustrated example, the heat medium flows from bottom to top. The heat medium that enters the bottom of the heat storage ceramic 41 from below is typically a heat medium with a higher temperature than the heat storage ceramic 41. This high-temperature heat medium loses heat by at least one of the heat storage ceramic 41 and the thermoelectric generating film 42 while passing through the flow path 411 in the heat storage ceramic 41 from bottom to top. In particular, the heat storage ceramic 41 as a heat storage member stores the high-temperature heat medium or the heat stolen from the heat medium (i.e., the heat storage ceramic 41 is "charged"). On the other hand, the heat medium that exits from the top of the heat storage ceramic 41 upward after the heat has been stolen has become a low-temperature refrigerant whose temperature has dropped compared to when it entered the bottom.

[0028] 4 is a schematic diagram of a thermal management system 50 including the thermal power generation device 40 shown in FIG. The thermal management system 50 includes one or more of the above-mentioned thermal power generation devices 40, an inverter device 10, and / or a motor 20. The motor 20 is driven to rotate based on AC power supplied from the inverter device 10 or another AC power source (not shown). A heat medium circulating section (heat medium flow path 51 and refrigerant flow path 52) for circulating a heat medium such as water is provided between the inverter device 10 and / or the motor 20 and the thermal power generation device 40.

[0029] A high-temperature heat medium, i.e., a heat medium, that has been warmed by heat generated by the inverter device 10 and / or the motor 20 flows through the heat medium flow path 51 that flows the heat medium from the inverter device 10 and / or the motor 20 to the thermal power generation device 40. This heat medium flow path 51 becomes the above-mentioned flow path 411 of the thermal power generation device 40, and flows the heat medium through the heat storage ceramic 41 of the thermal power generation device 40. At this time, as described above, heat is transferred from the heat medium to the heat storage ceramic 41, or the heat storage ceramic 41 is heated by the heat medium. The heat that the heat storage ceramic 41 has taken from the heat medium in this way is converted into electricity by the thermoelectric generation film 42. This electricity is extracted as a current through the above-mentioned electrode pair 43 and conductor pair 60, and is effectively used or consumed in any load L connected to the conductor pair 60.

[0030] A low-temperature heat medium, i.e., a refrigerant, whose temperature has been reduced by heat removal by the thermal power generation device 40 flows through a refrigerant flow path 52 that carries the heat medium from the thermal power generation device 40 to the inverter device 10 and / or the motor 20. The upstream side of this refrigerant flow path 52 is the above-mentioned flow path 411 of the thermal power generation device 40. The inverter device 10 and / or the motor 20, which are devices to be cooled, are disposed downstream of the refrigerant flow path 52 and are cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 52. In this way, the heat medium from which heat has been removed by the thermal power generation device 40 is used again to cool the devices to be cooled.

[0031] When cooling the inverter device 10 and / or the motor 20, the refrigerant is heated or absorbs heat, and becomes a high-temperature heat medium again flowing through the heat medium passage 51. As described above, the heat medium circulation section formed by the heat medium passage 51 and the refrigerant passage 52 circulates the heat medium for cooling at least one of the inverter device 10 and the motor 20 as the devices to be cooled between the thermal power generation device 40 and the heat storage ceramic 41 as the heat storage member.

[0032] Such a thermal management system 50 may be understood as a system that transfers heat generated in the inverter device 10 and / or the motor 20 as devices to be cooled to the thermoelectric power generation device 40 for power generation. The thermal management system 50 may also be understood as a system that returns a refrigerant, which is a by-product of power generation by the thermoelectric power generation device 40, to the inverter device 10 and / or the motor 20 as devices to be cooled.

[0033] The present disclosure has been described above based on the embodiments. Various modifications are possible to the combinations of the components and processes in the exemplary embodiments, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such modifications are included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0034] The configuration, action, and function of each device and method described in the embodiments can be realized by hardware resources or software resources, or by the cooperation of hardware resources and software resources. For example, a processor, ROM, RAM, and various integrated circuits can be used as hardware resources. For example, programs such as an operating system and applications can be used as software resources. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10 inverter device, 20 motor, 40 thermoelectric power generation device, 41 heat storage ceramic, 42 thermoelectric power generation film, 43 electrode pair, 44 heat conductive sheet, 45 heat conductive sheet, 46 heat insulating case, 50 thermal management system, 51 heat medium flow path, 52 refrigerant flow path, 60 conductor pair, 411 flow path, 431 first electrode, 432 second electrode.

Claims

1. A heat storage member that stores heat; a thermoelectric generator that generates electricity in response to an absolute temperature of the heat storage member; a pair of electrodes attached to different portions of the thermoelectric generator for extracting electric current generated by the generation of electric power; A thermoelectric power generation device comprising:

2. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of electrodes are attached to both ends of the thermoelectric generator in the form of a film that is wound around an outer periphery of the heat storage member that is long in the axial direction.

3. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 2 , further comprising a heat conductive sheet provided between an outer periphery of the heat storage member and an inner periphery of the thermoelectric generator, the heat conductive sheet conducting heat from the heat storage member to the thermoelectric generator.

4. The thermoelectric power generating device according to claim 3 , wherein the thermally conductive sheet has electrical insulation properties.

5. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 2 , further comprising a heat insulating member provided on an outer periphery of the thermoelectric generator.

6. The thermoelectric power generating device according to claim 2 , wherein a flow path through which a heat medium flows in the axial direction is provided inside the heat storage member.

7. The thermoelectric power generating device according to claim 6 , wherein the heat medium is heated by cooling a device to be cooled.

8. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 7 , wherein the heat medium from which heat has been removed by at least one of the heat storage member and the thermoelectric generator is reused for cooling the device to be cooled.

9. The thermoelectric power generating device according to claim 7 , wherein the device to be cooled is at least one of a motor and an inverter that supplies AC power to the motor.

10. 10. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage member is made of block-type lambda trititanium pentoxide.

11. a heat storage member that is elongated in an axial direction and has a flow path therein through which a heat medium flows in the axial direction, and stores heat from the heat medium; a thermoelectric generator that generates electricity in response to an absolute temperature of the heat storage member; a pair of electrodes attached to different portions of the thermoelectric generator for extracting electric current generated by the generation of electric power; A motor; an inverter for supplying AC power to the motor; a heat medium circulating unit that circulates the heat medium, which cools at least one of the motor and the inverter, between the heat storage member and the heat medium circulating unit; A thermal management system comprising:

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