An electronic control unit inputs from temperature sensors a temperature of the heating side of a thermoelectric conversion section assembled to each of brake units provided for left and right rear wheels. When the temperature of the heating side is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the electronic control unit drives and controls a brake hydraulic pressure control section so as to operate the brake units preferentially over brake units provided for left and right front wheels. With this operation, each of the brake units generates friction heat, and heats the heating side of the corresponding thermoelectric conversion section, whereby the thermoelectric conversion section efficiently collects thermal energy and generates electrical power. Meanwhile, when the heating side temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the electronic control unit drives and controls the brake hydraulic pressure control section so as to decrease the proportion of the braking forces applied by the brake units and increase the proportion of the braking forces applied by the brake units.

Braking apparatus for vehicle

An electronic control unit (51) inputs the temperature of the heated side of thermoelectric transducers (31) incorporated into the brake units (13,14) of left and right rear wheels (RW1, RW2) from temperature sensors (42, 43). When the temperature of the heated side is equal to or less than a prescribed temperature that is set in advance, the electronic control unit (51) controls the drive of a brake hydraulic control unit (20) to operate with priority on the brake units (13, 14) over the brake units (11, 12) of left and right front wheels (FW1, FW2). As a result, the brake units (13, 14) generate frictional heat due to friction and heat the heated side of the thermoelectric transducers (31), and the thermoelectric transducers (31) efficiently recover the thermal energy and generate power. Conversely, when the temperature of the heated side is higher than the prescribed temperature, the electronic control unit (51) controls the drive of the brake hydraulic control unit (20) to increase the proportion of brake force generated by the brake units (11, 12) while lessening the proportion of brake force generated by the brake units (13, 14). This allows the vehicle to brake adequately.

Brake system for vehicles

An aircraft (1), capable of hovering, having drive means (7); and at least one exhaust duct (8, 8') connected to an outlet of the drive means (7) to expel the exhaust gas, produced by fuel combustion, from the aircraft. At least part of the exhaust duct (8, 8') has a thermoelectric conversion circuit (15) for Seebeck-effect converting to electric energy the thermal gradient produced between the inside and outside of the exhaust duct (8, 8') by flow of the exhaust gas.

Aircraft capable of hovering

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of manufacturing a magnesium silicide-based thermoelectric conversion device having a high mechanical strength.SOLUTION: The method comprises the steps of: solidifying, to a density ratio of 90% or more, raw material powder mainly consisting of magnesium silicide-based powder having an average particle diameter of not more than 20 μm to prepare a solidified material; and sintering the solidified material in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a sintering temperature of 900-1000°C under the atmospheric pressure. The solidification is performed by a method of sintering in parallel with energization and pressurization or a discharge plasma-sintering method in a non-oxidizing atmosphere with a pressurizing force of 10-80 MPa at a sintering temperature of 650-800°C.

Method of manufacturing thermoelectric conversion device

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waste-heat recovery unit capable of efficiently utilizing waste-heatSOLUTION: A heat receiving part 17 is provided with a heat transport part 19 The heat transport part 19 is a location where heat received by the heat receiving part 17 is transferred to a heat radiation part 21b and the like to be described later The heat transport part 19 is a heat pipe, for example The heat transport part 19 is provided with heat radiation parts 21a, 21b Upon receiving heat at the heat receiving part 17, the heat is transmitted to the heat transport part 19 The heat flowed into the heat transport part 19 is mainly transported to the heat radiation part 21b under a usual state The heat radiation part 21b radiates heat to cooling water flowing in a cooling water passage 7 In this case, the heat receiving part 17 in this invention is constituted by a heat control member where its coefficient of thermal conductivity is decreased due to increasing in temperature The heat receiving part 17 is made of aluminum nitride, for example As a heat control member, it is preferable that a thermal conductivity at 25°C, for example, is 130 W/mK or more and a thermal conductivity at 800°C is 50 W/mK or less

Waste-heat recovery unit and waste-heat utilization system

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To consume energy efficiently as much as possible by converting waste heat directly into electricity using a thermoelectric conversion system. SOLUTION: A waste heat recovery system having the thermoelectric conversion system comprises a means for supplying power by the thermoelectric conversion system, and a means for utilizing heat released from the thermoelectric conversion system. The heat released from the thermoelectric conversion system is utilized for heating, defrosting, defogging, heat insulation of fuel heat insulation of an internal combustion engine, heat insulation of a fuel cell, and the like. The waste heat recovery system is mounted on a vehicle, an incinerator, a fuel cell, an industrial machine, and the like. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Wakabayashi Nobuhiro

Papers

Waste heat recovery system having thermoelectric conversion system