Yanmar Power Technology Co., Inc.

Yanmar Co., Ltd.

Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd.

Yoshika Hatasako

Jiro Fukudome

Shuichi Nakagawa

Yuichiro Tanaka

Hirofumi Ukai

Shuji Tamaki

With a thermo-siphon type heat exchanger including a heating section of and a heat transfer pipe of a thermoelectric power generation unit, the thermoelectric power generator recovers a heat from a hot gas flowing through a flow path and generates electricity. To the thermo-siphon type heat exchanger, a storage tank that stores a heat medium is connected in a communication state; transferring of the heat medium from the thermo-siphon type heat exchanger to the storage tank, and returning of the heat medium from the storage tank to the thermo-siphon type heat exchanger can adjust the heat medium amount in the thermo-siphon type heat exchanger. At least a part of the storage tank is placed in the flow path so that the stored heat medium is heated, and the stored heat medium can be cooled with a cooler that is capable of turning a cooling function ON/OFF.

Thermoelectric power generation system

A thermoelectric power generation device including a thermoelectric element having a first side provided to a heating unit and a second side provided to a cooling unit, and a heat transfer pipe arranged in a passage in which a high temperature fluid flows. The heating unit and the heat transfer pipe have internal spaces communicating with each other. The internal space of the heating unit and the internal space of the heat transfer pipe form a circulation path in which a heat medium is circulated. An outlet of the heat transfer pipe from which the heat medium is discharged is provided in a position higher than an inlet of the heat transfer pipe into which the heat medium flows. The heat transfer pipe vaporizes the heat medium flowing in the circulation path by using heat of the high temperature fluid. The heating unit condenses the heat medium vaporized.

Thermoelectric power generation device

A thermoelectric generation system is provided with: a thermoelectric element; a heating unit; a cooling unit; a heat transfer unit; a pressure gauge; a first valve; and a control unit. The thermoelectric element uses a temperature difference to generate power. The heating unit has a first heat medium path through which a heat medium passes, and heats the thermoelectric element by means of the heat of the heat medium. The cooling unit cools the thermoelectric element. The heat transfer unit has a second heat medium path through which the heat medium passes and which is connected to the first heat medium path, and heats, by using a heat source, the heat medium reduced in temperature as a result of heating the thermoelectric element. The pressure gauge detects the rise or fall of a value (pressure of heat medium) in accordance with the temperature of the heat source.

Thermoelectric generation system

A thermoelectric power generation device including: a heating unit having a heat medium passage in which a heat medium flows; a cooling unit having a cooling liquid passage in which a cooling liquid flows; a thermoelectric element having the heating unit and the cooling unit so as to generate power by utilizing a temperature difference between a condensation temperature of the heat medium and a temperature of the cooling liquid; a power generation output detection unit configured to detect a power generation output of the thermoelectric element; a heat medium pressure detection unit configured to detect a pressure of the heat medium; a storage unit for storing, in advance, a relationship between a power generation output of the thermoelectric element and the pressure of the heat medium; and an abnormality detection unit configured to detect an abnormality taking place in the thermoelectric power generation device.

A thermoelectric power generation system including a plurality of thermoelectric power generation devices. Each of the thermoelectric power generation devices includes: a heating unit having a heat medium passage in which a heat medium flows; a cooling unit having a cooling liquid passage in which a cooling liquid flows; a thermoelectric element having the heating unit and the cooling unit so as to generate power by utilizing a temperature difference between a condensation temperature of the heat medium and a temperature of the cooling liquid; and a heat transfer pipe communicated with the heat medium passage to form a circulation path in which the heat medium circulates. The heat transfer pipes of the respective thermoelectric power generation devices are arranged in a single flow path in which a high temperature fluid flows. The heat medium passages of the thermoelectric power generation devices are structured to communicate with each other.

A thermoelectric power generation device including: a heating unit having a heat medium passage in which a heat medium flows, a cooling unit having a cooling liquid passage in which a cooling liquid flows, a thermoelectric element having the heating unit on one side and the cooling unit on another side, the thermoelectric element configured to generate power by utilizing a temperature difference between a condensation temperature of the heat medium that undergoes latent heat transfer in the heat medium passage and a temperature of the cooling liquid; and the thermoelectric power generation device further including a heat medium adjusting unit configured to adjust the pressure or the temperature of the heat medium.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Yoshika Hatasako