Representative configurations for improved thermoelectric power generation systems to improve and increase thermal efficiency are disclosed.

Thermoelectric power generation systems

Some embodiments provide a waste heat recovery apparatus including an exhaust tube having a cylindrical outer shell configured to contain a flow of exhaust fluid; a first heat exchanger extending through a first region of the exhaust tube, the first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the cylindrical outer shell; a second region of the exhaust tube extending through the exhaust tube, the second region having a low exhaust fluid pressure drop; an exhaust valve operatively disposed within the second region and configured to allow exhaust fluid to flow through the second region only when a flow rate of the exhaust fluid becomes great enough to result in back pressure beyond an allowable limit; and a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with an outer surface of the outer shell.

Thermoelectric-based power generation systems and methods

A thermoelectric system (100) and method provides distributed localized heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling. The thermoelectric system (100) includes a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies (120). Each thermoelectric assembly (120) comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements (122), and • each thermoelectric assembly is in thermal communication with a first working fluid (112) and in thermal communication with a region (130) corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly (120). Each thermoelectric assembly (120) is 1 selectively operable either to heat the region (130) corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly (120) by transferring heat from the first working fluid (112) to the region (130) corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly, (120) or to cool the region (130) corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly (120) by transferring heat from the region (130) corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly (120) to the first working fluid (112). Each thermoelectric assembly (120). is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies.

System and method for distributed thermoelectric heating and cooling

A process for the extrusion of plastic plates with very finely structured surface using an extrusion system which is equipped with an extruder and a three roll polishing stack containing a roller with the structuring surface. The system is designed for coextrusion and the plastic plates are produced via two extruders as a coextrudate CX from a highly viscous basic molding compound BF and a low viscosity molding compound NF which is extruded on BF. The surface of said plates is structured via the three roll polishing stack. Fresnel lenses produced by the process may be used in solar collectors.

Process for manufacture of fresnel lenses

Disclosed embodiments include thermoelectric-based thermal management systems and methods configured to heat and/or cool an electrical device. Thermal management systems can include at least one electrical conductor in electrical and thermal communication with a temperature-sensitive region of the electrical device and at least one thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the at least one electrical conductor. Electric power can be directed to the thermoelectric device by the same electrical conductor or an external power supply, causing the thermoelectric device to provide controlled heating and/or cooling to the electrical device via the at least one electrical conductor. The thermoelectric management system can be integrated with the management system of the electrical device on a printed circuit substrate.

Thermoelectric-based thermal management system

PURPOSE:To enable to take out thermal energy and electrical energy in a balanced manner, by a method wherein thermoelectric converting elements are provided, and electrical energy is generated by utilizing a temperature difference between a hot water pipe and a cold water pipe. CONSTITUTION:The hot water pipe 2 attached with a plurality of solar cells 1 on an upper surface thereof and the cold water pipe 3 for passing water to be supplied into the pipe 2 are provided respectively on the upper and lower sides of a plurality of the thermoelectric converting elements 4, and a Flesnel lens 6 is arranged by a frame 5 so that sunlight rays L are focused on the solar cells 1. The solar cells 1 not only generate electric energy according to optical energy of the sunlight rays L but efficiently absorb the sunlight and convert it into heat, whereby cold water flowing into the pipe 2 is heated to be hot water. The solar cells 1 are cooled, so that efficiency of converting optical energy into electrical energy is not lowered. A considerable temperature difference is generated between the hot water pipe 2 and the cold water pipe 3, and the thermoelectric converting elements 4 generate electromotive forces according to the temperature difference.

Solar heat utilizing device

PURPOSE:To obtain a solar light collector low in cost and high in utility efficiency, by a method wherein solar light focused by reflecting by a fixed parabolic reflector is received by a light receiver, and is led to a solar energy utilizing part by flexible optical fibers. CONSTITUTION:The ground surface 1 is depressed in a parabolic shape, and aluminum plates are adhered to the depressed part to constitute the parabolic reflector 3. An arcuate guide rail 4 is provided in the east-west direction by supporting it by supporting devices 5 used also as a heliostatic device, and the angle formed between the plane containing the guide rail 4 and the ground surface 1 is varied in accordance with the latitude of the sun by rotating the guide rail 4 in the directions of arrows A, B. The light receiver 6 is suspended from the guide rail 4 by a trolley 7 so that it can be moved in the directions of C, D, and is moved from the west to the east (direction C) in accordance with the position of the sun varying from the sunrise to the senset. The solar light received by the light receiver 6 is led to a light-to-heat converter 11 at the solar energy utilizing part 10 by the flexible optical fibers 8. Accordingly, it is unnecessitated to provide a tower or multiple movable heliostats, installation cost is reduced, and a tracking drive can be easily accomplished.

Solar light collector

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a practical energy supply system of a dwelling house or the like which efficiently supplies electric power and heat by a combination of photovoltaic power generation and fuel cell power generation, and to reduce harm to environment and emission of wastes by fabricating fuel for the fuel cell using domestic wastes or the like. SOLUTION: Electric power generated by a solar cell module 1 is converted into an alternate current by an inverter 3 to be used for electrical equipment in a house. As a backup power supply a fuel cell 6 is provided for generating electric power using hydrogen fuel made from wastes or the like including cellulose when the power generated by the solar battery module 1 is not sufficient. The heat collected by a solar heat collector 2 and the waste heat of the fuel cell 6 are once stored in a heat accumulator 8 to be used as a heat source for heating and supplying hot water in the house, and a part of it is supplied to a fuel reforming device 4.

Horigome Takashi

Papers

Solar heat utilizing device

Solar light collector

Energy supply system of dwelling house or the like using photovoltaic power generation and fuel cell power generation