Power generation apparatus using waste heat from electronic device and system for controlling same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a power generation apparatus using waste heat from an electronic device and a system for controlling same. Particularly, the present invention proposes a power generation apparatus using waste heat from an electronic device and a system for controlling same, the power generation apparatus comprising: a heat collection module for collecting heat in one place; a thermoelectric element having one surface on which a high-temperature portion is formed by the heat collected by the heat collection module; and a cooling module for cooling the other surface of the thermoelectric element to form a low-temperature portion on the other surface of the thermoelectric element, wherein the heat collection module is disposed in the electronic device and is in contact with at least one surface of a heat-generating component which generates heat during operation, whereby heat from components in the electronic device can not only be dissipated, but electrical energy can also be produced by using the heat generated from the components and utilized in various ways.

Description

Power generation device utilizing waste heat from electronic devices and its control system

[0001] The present invention relates to a power generation device using waste heat from electronic devices and a control system therefor, and more particularly, to a power generation device using waste heat from electronic devices and a control system therefor that can produce electrical energy using heat generated from components within the electronic devices.

[0002] In general, household electronic devices such as computers, TVs, and refrigerators, and industrial electronic devices such as production equipment, have various components inside, such as CPUs, GPUs, PSUs, SSDs, power semiconductors, TPUs, transistors (TR), and capacitors, and heat is generated when these components are operated.

[0003] In electronic devices, where heat generation occurs, components that generate high temperatures are typically equipped with heat sinks adjacent to the components to prevent performance degradation. These components are then equipped with cooling fans to dissipate the heat generated by the components. Consequently, the heat generated by electronic devices is often not utilized as waste heat.

[0004] The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device and a control system thereof, which can dissipate heat from components within the electronic device and produce electric energy using the heat generated from the components, thereby enabling various uses.

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device, comprising: a heat collection module that collects heat; a thermoelectric element that forms a high-temperature portion on one surface due to the heat collected through the heat collection module; and a cooling module that cools the other surface of the thermoelectric element so that a low-temperature portion is formed on the other surface of the thermoelectric element; wherein the heat collection module is provided in the electronic device so as to be in contact with at least one surface of a heat-generating component that generates heat when driven.

[0006] In addition, the heat collection module is provided so as to be in contact with at least both sides of the heat generating component, and the thermoelectric element includes a first thermoelectric element provided so as to have one side in contact with a portion of the heat collection module that is in contact with the heat generating component, including the upper surface of the heat generating component, and the cooling module may include a first cooling module formed so as to have an area larger than the area of ​​the portion of the heat collection module that the first thermoelectric element is in contact with, and provided so as to be in contact with the other surface of the first thermoelectric element.

[0007] In addition, the heat collection module has a structure that is open in the front-back direction, with both ends of the lower part being in contact with both sides of the heat generating component and having a polygonal cross-section in the form of a frame, and the first thermoelectric element and the first cooling module are located inside the heat collection module, and the thermoelectric element further includes a second thermoelectric element provided so that one side is in contact with a part of the inner side of the heat collection module that the first thermoelectric element is not in contact with, and the cooling module may further include a second cooling module provided so as to be in contact with the other side of the second thermoelectric element.

[0008] Additionally, at least some of the first cooling module and the second cooling module may be interconnected.

[0009] In addition, the thermoelectric element may further include a third thermoelectric element provided so that one surface thereof is in contact with the outer surface of the heat collection module, and the cooling module may further include a third cooling module provided so that the other surface of the third thermoelectric element is in contact with the other surface of the third thermoelectric element.

[0010] In addition, the cooling module may include a heat sink having a plate shape and one side of which is in contact with the other side of the thermoelectric element, a plurality of cooling plates spaced apart from the heat sink and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, a heat pipe connected to the heat sink and the plurality of cooling plates and provided to penetrate the plurality of cooling plates, and a cooling fan provided adjacent to the plurality of cooling plates to quickly discharge heat from the cooling plates to the outside.

[0011] In addition, the device may further include a battery that can be charged using electric energy produced by the thermoelectric element; a charge control module that can control the operation of at least one of the thermoelectric element, the cooling module, and the battery.

[0012] In addition, the thermoelectric element is divided into a plurality of power generation zones, and the charge control module can control operation for each of the plurality of power generation zones.

[0013] Additionally, the charging control module can control the cooling module to operate using electric energy produced in at least one power generation zone.

[0014] Meanwhile, the control system of a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose includes: the power generation device; a main battery that is charged through electric energy produced from the power generation device; and a main control device that monitors the power generation device and the main battery and controls the supply of electric energy charged in the main battery to an external electronic device.

[0015] According to the present invention, not only can heat be dissipated from a heat-generating component within an electronic device through a cooling module to prevent performance degradation due to heat, but also, since the heat generated from the heat-generating component is easily transferred to a thermoelectric element through a heat collection module, the temperature difference between the high-temperature part and the low-temperature part of the thermoelectric element can be maximized, thereby effectively producing electric energy.

[0016] The electrical energy generated by using the heat generated from the heat generating components of electronic devices can be used to supply power to the electronic devices or external electronic devices, and can also be charged into a battery and used as emergency power.

[0017] Figure 1 is a drawing showing the structure of a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is a drawing showing the structure of a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 is a drawing showing the structure of a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figures 4 to 6 are drawings showing examples of cooling modules applied to a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device according to the present invention.

[0021] Figures 7 and 8 are drawings showing the operation control structure for each power generation zone of a thermoelectric element applied to a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 9 is a drawing showing the configuration of a control system for a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device according to the present invention.

[0023] Figure 10 is a drawing showing an example of a control system for a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device according to the present invention being applied to a home.

[0024] Figure 11 is a drawing showing an example in which the control system of a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device according to the present invention is applied to a building.

[0025] Figure 12 is a drawing showing an example of a control system for a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device according to the present invention being applied to a local area.

[0026] The present invention proposes a power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device, comprising: a heat collection module that collects heat so that heat generated from components within the electronic device can be used in various ways to produce electric energy while dissipating heat from the components; a thermoelectric element that forms a high-temperature portion on one surface due to the heat collected through the heat collection module; and a cooling module that cools the other surface of the thermoelectric element so that a low-temperature portion is formed on the other surface of the thermoelectric element; wherein the heat collection module is provided within the electronic device so as to be in contact with at least one surface of a heat-generating component that generates heat when driven.

[0027] In addition, a control system for a power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device is proposed, characterized in that it includes: the power generation device; a main battery that is charged through electric energy produced from the power generation device; and a main control device that monitors the power generation device and the main battery and controls the supply of electric energy charged in the main battery to an external electronic device.

[0028] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various modifications may be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

[0029] Hereinafter, the power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device and its control system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings 1 to 12.

[0030]

[0031] First, the power generation device (A) using waste heat of an electronic device according to the present invention includes a heat collection module (100), a thermoelectric element (200), and a cooling module (300) as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, and can produce electrical energy using heat generated from a heat-generating component (10) in the electronic device. Here, the heat-generating component (10) refers to components such as a CPU, GPU, PSU, SSD, power semiconductor, TPU, transistor (TR), capacitor, etc., which generate heat when driven, among components necessary for the operation of electronic devices such as computers, TVs, and refrigerators. Hereinafter, the heat-generating component (10) is described assuming that it has a rectangular plate shape as illustrated in FIGS. 1b and 2b, but is not limited thereto.

[0032] The heat collection module (100) is a configuration for collecting heat, and is provided so as to be in contact with at least one surface of the heat generating component (10) so as to be able to collect the heat generated from the heat generating component (10). The heat collection module (100) may be formed in the shape of a plate having a height corresponding to the height of one surface of the heat generating component (10), for example, and may be provided so that at least one surface is in contact with one surface of the heat generating component (10).

[0033] As a specific example, the heat collection module (100) can be formed in a plate shape in the shape of a 'ㄷ' when viewed from a plan view as illustrated in FIG. 1, and can be provided to be in contact with three sides of a heat generating component (10) in the shape of a square plate. As another example, the heat collection module (100) can be provided to be in contact with both sides of the heat generating component (10) in the shape of a square plate, and such a heat collection module (100) can be formed not only in the shape of a plate, but also, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, can have a structure that is open in the front-back direction by forming a frame shape in which both ends of the lower part are in contact with both sides of the heat generating component (10) and the longitudinal cross-section is a polygon. A heat collection module (100) having a structure that is open in the front-back direction while forming a frame shape can increase power generation by allowing multiple thermoelectric elements (200) to be combined therewith, and can effectively cool the inside of the heat collection module (100) by forming a flow of air in the front-back direction.

[0034] The thermoelectric element (200) is configured to produce electrical energy by utilizing the temperature difference between one surface and the other surface, and is formed in a plate shape as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, and a high temperature area is formed on one surface due to the heat collected through the heat collection module (100). At this time, the thermoelectric element (200) may include a first thermoelectric element (200a) provided so that one surface is in contact with the upper surface of the heat generating element (10) as well as the portion of the heat collecting module (100) that is in contact with the heat generating element (10), in order to maximize the use of the heat generated from the heat generating element (10).

[0035] And in the case of a heat collection module (100) having a structure that is open in the front-back direction and has a polygonal frame shape in the cross-section, with both ends of the lower part in contact with both sides of the heat generating component (10), as shown in FIG. 2, the thermoelectric element (200) may further include not only the first thermoelectric element (200a), but also a second thermoelectric element (200b) provided so that one side is in contact with the inner side portion of the heat collection module (100) that is not in contact with the first thermoelectric element (200a). In addition, the thermoelectric element (200) may further include a third thermoelectric element (200c) provided so that one side is in contact with the outer surface of the heat collection module (100), and the third thermoelectric element (200c) may be provided on all outer surfaces except the lower part of the heat collection module (100), thereby maximizing the amount of electric energy that can be produced using one heat generating component (10).

[0036] The cooling module (300) is provided to be in contact with the other surface of the thermoelectric element (200), as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, and cools the other surface of the thermoelectric element (200) so that a low-temperature portion having a relatively lower temperature than one surface of the thermoelectric element (200) is formed on the other surface of the thermoelectric element (200). For example, the cooling module (300) may be formed in the shape of a plate or cylinder having a size corresponding at least to the other surface of the thermoelectric element (200), and is preferably formed to have a larger area than the heat collection module (100) so that the maximum temperature difference can be formed in the thermoelectric element (200).

[0037] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cooling module (300) may include a first cooling module (300a) formed to have an area larger than the area of ​​the portion of the heat collection module (100) that the first thermoelectric element (200a) is in contact with and provided to be in contact with the other surface of the first thermoelectric element (200a), and the first thermoelectric element (200a) and the first cooling module (300a) may be provided to be positioned on the inside of the heat collection module (100) that forms a frame shape with a polygonal cross-section.

[0038] In addition, when the thermoelectric element (200) further includes a second thermoelectric element (200b), the cooling module (300) may further include a second cooling module (300b) provided to be in contact with the other surface of the second thermoelectric element (200b). At this time, the first cooling module (300a) and the second cooling module (300b) may be at least partially interconnected so that cooling for forming low-temperature sections of the first thermoelectric element (200a) and the second thermoelectric element (200b) may be performed together rather than individually. In addition, when the thermoelectric element (200) further includes a third thermoelectric element (200c), the cooling module (300) may further include a third cooling module (300c) provided to be in contact with the other surface of the third thermoelectric element (200c).

[0039] The cooling module (300) described above may be configured to have various structures. As a first embodiment, the cooling module (300) may include a heat sink (310) having a plate shape as illustrated in FIG. 4, one surface of which is in contact with the other surface of the thermoelectric element (200), and a plurality of heat dissipation protrusions (311) may be protruded at regular intervals on the other surface of the heat sink (310) to increase the contact area with air. As illustrated in FIG. 4b, the heat sink (310) may be provided with at least one flow pipe (312) through which cooling water flows, so that cooling performance through the cooling water can be exhibited together. In addition, the cooling module (300) may further include a heat dissipation fan (340) that is provided to be in contact with the heat dissipation protrusions (311) formed on the heat sink (310) as illustrated in FIG. 4c and forms an air flow toward the outside, thereby increasing cooling efficiency.

[0040] In a second embodiment, the cooling module (300) may be configured to include a heat sink (310), a cooling plate (320), a heat pipe (330), and a heat sink fan (340) as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. At this time, the heat sink (310) has a plate shape and is provided so that one surface is in contact with the other surface of the thermoelectric element (200). Although not illustrated in the drawing, a plurality of heat sink protrusions (311) may be formed at regular intervals on the other surface of the heat sink (310) as needed. In addition, a plurality of cooling plates (320) may be provided and arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval, and a plurality of cooling plates (320) may be provided so as to be spaced apart from the heat sink (310). At this time, a plurality of cooling plates (320) can be fixed via heat pipes (330), and can be installed perpendicular to the heat sink (310) as illustrated in FIG. 5, and can also be installed parallel to the heat sink (310) as illustrated in FIG. 6. The heat pipes (330) are installed to penetrate the plurality of cooling plates (320) while connecting the heat sink (310) and the plurality of cooling plates (320), and serve to quickly transfer heat from the heat sink (310) to the cooling plate (320). Accordingly, it is preferable that the heat pipes (330) pass through the inside of the heat sink (310). In addition, the heat dissipation fan (340) is installed adjacent to the plurality of cooling plates (320) to quickly discharge the heat of the cooling plates (320) to the outside.

[0041] The power generation device (A) described above can prevent performance degradation due to heat by dissipating heat from a heat-generating component (10) in an electronic device through a cooling module (300), and can also effectively produce electric energy by maximizing the temperature difference between the high-temperature and low-temperature parts of the thermoelectric device (200) as the heat generated from the heat-generating component (10) is easily transferred to the thermoelectric device (200) through the heat collection module (100).

[0042] Meanwhile, the present invention may further include a battery (400) that can be charged using electric energy produced by a thermoelectric element (200) as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, and may further include a charge control module (500) that can control the operation of at least one of the thermoelectric element (200), the cooling module (300), and the battery (400). That is, only the battery (400) or the charge control module (500) may be included, or the charge control module (500) may be further included together with the battery (400).

[0043] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7a, when a battery (400) and a charge control module (500) are further included, the thermoelectric element (200) can charge the battery (400) under the control of the charge control module (500), and power supply through the battery (400) can also be performed by the charge control module (500). In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 8a, when a heat dissipation fan (340) is included in the cooling module (300), the charge control module (500) can control the electric energy produced by the thermoelectric element (200) to be used to drive the heat dissipation fan (340), or control the electric energy stored in the battery (400) to be used to drive the heat dissipation fan (340).

[0044] As another example, the thermoelectric element (200) of the present invention can be divided into a plurality of power generation zones as illustrated in FIGS. 7b, 7c, 8b, and 8c, and the charging control module (500) can control the operation of each of the plurality of power generation zones. For example, the charging control module (500) can supply electric energy produced from any one of the plurality of power generation zones to an external electronic device (30) or a heat dissipation fan (340) constituting a cooling module (300), and store electric energy produced from the remaining power generation zones in a battery (400).

[0045] In addition, the charging control module (500) can monitor the temperature of the heat generating component (10) and control the rotation speed of the heat dissipation fan (340) according to the temperature of the heat generating component (10), thereby efficiently cooling the heat generating component (10) and maintaining the performance of the heat generating component (10), thereby managing the electronic device in an optimal state.

[0046] Meanwhile, the control system for the power generation device (A) using the waste heat of the electronic device as described above can be configured within the electronic device in a small scale, or within a home, building, or region in a large scale, and the electric energy produced by the power generation device (A) can be used to supply power to external electronic devices (30) and can also be used as emergency power. This control system can include the power generation device (A), a main battery (B) that is charged through the electric energy produced by the power generation device (A), and a main control device (C) that can monitor the power generation device (A) and the main battery (B) and control the electric energy charged in the main battery (B) to be supplied to the external electronic device (30).

[0047] As a first embodiment, FIG. 9 illustrates a control system configured within an electronic device, in which a power generation device (A) may be provided for each of a plurality of heat generating components (10), and electric energy produced from the plurality of power generation devices (A) may be charged to a main battery (B) through a main control device (C) and may be supplied to an external electronic device (30) or resupplied to the power generation device (A).

[0048] As a second embodiment, FIG. 10 illustrates a control system configured within a home, in which a plurality of electronic devices capable of generating waste heat, including a power generation device (A), may be provided within the home, and electric energy produced from the plurality of electronic devices capable of generating waste heat, may be charged to a main battery (B) via a main control device (C), and may be supplied to an external electronic device (30) that does not include a power generation device (A) or may be resupplied to the power generation device (A).

[0049] As a third embodiment, Fig. 11 illustrates a control system configured within a building, wherein a plurality of electronic devices capable of generating waste heat, including a power generation device (A), a main battery (B), and a main control device (C) may be provided on each floor. In addition, the control system may further include a main battery (B') that can be charged by receiving electric energy from the main battery (B) on each floor, and a main control device (C') that comprehensively controls the main control devices (C) on each floor. Accordingly, not only is comprehensive control of electric energy generated using waste heat within the entire building possible, but also control on each floor is possible. In addition, the control system may further include an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to prepare for cases where a power outage occurs.

[0050] As a fourth embodiment, FIG. 12 illustrates a control system configured within a region, in which a plurality of homes and buildings as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 may be provided, and for example, electric energy produced through a power generation device (A) from a home or / and a building may be stored in a main battery (B) and supplied to a home or building in need in the event of an emergency by a main control device (C).

[0051] [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] A: Generator B, B': Main battery

[0053] C,C': Main control unit

[0054] 10: Heating component 20: Circuit board

[0055] 30: External electronic devices

[0056] 100: Thermal collection module

[0057] 200: Thermoelectric element 200a: First thermoelectric element

[0058] 200b: Second thermoelectric element 200c: Third thermoelectric element

[0059] 300: Cooling module 300a: First cooling module

[0060] 300b: Second cooling module 300c: Third cooling module

[0061] 310: Heat sink 311: Heat sink protrusion

[0062] 312: Flow tube 320: Cooling plate

[0063] 330: Heat pipe 340: Heat dissipation fan

[0064] 400: Battery

[0065] 500: Charging control module

Claims

1. A heat collecting module (100) that collects heat; A thermoelectric element (200) in which a high temperature area is formed on one side due to heat collected through the above-mentioned heat collection module (100); A cooling module (300) that cools the other surface of the thermoelectric element (200) so that a low-temperature part is formed on the other surface of the thermoelectric element (200); A power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device, characterized in that the above heat collection module (100) is provided so as to be in contact with at least one surface of a heat generating component (10) installed in the electronic device and generating heat when driven.

2. In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned heat collection module (100) is provided so as to be in contact with at least both sides of the heat generating component (10). The above thermoelectric element (200) includes a first thermoelectric element (200a) provided so that one side is in contact with the upper surface of the heating element (10) and the part of the heat collection module (100) that is in contact with the heating element (10). A power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device, characterized in that the cooling module (300) includes a first cooling module (300a) formed to have an area larger than the area of the portion of the heat collection module (100) that the first thermoelectric element (200a) is in contact with and provided to be in contact with the other surface of the first thermoelectric element (200a).

3. In paragraph 2, The above-mentioned heat collection module (100) has a structure that is open in the front-back direction, with the lower ends in contact with both sides of the heat generating component (10) and the longitudinal cross-section forming a polygonal frame shape. The above first thermoelectric element (200a) and the first cooling module (300a) are located inside the heat collection module (100), The above thermoelectric element (200) further includes a second thermoelectric element (200b) provided so that one side of it is in contact with the inner surface of the heat collection module (100) that is not in contact with the first thermoelectric element (200a). A power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device, characterized in that the cooling module (300) further includes a second cooling module (300b) provided so as to be in contact with the other surface of the second thermoelectric element (200b).

4. In paragraph 3, A power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device, characterized in that the first cooling module (300b) and the second cooling module (300b) are at least partially interconnected.

5. In paragraph 3, The above thermoelectric element (200) further includes a third thermoelectric element (200c) provided so that one side is in contact with the outer surface of the heat collection module (100). A power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device, characterized in that the cooling module (300) further includes a third cooling module (300c) provided so as to be in contact with the other surface of the third thermoelectric element (200c).

6. In paragraph 1, The cooling module (300) is a power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device, characterized in that it includes a heat sink (310) having a plate shape and one side of which is in contact with the other side of a thermoelectric element (200), a plurality of cooling plates (320) spaced apart from the heat sink (310) and arranged at a predetermined interval from each other, a heat pipe (330) that connects the heat sink (310) and the plurality of cooling plates (320) and penetrates the plurality of cooling plates (320), and a heat sink fan (340) that is provided adjacent to the plurality of cooling plates (320) and allows the heat of the cooling plates (330) to be quickly discharged to the outside.

7. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 6, A battery (400) that can be charged using electric energy produced from the above thermoelectric generator (200); A power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device, characterized in that it further includes a charge control module (500) capable of controlling the operation of at least one of the thermoelectric generator (200), cooling module (300), and battery (400).

8. In paragraph 7, The above thermoelectric element (200) is divided into multiple power generation zones, The above charging control module (500) is a power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device, characterized in that it can control operation for each of a plurality of power generation zones.

9. In paragraph 8, A power generation device using waste heat of an electronic device, characterized in that the charging control module (500) can control the cooling module (300) to operate through electric energy produced in at least one power generation area.

10. A power generation device (A) according to any one of clauses 1 to 9; A main battery (B, B') that is charged using electric energy produced from the above generator (A); A control system for a power generation device utilizing waste heat of an electronic device, characterized by including a main control device (C, C') that monitors the power generation device (A) and the main battery (B, B') and controls the supply of electric energy charged in the main battery (B, B') to an external electronic device (30).

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