Hi-Z Technology, Inc.

Ga Technologies, Inc.

Other

Quantum Group Inc.

Hi-2 Technology, Inc.

Hi-Z Corporation

John Claude Bass

Norbert B Elsner

Daniel T Allen

Nathan D Hiller

Saeid Ghamaty

Mark K Goldstein

Lawrence D Woolf

Earl M Dolnick

Aleksandr Sergey Kushch

Donald W Pickard

Frederick Arlen Leavitt

Velimir Jovanovic

Charles C Morris

Frank E DiLeo

Markvard Haurbach

Jeffrey R LaBar

Boyd S Conklin

Fredrick A Leavitt

Frederick A Leavitt

John W Mccoy

A self-powered food heater. The food heater includes a burner with an electric fuel pump and an electric blower, a fire box, a water tank and electronic controls. The food heater also includes a set of thermoelectric modules compressed against a heat transfer surface of the tank. Hot exhaust leaving the burner enters the fire box. Some of the heat from the fire box passes through the thermoelectric modules generating sufficient electric power to power the fuel pump and the blower. Water in the tank is heated to its boiling temperature. Heat from the boiling water heats food also contained in the tank. In a preferred embodiment special compression frames provide substantially uniform compression, within desired ranges, of the modules between a portion of the heat transfer surface of the tank and a module cover plate. Fins may be provided on the cover plate or insulating spacers may be added to assure the hot side temperatures of the modules are within desired ranges to provide desired power output without damaging the modules. In a preferred embodiment the modules are compressed against a heat transfer surface on the outside of the tank within the fire box.

Self powered electric generating food heater

A quickly attachable electric generator device for producing electric power from surfaces of hot or cold pipes. The invention provides a thermoelectric unit which includes a pedestal comprised of a material with high thermal conductivity on which a thermoelectric module is located. The pedestal includes a heat transfer element made to conform to a hot or cold cylindrical surface. The module also includes a module-to-air heat transfer element and the thermoelectric module is compressed between the air-to-module element and the pedestal. This element is referred to as a heat sink when energy is extracted from a hot surface and is referred to as a heat source when energy is flowing from the air and a cold surface. In preferred embodiments the heat transfer element is a thin flexible heat conductor that conforms to the hot or cold surface of various shapes and serves as a heat transfer conduit to transfer heat to or from a rigid portion of the pedestal. Electric energy is generated from the heat flowing through the module.

Thermoelectric device with surface conforming heat conductor

A quantum well thermoelectric module providing very high conversion of heat energy in to electrical energy. In prefered embodiments the module provides electric power for monitoring, measuring or detecting any of a variety of things (such as temperature, smoke, other pollution, flow, fluid level and vibration) and a transmitter for transmitting information measured or detected. In a preferred embodiment wireless monitor systems are utilized to monitor conditions at various locations aboard a ship and to wirelessly transmit information about those conditions to a central location. Preferably, a finned unit is provided to efficiently transfer heat from a module surface to the environment. A preferred quantum well choice is p type BC/BC and n-type Si/SiGe legs. Another preferred choice is n-doped Si/SiGe for the n-legs and p-doped Si/SiGe for the p-legs. At higher temperatures the preferred quantum well legs are alternating layers of silicon and silicon carbide for the n-legs and for the p-legs alternating layers of different stoichiometric forms of B-C.

Quantum well thermoelectric power source

A super-lattice thermoelectric device. The device is comprised of p-legs and n-legs, each leg being comprised of a large number of very thin alternating layers of two materials with differing electron band gaps. The n-legs in the device are comprised of alternating layers of Si and SiC. The p-legs are comprised of alternating layers of BC and BC. In preferred embodiments the layers are about 100 angstroms thick. Thermoelectric modules made according to the present invention are useful for both cooling applications as well as electric power generation. This preferred embodiment is a thermoelectric 10&#xd7;10 egg crate type module about 6 cm&#xd7;6 cm&#xd7;0.76 cm designed to produce 70 Watts with a temperature difference of 300 degrees C. with a module efficiency of about 30 percent. The module has 98 active thermoelectric legs, with each leg having more than 3 million super-lattice layers.

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A super-lattice thermoelectric device. The device includes p-legs and n-legs, each leg having a large number of alternating layers of two materials with differing electron band gaps. The n-legs in the device are comprised of alternating layers of silicon and silicon germanium. The p-legs includes alternating layers of BC and BC. In preferred embodiments the layers are about 100 angstroms thick. Applicants have fabricated and tested a first Si/SiGe (n-leg) and BC/BC (p-leg) quantum well thermocouple. Each leg was only 11 microns thick on a 5 micron Si substrate. Nevertheless, in actual tests the thermocouple operated with an amazing efficiency of 14 percent with a Tof 250 degrees C. Thermoelectric modules made according to the present invention are useful for both cooling applications as well as electric power generation. This preferred embodiment is a thermoelectric 10&#xd7;10 egg crate type module about 6 cm&#xd7;6 cm&#xd7;0.76 cm designed to produce 70 Watts with a temperature difference of 300 degrees C with a module efficiency of about 30 percent.

Thermoelectric module with Si/SiGe and B4C/B9C super-lattice legs

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 heat of fusion thermoelectric generator. A heat source is in thermal contact with a phase change material, wherein the heat source is capable of providing sufficient heat so as to be able to melt the phase change material. The phase change material is in thermal contact with a hot side heat sink. At least one thermoelectric module is disposed between and in thermal contact with the hot side heat sink and a cold side heat sink. Electric power is generated by the thermoelectric module from a temperature difference between the hot side heat sink and the cold side heat sink.

Heat of fusion phase change generator

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 motor vehicle with a self-powered air conditioner system. An absorption type air conditioning unit is configured to air condition at least a portion of cab space of the motor vehicle. The unit has at least one electric powered component. There is a generator located outside the cab space for vaporizing a refrigerant. There is a condenser for condensing the refrigerant to produce a condensate, and an evaporator configured to remove heat from the cab space by a process of evaporation of the condensate. There is a combustion unit configured to burn fuel from the fuel tank. The combustion unit provides heat to a hot surface. A plurality of thermoelectric modules is mounted in thermal contact with the hot surface. A heat sink is cooled by the cooling water system. The heat sink is positioned so that it is in thermal contact with said plurality of thermoelectric modules. A temperature difference is produce across the modules to permit them to generate electrical power, and an electric control circuit is configured to utilize electric power generated by the modules to power the at least one electric powered component. In a preferred embodiment, excess electric power is used to keep batteries of the motor vehicle charged up. In a preferred embodiment provision is made for hot water to be circulated from the combustion unit to the cab space to provide heat for the cab space when desired.

Self powered motor vehicle air conditioner

A miniature thermoelectric module for generating electric power from low power heat sources in the range of a fraction of a Watt to a few Watts. The module comprises an array of thermoelectric elements, each element having a cross section of less than 0.001 square inch and a length of at least 0.25 inch. The elements are separated from each other with a polyimide insulator sheet in a checkerboard array. In a preferred embodiment, the modules are fabricated by hot pressing a stack of alternating plates of p and n doped thin plates all separated by thin sheets of a polyimide insulator material to produce a pressed stack of p and n doped layers. The stack is then sliced to produce layered plates which are then stacked with insulating polyimide layers positioned between the layered plates to produce the checkerboard array of p and n thermoelectric elements. Contacts are applied to electrically connect all of the elements. In a preferred embodiment, the contacts are applied by first sputtering a thin layer of gold, then welding gold tabs, and then blasting away the excess sputtered gold. In one preferred embodiment, the contacts connect all of the elements in series. In another preferred embodiment, the elements are connected in a series-parallel circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the module is utilized in a generation unit with a 1-Watt radioactive heat source to produce about 40 mW of electric power at 5.5 Volts which is converted to 12 Volts with a DC to DC converter.

Miniature milliwatt electric power generator

A stovepipe thermoelectric generator. The unit fits in a stovepipe of a coal or wood stove. At least one thermoelectric module is sandwiched between a hot side fin unit with fins extending into the flow of exhaust gases and a cold side fin unit with fins cooled by forced room air. A damper controls exhaust gas flow through a heat chamber, directing the exhaust gas through a generating side and a bypass side depending on a temperature indication. This prevents heat damage to the thermoelectric module. At least one fan is provided to force room air through cooling fins of the cold side fin unit An electric circuit is described for providing power for the fan and providing additional electric power for purposes such as charging a battery.

Stove pipe thermoelectric generator

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 thermoelectric generator system. The thermoelectric generator has at least one hot side heat exchanger and at least one cold side heat exchanger and at least one thermoelectric module with thermoelectric elements installed in an injection molded eggcrate. The thermoelectric modules are held in close contact with the hot side heat exchanger and the cold side heat sink with a spring force. A preferred embodiment contains eight modules held in compression between the hot and cold heat exchangers with 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 are preferably made by thermal spraying metallize coatings on the surfaces and then surface finishing the module to expose the walls of the eggcrate.

Growing community of inventors

La Jolla, CA, United States of America

John Claude Bass