Hi-z Technology, Inc.

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Energy

Daniel T Allen

John Claude Bass

Nathan D Hiller

Norbert B Elsner

Aleksandr Sergey Kushch

A tracking device for tracking a vehicle in which a radio transmitter is powered by heat energy of the exhaust system of an engine propelling the vehicle. A thermoelectric module is attached to a hot portion of the exhaust system. Electrical power generated by the thermoelectric module is used to power the transmitter. A preferred tracking device consists of one thermoelectric module, one transmitter, a flexible finned plate for dissipating heat, and two high Curie temperature magnets for attaching the device to the vehicle's tail pipe. The transmitter is mounted on the flexible finned plate with a thermal insulator in-between them.

Thermoelectric vehicle tracking device

An electric generator system for producing electric power from the environmental temperature changes such as occur during a normal summer day on Earth or Mars. In a preferred embodiment a phase-change mass is provided which partially or completely freezes during the relatively cold part of a cycle and partially or completely melts during the relatively hot part of the cycle. A thermoelectric module is positioned between the phase-change mass and the environment. The temperature of the phase-change mass remains relatively constant throughout the cycle. During the hot part of the cycle heat flows from the environment through the thermoelectric module into the phase change mass generating electric power which is stored in an electric power storage device such as a capacitor or battery. During the cold part of the cycle heat flows from the phase change mass back through the module and out to the environment also generating electric power that also is similarly stored. An electric circuit is provided with appropriate diodes to switch the direction of the current between the hot and cold parts of the cycle. A preferred phase change mass is a solution of water and ammonia that has freeze points between about 270 K to about 145 K depending on the water ammonia ratio. Preferably, a finned unit is provided to efficiently transfer heat from a module surface to the environment.

Thermoelectric power from environmental temperature cycles

A self-powered space heater. At least one thermoelectric module is sandwiched between a hot surface of a combustion chamber of a fluid fired space heater and a room air-cooled heat exchanger for transferring heat from the space heater to room air. A blower circulates room air through the heat exchanger for the dual purpose of heating the room air and also removing heat from the heat exchanger. In a preferred embodiment two thermoelectric modules are utilized in a diesel fuel fired space heater to provide heated air for the cab of a diesel truck. Spherical self-alignment washers are used in a compression frame to apply uniform compression force to both hot and cold sides of the thermoelectric modules. The two modules provide about 25 Watts output that is more than sufficient power to operate the heater that requires about 20 Watts. Extra power can be used for other purposes such as battery charging. The invention is also useful to provide self-power to heaters in vehicles other than truck and other space heaters such as pellet stoves and fireplaces.

Self powered electric generating space heater

A low-cost thermoelectric module utilizing a greatly reduced quantity of thermoelectric material as compared to similar prior art thermoelectric modules. An egg crate design containing thermoelectric elements is utilized in the present invention. However, the walls of the egg crate in the parts of the module separating the thermoelectric elements are made thick so that the total cross sectional area of the elements is less than 75 percent of the total module cross sectional area. The spaces above and below the elements are filled with a high heat and electric conducting material such as aluminum. This produces funnel-shaped conductors funneling heat and electric current into and out of each of the thermoelectric elements. The payoff to this approach is that the heat flux through the hot and cold module surfaces can be maintained while producing the same power output with about half the thermoelectric material or less. Avoiding any significant increase in heat flux through the module surface means avoiding increases in temperature drops normally encountered at the module surfaces.

Thermoelectric module with funneled heat flux

A combustion heat powered portable electronic device. At least one thermoelectric module is sandwiched between a hot block heated by a combustion heat source and a cold-side heat sink and provides electric power to a portable electronic device from the temperature difference. An electric circuit provides power for purposes of operating the portable electronic device either directly or indirectly by charging a rechargeable battery which in turn provides power to the electronic device. In a preferred embodiment the combustion heat source is a catalytic combustion unit. The hot block and/or cold side heat sink can be integrated into a single unit with the thermoelectric module. In a preferred embodiment the cold side heat sink is cooled by fins cooled by air driven by a forced air fan powered by the thermoelectric module.

Combustion heat powered portable electronic device

A self-powered combustion furnace unit. A combustion furnace providing circulating hot fluid heating is equipped with a thermoelectric generator comprised of a plurality of thermoelectric modules mounted on the furnace. The heat from the combustion provides a high temperature hot side heat source for the thermoelectric modules and the fluid of the circulating hot fuid system provides the cold side heat sink for the thermoelectric modules. Electric power produced by the thermoelectric modules powers a motor driving a pump which circulates the circulating hot fluid. In a preferred embodiment low cost, high temperature thermoelectric modules are provided which comprise thermoelectric elements installed in injection molded eggcrates. The thermoelectric modules are held in close contact with the hot side heat exchanger and the cold side heat sink with a spring force such as that provided by Belville springs. The eggcrate is molded from a high temperature plastic with ridges provided for extra strength and tapered walls to permit ease of installation of the thermoelectric elements and stop tabs assure correct positioning of the elements. Electrical connections at hot and cold surfaces of the modules are preferably made by thermal spraying metallized coatings on the surfaces and then surface finishing the module to expose the walls of the eggcrate.

Self powered furnace

A support is provided for use in a thermionic converter to support an end of an emitter to keep it out of contact with a surrounding collector while allowing the emitter end to move axially as its temperature changes. The emitter end (34) is supported by a spring structure (44) that includes a pair of Belleville springs, and the spring structure is supported by a support structure (42) fixed to the housing that includes the collector. The support structure is in the form of a sandwich with a small metal spring-engaging element (74) at the front end, a larger metal main support (76) at the rear end that is attached to the housing, and with a ceramic layer (80) between them that is bonded by hot isostatic pressing to the metal element and metal main support. The spring structure can include a loose wafer (120) captured between the Belleville springs.

Spring structure for a thermionic converter emitter support arrangement

A support is provided for use in a thermionic converter to support an end an emitter to keep it out of contact with a surrounding collector while allowing the emitter end to move axially at its temperatures changes. The emitter end (34) is supported by a spring structure (44) that includes a pair of Belleville springs, and the spring structure is supported by a support structure (42) fixed to the housing that includes the collector. The support structure is in the form of a sandwich with a small metal spring-engaging element (74) at the front end, a larger metal main support (76) at the rear end that is attached to the housng, and with a ceramic layer (80) between them that is bonded by hot isostatic pressing to the metal element and metal main support. The spring structure can include a loose wafer (120) captured between the Belleville springs.

Thermionic converter emitter support arrangement

A support is provided for use in a therminonic converter to support an end of an emitter to keep it out of contact with a surrounding collector while allowing the emitter end to move axially as its temperature changes. The emitter end (34) is supported by a spring structure (44) that includes a pair of Belleville springs, and the spring structure is supported by a support structure (42) fixed to the housing that includes the collector. The support structure is in the form of a sandwich with a small metal spring-engaging element (74) at the front end, a larger metal main support (76) at the rear end that is attached to the housing, and with a ceramic layer (80) between them that is bonded by hot isostatic pressing to the metal element and metal main support. The spring structure can include a loose wafer (120) captured between the Belleville springs.

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La Jolla, CA, United States of America

Daniel T Allen