67 results about "Thermoelectric energy conversion" patented technology

In devices used for the direct conversion of heat into electricity, or vice versa, known in the art as thermoelectric power generators, thermoelectric refrigerators and thermoelectric heat pumps, the efficiency of energy conversion and/or coefficient of performance have been considerably lower than those of conventional reciprocating or rotary, heat engines and/or vapor-compression systems, employing certain refrigerants. The energy conversion efficiency of power generating devices, for example, aside from the hot and cold junction temperatures, also depends on a parameter known in the art as the thermoelectric figure of merit Z=S2sigma/k, where S is the thermoelectric power, sigma is the electrical conductivity and k is the thermal conductivity, of the material that constitutes the p-type, and/or n-type, thermoelements, or branches, of the said devices. In order to achieve a considerable increase in the energy conversion efficiency, a thermoelectric figure of merit of the order of 10-2 K-1, or more, is needed. It is reasonably expected that such an order of magnitude, for the figure of merit, can be realized with a composition of matter, comprising magnesium, silicon, lead and barium, and optionally comprising one, or more, additional doping materials.

A thermoelectric energy conversion unit includes: a thermoelectric conversion module having plural thermoelectric conversion elements disposed away from each other; a heat receiving member; a cooling member, the cooling member and the heat receiving member holding the thermoelectric conversion module; and a non-oxidizing gas charged in a space formed between the heat receiving member and the cooling member.

A system for generating electrical energy using a naturally occurring temperature difference is disclosed. The system provides electrical energy by thermally coupling a conduit that conveys hot material from a petroleum reserve and cold deep-level water to opposing sides of a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element generates electrical energy based on the temperature difference between these two surfaces.

Phononic metamaterials and methods for reducing thermal conductivity in at least partially crystalline base material are provided, such as for thermoelectric energy conversion. In one implementation, a method for reducing thermal conductivity through an at least partially crystalline base material is provided. In another implementation, a phononic metamaterial structure is provided. The phononic metamaterial structure in this implementation includes: an at least partially crystalline base material configured to allow a plurality of phonons to move to provide thermal conduction through the base material; and at least one disordered (e.g., amorphous) material coupled (e.g., as an inclusion or layer) to the at least partially crystalline base material. The at least one disordered material is configured to generate at least one vibration mode to interact with the plurality of phonons moving within the base material and slow group velocities of at least a portion of the interacting phonons and reduce thermal conductivity through the base material.

The embodiment provided herein are directed to a pyroelectric (PE) energy converter which is capable of combining nanoscale thermal radiation and pyroelectric energy conversion for harvesting low grade waste heat. The converter advantageously makes use of the enhanced radiative heat transfer across a nanosize gap to achieve high operating frequencies or large temperature oscillations in a composite PE plate. The PE energy converter generally comprises a hot source, a cold source, and a PE plate, wherein the PE plate oscillates between the hot and cold source and the PE plate can be subjected to a power cycle in the displacement-electric field diagram. The hot and cold sources of the converter can be coated with SiO₂ absorbing layer to further enhance the radiative heat fluxes. The converter comprising a PE plate made of 60/40 P(VDF-TrFE) operated between 273 K and 388 K experiences a maximum efficiency of 0.2% and a power density of 0.84 mW/cm². The converter comprising a PE plate made of 0.9PMN-PT composite thin films achieve a higher efficiency and a larger power output namely 1.3% and 6.5 mW/cm², respectively, for a temperature oscillation amplitude of 10 K around 343 K at 5 Hz.

Nanophononic metamaterials and methods for reducing thermal conductivity in at least partially crystalline base material are provided, such as for thermoelectric energy conversion. In one implementation, a method for reducing thermal conductivity through an at least partially crystalline base material is provided. In another implementation, a nanophononic metamaterial structure is provided. The nanophononic metamaterial structure in this implementation includes: an at least partially crystalline base material configured to allow a plurality of phonons to move to provide thermal conduction through the base material; and at least one nanoscale locally resonant oscillator coupled to the at least partially crystalline base material. The at least one nanoscale locally resonant oscillator is configured to generate at least one vibration mode to interact with the plurality of phonons moving within the base material and slowing group velocities of at least a portion of the interacting phonons and reduce thermal conductivity through the base material.

A mobile device for generating electrical power may include a combustion chamber and a heat sink. A TEC module is in thermal communication with the combustion chamber and the heat sink to transfer thermal energy from the combustion chamber to the heat sink. A heat flux across the TEC module causes electrical power to be generated. The mobile device may also include a fuel delivery system to feed fuel into the combustion chamber. A control system may be included to at least monitor and control delivery of fuel to the combustion chamber by the fuel delivery system and to control a temperature gradient across the TEC module to control the electrical power produced by the thermal-to-electric energy conversion device.

Underwater power generation for an underwater vessel is provided when the vessel transits through an underwater thermocline. At least a portion of the shell of the vessel is made from a thermally conductive material. Thermo-to-electric energy converters are electrically coupled together with each converter having a first surface thermally coupled to the shell's inner surface. A phase change material is thermally coupled to each opposing second surface of the converters. The phase change material has a phase change temperature that is between the upper and lower temperature extremes of the underwater thermocline's temperature range. The converters generate electrical power as the underwater vessel transits through the underwater thermocline.

The invention provides for a thermoelectric system comprising a substrate comprising a first complex oxide, wherein the substrate is optionally embedded with a second complex oxide. The thermoelectric system can be used for thermoelectric power generation or thermoelectric cooling.

The invention provides a watchband capable of improving the cruising ability of an intelligent watch. The watchband is internally provided with a three-layered structure, namely, a thin film lithium battery arranged on the uppermost layer, a vibration energy collector arranged on the middle layer, and a thermoelectric energy converter arranged on the lower layer, wherein three energy conversion elements can be directly connected with the lithium battery of the intelligent watch; the watchband is the watchband which adopts a non-silicon MEMS (Micro-electromechanical Systems) processing technology to integrate three energy conversion manners including the thin film lithium battery, the vibration energy collector and the thermoelectric energy converter to the intelligent watch; the three energy conversion elements are embedded into the watchband of the intelligent watch to respectively convert optical energy, vibration energy and thermal energy into electric energy to supply power for the lithium battery of the intelligent watch. According to the watchband of the intelligent watch, the watchband is powered by using the three energy conversion manners, so that the cruising time of the intelligent watch and the service life of the battery are prolonged; the volume of the watch is not increased and the beautiful appearance of the watch is not influenced.

The invention discloses a method for preparing a thermoelectric material with a low-dimensional structure, which comprises the following steps: first, a nanowire superlattice composite structure thermoelectric film is prepared based on a porous alumina template, and then a quantum dot or Nanowire mosaic structure film. After testing, the dimensionless thermoelectric quality factor of the low-dimensional structure thermoelectric thin film prepared by the above method is greater than 2, and the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric power generation device prepared with this material is greater than 10%, which is a kind of thermoelectric energy conversion material with very good prospects.

The invention discloses an LED illumination device having functions of quick energy storage and heat dissipation, which comprises an LED lamp, a metal base, a heat conduction device, a thermoelectricenergy generator and a quick charge/discharge energy storage device, wherein the metal base is combined with the LED lamp and receives the heat energy dissipated by the LED lamp; the heat conduction device is provided with a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is combined with the metal base, and the heat energy can be transferred to the second part from the first part; the thermoelectric energy generator is combined with the second part of the heat conduction device and used for receiving the heat energy and carrying out thermoelectric energy conversion; and the quick charge/discharge energy storage device is electrically connected with the thermoelectric energy generator, and used for storing electric energy generated by the thermoelectric energy generator and releasingthe electric energy. Therefore, the waste heat generated by the LED lamp can be quickly dissipated, and the waste heat can be converted into the electric energy through the action of the thermoelectric energy generator; and through the action of the quick charge/discharge energy storage device for quickly storing the electric energy, the aims of the LED illumination device having the functions ofquick energy storage and heat dissipation can be achieved.

Phononic metamaterials and methods for reducing the group velocities and the thermal conductivity in at least partially crystalline base material are provided, such as for thermoelectric energy conversion. In one implementation, a method for reducing thermal conductivity through an at least partially crystalline base material is provided. In another implementation, a phononic metamaterial structure is provided. The phononic metamaterial structure in this implementation includes: an at least partially crystalline base material configured to allow a plurality of phonons to move to provide thermal conduction through the base material; and at least one disordered (e.g., amorphous) material coupled (e.g., as an inclusion, extending substructure, outer matrix, a coating to heavy inner inclusion, etc.) to the at least partially crystalline base material. The at least one disordered material is configured to generate at least one vibration mode by the oscillation of at least one atom within the disordered material to interact with the plurality of phonons moving within the base material and slow group velocities of at least a portion of the interacting phonons and reduce thermal conductivity through the base material.

A device for converting heat into electrical energy that is an integrated combination of thermionic and thermoelectric energy converters in a single device, or “TITE”. The electron output of thermionic portion of the TITE is the input of the thermoelectric portion of the device. The electron collector is covered by a thin layer of doped or undoped semiconductor material or a combination of doped and undoped semiconductor materials with appropriate doping and thickness to achieve increased operational temperature ranges and efficiency.

The invention relates to the field of composite materials, in particular to a cellulose paper/Bi2Te3 (bismuth telluride) thermoelectric thin-film composite material and a preparation method thereof. The composite material comprises a cellulose paper substrate and a Bi2Te3 thermoelectric thin-film layer, wherein the Bi2Te3 thermoelectric thin-film layer is evenly deposited on the surface of the cellulose paper substrate; the thickness of cellulose paper is 50-100 microns; and the nominal thickness of the Bi2Te3 thermoelectric thin-film layer is 5-10 microns. The cellulose paper/thermoelectric thin-film composite material is prepared by an unbalanced magnetron deposition technology, has very high thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency, demonstrates good flexibility and is a flexible thermoelectric energy conversion material with an application prospect. The deposited thermoelectric material is high in crystal quality and has a compact structure of nanoscale grains; the thickness and the components are uniform and adjustable; the thermoelectric properties are close to those of a commercial block material; and the composite material can be applied to the field of a flexible energy device, a miniature sensor, a temperature control component and the like.

The invention which relates to an FE-AFE phase change pyroelectric ceramic material belongs to the field of pyroelectric ceramic. The invention discloses the FE-AFE phase change pyroelectric ceramic material, a pyroelectric ceramic element and preparation methods of the material and the element. Chemical components of the ceramic material accord with a general chemical formula of (Pb1-3x/2Lax)(ZryTizSn1-y-z)O3, wherein x is more than 0 and equal to or less than 0.025, y is from 0.38 to 0.46, and z is from 0.14 to 0.18; and the ceramic material is in a ferroelectric phase at room temperature and can generate an FE-AFE phase change with the temperature change with or without an extra electric field. The pyroelectric ceramic element has a large polarized change with the FE-AFE phase change after being polarized or under the effect of a direct current bias, so a large pyroelectric response is obtained, a pyroelectric coefficient is 2-4 times more than traditional pyroelectric coefficients, and heat stagnation substantially does not exist, so the pyroelectric ceramic element can be used in the uncooled infrared detection technology and the fields of heat-electrical energy transformation and the like.

The invention is suitable for the technical field of heat dissipation, and provides a semiconductor cooling device. In the invention, compared with the traditional passive heat dissipation manners such as a fan, a cooling fin, a heat pipe and the like for cooling an exothermic electronic component, the semiconductor cooling device has the advantages that a semiconductor material with a thermoelectric energy conversion characteristic is utilized, so that the semiconductor cooling device has a refrigeration function when powered on so as to initiatively and rapidly absorb a great deal of heat generated by the exothermic electronic component in the work; and meanwhile, ceramic adopted at the hot end of the semiconductor cooling device is provided with cooling fins, so that the heat dissipation area is enlarged, therefore, the heat dissipation effect is better, and the cooling device has no noises and no mechanical part and is more convenient in use, thus the work efficiency of the electronic component is higher, and the service life of the electronic component is longer.

Phononic metamaterials and methods for reducing the group velocities and the thermal conductivity in at least partially crystalline base material are provided, such as for thermoelectric energy conversion. In one implementation, a method for reducing thermal conductivity through an at least partially crystalline base material is provided. In another implementation, a phononic metamaterial structure is provided. The phononic metamaterial structure in this implementation includes: an at least partially crystalline base material configured to allow a plurality of phonons to move to provide thermal conduction through the base material; and at least one material coupled (e.g., as an inclusion, extending substructure, outer matrix, a coating to heavy inner inclusion, etc.) to the at least partially crystalline base material via at least one relatively compliant or soft material (e.g., graphite, rubber or polymer). The inclusion, extending substructure matrix or coating material is configured to generate at least one vibration mode by the oscillation of at least one atom within the resonating material to interact with the plurality of phonons moving within the base material and slow group velocities of at least a portion of the interacting phonons and reduce thermal conductivity through the base material.

Solid state thermoelectric energy conversion devices can provide electrical energy from heat flow, creating energy, or inversely, provide cooling through applying energy. Thick film methods are applied to fabricate thermoelectric device structures using microstructures formed through deposition and subsequent thermal processing conditions. An advantageous coincidence of material properties makes possible a wide variety of unique microstructures that are easily applied for the fabrication of device structures in general. As an example, a direct bond process is applied to fabricate thermoelectric semiconductor thick films on substrates by printing and subsequent thermal processing to form unique microstructures which can be densified. Bismuth and antimony are directly bonded to flexible nickel substrates.

A system for generating electrical energy based on a temperature differential between petroleum products extracted from a geothermal reservoir and water from a region of a body of water is disclosed. Some embodiments comprise a submerged pump and a submerged OTEC system, wherein the OTEC system provides locally generated electrical energy to the pump.

Nanocomposite materials comprising a SiGe matrix with silicide and/or germanide nanoinclusions dispersed therein, said nanocomposite materials having improved thermoelectric energy conversion capacity.

The invention provides an energy-saving device for thermoelectric power generation based on a heat distribution pipeline, aiming at problems in a process of conveying a heat working medium through a heat pipe network, great economical loss is caused by the fact that a lot of heat energy is dissipated in the air due to heat radiation of a pipeline. The energy-saving device is composed of twelve parts, namely a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a lead wire, a heat supply pipeline, inner heat-conducting ceramic, a polyurethane filling layer, outer heat-conducting ceramic, a steel hoop, a bolt, a copper electrode, a P type semiconductor and an N type semiconductor. The temperature of the heat working medium conveyed by a heat supply pipeline of a secondary pipe network is commonly more than 80 DEG C and an outdoor average temperature of the North in winter is about 4 DEG C; and a temperature difference between inside and outside of the heat supply pipeline can cause the loss of a lot of heat energy. A semicircular heat-conducting ceramic sleeve is prepared by adopting a pressure casting process and thermoelectric energy conversion semiconductor materials N-Bi2Te3 and P-Bi2Te3 and a copper electrode are pressed and cast between the two ceramic sleeves to form a semiconductor device for the thermoelectric power generation; and 500W generation power can be realized through each meter of the heat distribution pipeline.

A thermoelectric power generation (TEG) unit configured to be integrated into the exhaust system of a vehicle includes a plurality of thermoelectric power generator modules, each comprising an electrically interconnected plurality of p-type and n-type thermoelectric material legs, each leg extending between a substrate on a hot side and a substrate on a cold side of the module, wherein the thermoelectric materials for the legs are half-Heusler compounds having a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) greater than 1.0.