U.S. patent application number 10/340885 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-15 for torus semiconductor thermoelectric chiller.
Invention is credited to Hirsel, Gerald Phillip, Schroeder, Jon Murray.
Application Number | 20040134200 10/340885 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32711408 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040134200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schroeder, Jon Murray ; et
al. |
July 15, 2004 |
Torus semiconductor thermoelectric chiller
Abstract
An improved torus multi-element semiconductor thermoelectric
heater and chiller utilizes torus thermoelectric generator to
provide high current to force heat flow. Overall efficiency of heat
conversion is improved by coupling a thermoelectric generator
directly to a torus heater and chiller. A thermoelectric generator
exhaust heat drives a second thermoelectric generator connected to
a thermoelectric heater and chiller to produce heat flow in the
heater and chiller using air, gas, or liquid to convey heat into
and away from the thermoelectric device.
Inventors: |
Schroeder, Jon Murray;
(Cedar Park, TX) ; Hirsel, Gerald Phillip; (Pine
Bluff, AR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jon Murray Schroeder
Suite # 148-323
100 E. Whitestone Blvd.
Cedar Park
TX
78613
US
|
Family ID: |
32711408 |
Appl. No.: |
10/340885 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.7 ; 62/3.3;
62/335 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 21/02 20130101;
H01L 35/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/003.7 ;
062/003.3; 062/335 |
International
Class: |
F25B 021/02; F25B
007/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A chiller electrically driven torus heating and cooling
thermoelectric device comprising a means for input of ac
electricity, a switching power supply to convert alternating
current to high frequency ac current and then to dc current, a
torus thermoelectric element and a means to transfer heated fluid,
gas or air and cooled fluid, gas or air from said chiller.
2. A chiller according to claim 1 wherein said switching power
supply can be modulated to provide variable output.
3. A chiller according to claim 2 wherein said switching power
supply comprises a primary winding with center tap for push-pull
operation and secondary high current windings.
4. A chiller according to claim 2 wherein said means to modulate
current is a powerstat.
5. A chiller according to claim 2 wherein said means to modulate
current is manual electric range burner control duty cycle
element.
6. A chiller according to claim 2 wherein said means to modulate
current is a triac programmed to adjust the input duty cycle.
7. A chiller according to claim 1 wherein said means for input of
electricity is an electrical connection to the electric utility
grid.
8. A chiller according to claim 1 wherein said means for input of
electricity is an electrical connection to the output of a
thermoelectric generator.
9. A chiller according to claim 1 wherein said means for input of
electricity is an electrical connection to the output of an
internal combustion generator.
10. A chiller according to claim 1 wherein said means to transfer
heated gas or air and cooled gas or air from said thermoelectric
torus is an electrically driven fan that blows air over heated or
cooled fins.
11. A chiller according to claim 1 wherein said means to transfer
heated fluid and cooled fluid from said thermoelectric torus is an
electrically driven pump that circulates fluid over the heated or
cooled fins.
12. A chiller according to claim 1 wherein hot fins and cold fins
are enclosed each in a leak proof chamber.
13. A chiller according to claim 1 wherein heated or cooled gas,
air or fluid is exhausted to an environment to be heated or
cooled.
14. A chiller according to claim 13 wherein said chiller is placed
in one or more climate control ducts.
15. A chiller according to claim 13 wherein said chiller is placed
in a window.
16. A chiller electrically driven torus heating and cooling
thermoelectric device comprising a means for input of dc
electricity, a torus thermoelectric element and a means to transfer
heated fluid, gas or air and cooled fluid, gas or air from the
thermoelectric torus.
17. A chiller according to claim 16 further comprising a means to
change the polarity of the dc current in said torus thermoelectric
device.
18. A chiller according to claim 17 wherein said means to change
the polarity of said dc current is a set of electrically alterable
switching bridges.
19. A chiller according to claim 17 wherein said means to change
the direction of said dc current is a manual switch.
20. A chiller according to claim 16 wherein said means to transfer
heated gas or air and cooled gas or air from said chiller is one or
more electrically driven fan that blows air over the hot or cold
fins.
21. A chiller according to claim 16 wherein said means to transfer
heated fluid and cooled fluid from said thermoelectric torus is two
or more electrically driven pumps that circulate fluid over the hot
or cold fins.
22. A chiller according to claim 16 wherein said means for input dc
electricity is one or more batteries having voltage reduced current
increased using a dc-dc voltage down converter.
23. A chiller according to claim 22 wherein the amount of power to
said chiller is controlled by a thermostat.
24. A chiller hybrid comprising a chiller electrically driven
heating and cooling thermoelectric component and a thermoelectric
generator component wherein said thermoelectric generator comprises
a heat source, a means to convey heat to hot fins of said
thermoelectric generator, a means to allow excess heat to be
removed from said thermoelectric generator a means to cool cold
fins of said generator, and a means to directly connect said
generator to said torus thermoelectric chiller element.
25. A chiller hybrid according to claim 24 further comprising a
thermostatic control to regulate said heat source.
26. A chiller hybrid according to claim 24 further comprising a
manual control to regulate said heat source.
27. A chiller hybrid according to claim 24 further comprising a
digital fuel control system wherein multiple nozzles of various
sizes operate in an open or closed mode as needed to control fuel
levels.
28. A chiller hybrid according to claim 24 wherein said means to
connect said generator to said chiller is a solid connection of
each output terminal of said generator to its corresponding input
terminal of said chiller element by welding, brazing or
soldering.
29. A chiller hybrid according to claim 24 wherein said means to
connect said generator to said chiller component is an electrically
alterable MOSfet switching bridge.
30. A chiller hybrid according to claim 24 further comprising a
means to switch current polarity in the chiller component of said
generator hybrid thereby heating fins that were otherwise cooled
and cooling fins that were otherwise heated.
31. A chiller hybrid according to claim 24 further comprising a
physical means to exchange hot output means and cold output means
in said chiller hybrid to allow an environment that was otherwise
chilled to be heated and an environment that was heat to be
chilled.
32. A chiller hybrid according to claim 24 wherein said switching
means is an electrically, mechanically or pneumatically controlled
manual double pole double throw switch.
33. A thermoelectric generator-chiller hybrid comprising a first
torus thermoelectric generator producing electricity, a second
thermoelectric generator utilizing heat exhausted from said first
thermoelectric generator to produce current to derive a torus
thermoelectric chiller component.
34. A chiller hybrid according to claim 33 wherein said chiller
component has a means to transfer heated fluid, gas or air and
cooled fluid, gas or air from said chiller component.
35. A chiller hybrid according to claim 34 wherein said chiller
hybrid further comprises a means to electrically or manually
reverse current flow direction through said chiller component
thereby altering the direction of heat flow.
36. A chiller hybrid according to claim 33 wherein said chiller
further comprises a means to electrically or manually adjust
current flow in the thermoelectric chiller to alter heat flow in
said chiller.
37. A chiller hybrid according to claim 33 wherein said chiller has
a means to electrically or manually reverse current direction and
magnitude into said thermoelectric chiller.
38. A chiller system according to claim 33 further comprising a
battery system to provide short term energy while other components
equilibrate.
39. A thermoelectric heating and cooling generator system according
to claim 38 further comprising a means to connect and convert grid
electricity to said batteries.
40. A chiller hybrid comprising a chiller electrically driven
heating and cooling thermoelectric component having
compartmentalized chambers for heat exchange and a thermoelectric
generator component wherein said thermoelectric generator comprises
compartmentalized section where hot fins are heated, a means to
convey heat to said compartment of said generator, a compartment
where heat is removed from cold fins and a means to allow excess
heat to be removed from said cold fins, and a means to
electronically connect said generator component to said chiller
component.
41. A chiller hybrid according to claim 40 further comprising a
means of tapping dc current to power motors and control
systems.
42. A cascade torus thermoelectric chiller comprising two or more
compartmentalized chiller electrically driven torus thermoelectric
components wherein the cold fins of a first chiller are thermally
connected to hot fins of a second torus chiller, a means to supply
current to said cascade chiller and a means to transfer heat from
hot fins of a first compartment and a means to transfer heat from a
last compartment.
43. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein cold fins from
a first component and hot fins of a second component are a common
element.
44. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein cold fins from
a first chiller component are adjacent to hot fins of a second
chiller component.
45. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein fluid
surrounding cold fins from a first chiller component is pumped to a
chamber containing hot fins of said second chiller component.
46. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein air surrounding
cold fins from said first chiller component is pumped to a chamber
containing hot fins of said second chiller component.
47. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein said means for
input of electricity is a switching power supply to convert
alternating current to high frequency ac current and then to de
current.
48. A cascade chiller according to claim 47 wherein said switching
power supply can be modulated to provide variable output.
49. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein said means to
supply current is a switching power supply comprising a primary
winding with center tap for push-pull operation and secondary high
current windings.
50. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein said means to
supply current is a powerstat.
51. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein said means to
supply current is manual electric range burner control duty cycle
element.
52. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein said means to
supply current is a triac programmed to adjust the input duty
cycle.
53. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein said means to
supply current is an electrical connection to the electric utility
grid.
54. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein said means to
supply current is an electrical connection to the output of a
thermoelectric generator.
55. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein said means to
supply current is an electrical connection to the output of an
internal combustion generator.
56. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein said means to
transfer heat is to move hot gas or air and cooled gas or air from
said thermoelectric torus by one or more electrically driven
fan.
57. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 wherein said means to
transfer heat is to move heated fluid and cooled fluid from said
thermoelectric torus using one or more electrically driven
pump.
58. A cascade chiller according to claim 42 further comprising two
or more torus thermoelectric generators each generator driving at
least one chiller component of said torus cascaded chiller.
59. A chiller system according to claims 24 and 40 wherein heat
energy is obtained from concentrated sunlight.
60. A chiller system according to claim 59 wherein sunlight is
concentrated by a solar tracking cone, a solar tracking Fresnel
focusing lens, a solar tracking single or double parabolic mirror,
or a stationary parabolic reflector trough.
61. A solar powered thermoelectric heating and cooling system
according to claim 59 further comprising thermal storage component.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a circular array of semiconductor
and conductive elements that comprise a thermoelectric chiller.
Energy generated by a current circulating in said thermoelectric
chiller causes a temperature differential between hot and cold
fins. When current flows in the thermoelectric device use can be
made of the hot fins for heating. Alternatively depending on the
season use can be made of the cold fins for chilling. A
thermoelectric torus being used for chilling has improved
efficiency over mechanically driven air conditioning and
refrigeration systems.
[0002] Various forms of electrical energy and heat energy can be
used to efficiently cause electrical current to circulate in a
torus thermoelectric chiller. Fluid, gas or ambient air passing
over heated and chilled fins of the thermoelectric chiller is used
to move heat from an interior to exterior of a particular
environment, or from one region of a mechanism to another region of
a mechanism. The thermoelectric chiller can be tied to a current
producing thermoelectric device wherein current needed to produce
heat differential between hot and cold fins in the chiller is
generated by heat sources alone in the thermoelectric generator.
Examples of heat sources for a torus thermoelectric chiller hybrid
include such items as carbon based fuels including coal, steam,
machinery exhaust heat and solar radiation.
[0003] Improved efficiency can be obtained by combining an
electrically driven torus thermoelectric chiller with two or more
thermoelectric electric generators. In another version excess heat
from the burner of a first thermoelectric generator is sent to
second thermoelectric torus. In so doing otherwise wasted heat is
also converted to available cooling when the waste heat from the
first thermoelectric generator produces current in a second
thermoelectric generator and this resulting current is used in the
thermoelectric chiller component.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0004] Application Ser. No. 10/145/757, entitled Torus
semiconductor thermoelectric device to Schroeder-Hirsch discloses a
circular arrangement of semiconductor elements used as a
thermoelectric generator.
BACKGROUND ART
[0005] Thermoelectric chilling devices have been used for many
years for specific applications where the simplicity of design
warrants their use despite low energy conversion efficiency.
[0006] The heat flow produced by a thermoelectric device depends on
the Peltier effect of the dissimilar metals used. Peltier effects
are higher for some semiconductor materials especially n-type and
p-type elements made primarily from mixtures of bismuth, tellurium,
antimony, and selenium.
[0007] To compete with more traditional forms of chilling devices
such as Freon expansion and absorption chilling, the torus heating
and cooling thermoelectric chiller must be as efficient as
possible. A preferred means to achieve such high efficiency is to
arrange the thermoelectric elements in a circle with only a very
small region used to import or extract the energy produced by the
thermoelectric elements. Patent PCT/US97/07922 teaches the use of a
circular array of thermoelectric elements. Art teaching in this
case focused on 3 means to extract energy for the high current in
the ring of elements; 1--a vibrating mechanical switch, 2--a Hall
effect generator and 3--a Colpits oscillator. Coatings of hot and
cold elements of the thermoelectric device are claimed for
selenium, tellurium and antimony among others but not for mixtures
of these elements.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,242 to Konishi, et al. discloses
semiconductor material of the formula AB.sub.2, X.sub.4 where A is
one of or a mixture of Pb, Sn, or Ge, B is one of or a mixture of
Bi and Sb and X is one of or a mixture of Te and Se. These
represent Pb, Sn or Ge doped bismuth telluride.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,274,802 to Fukuda, describes a sintering
method of making semiconductor material whose principle components
include bismuth, tellurium and selenium and antimony.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,787 to Simeray discloses a
thermoelectric component of bismuth doped with antimony and bismuth
tellurium doped selenium wherein said components are arranged into
a rod. Very low voltages are converted using a self-oscillating
circuit.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,427 describes the use of a
thermoelectric device on the exhaust portion of a combustion-based
car using electrically drive wheel wherein excess heat energy is
converted to electric power for the vehicle.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,682 describes a Peltier control circuit
that detects a temperature of a device and controls a current
flowing through the Peltier devices so as to keep the temperature
at a predetermined value.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,729 describes a domestic refrigerator
with Peltier effect.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,481 describes a Peltier element
thermally coupled to the element having the temperature response,
and a capacitance component electrically coupled to the Peltier
element.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,814 describes a method of and apparatus
for cooling an operating system using Peltier effect when the
temperature in the system is above a certain level, heat in the
system is absorbed by a Peltier module utilizing a Peltier
effect.
[0016] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,246,100 and 6,399,872 describe a thermal
coupler utilizes Peltier heating and cooling to transmit a thermal
signal across an electrical isolation barrier
[0017] It is a purpose if this invention to improve energy to
cooling conversion over low efficiency electrically driven
compressor type air conditioning systems. This is accomplished by
taking utility grid alternating current, rectifying this current,
converting it to high frequency alternating current which drives a
voltage down-converting transformer to produce high current, then
rectifying this high current to produce multi-ampere direct current
in a torus thermoelectric chiller. Fluid, gas, or air to be chilled
is passed over the cold fins to get the chilling effect.
[0018] It is a further purpose of this invention to provide a
physical or electronic means to exchange the direction of flow of
current thereby switching from a cooling effect to a heating effect
without moving the arrangement of the thermoelectric chiller.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0019] To illustrate this invention figures are drawn to show
components of a few implementations of the invention. It should be
understood that these figures do not in any way limit this
invention as described in the claims.
[0020] The invention comprises an energy source producing current
that passes through a plurality of thermoelectric coupons arranged
in a ring, a means for extracting heat energy from one side of said
ring through hot fins and a means of sinking heat through cold fins
using fluid, gas, or air circulation. Electrical energy in the form
of current is circulated through a plurality of coupons causing
heat to flow from the cold fins through the P- and N-type coupons
to the hot fins caused by the Peltier effect. The current, induced
by any of a number of means causes the hot fins to become hotter
and the cold fins to become lower in temperature. The term coupon
is used herein to identify the combination of hot fins, cold fins
and constituents attached thereto. Multiple coupons are assembled
to make a ring. The ring conformation is important in reducing
significant losses that would otherwise occur if a conductor were
used to electrically connect ends of a linear array of coupons.
[0021] The current source can be any of a myriad of means. One such
is direct connection to the utility grid, where the electrical
energy is transformed into low voltage at high current by a
switching power supply that powers said torus thermoelectric
chiller directly. Two examples are push-pull and forward
converters. In a preferred embodiment a switching power supply
modulates current using a primary winding with center tap for
push-pull operation and secondary high current windings are used to
modulate current flow. The switching power supply may be modified
to provide variable output. Dc current can also be obtained using a
step down transformer with rectified output. Modulation can be
accomplished using a powerstat, a manual electric range burner
control duty cycle element or a programmable triac and other means.
Electric energy can also be obtained from other generating sources
such as an internal combustion powered generator.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment the current is derived from a
fuel-powered thermoelectric torus generator that is heated by
combustible materials such as gases of hydrogen, methane, ethane,
propane, butane, etc, liquids such as gasoline, kerosene or crude
oil, and solids such as wood, used tires, straw and other celluloid
materials and coal. In addition the heat needed for electricity
production can come from concentrated sunlight. Waste heat from
other combustion activities can also be used such as the exhaust of
another thermoelectric torus generator producing electricity for
another application.
[0023] Several means can be used to generate heat in a
thermoelectric generator to produce current needed for the torus
thermoelectric chiller. Hot gasses are passed over the hot fins of
the current generator to heat them. In a preferred embodiment gas
or liquid is combusted directly under the hot fins. In another
preferred configuration the hot fins project inward with regard to
a circle or torus of coupons and the hot gas is passes through or
combustion occurs adjacent to the hot fins of the current
generator.
[0024] In another preferred embodiment the rate of fuel combustion
is controlled to match the current demand of the chiller.
[0025] In the case of gas or liquid being combusted near the hot
fins it is preferred that infrared radiation which passes through
or is given off from the hot fins is radiated back on the hot fins
by a reflective metallic dome.
[0026] In another preferred embodiment the thermoelectric generator
current driver for torus thermoelectric chiller uses an insulating
layer that backs the reflective dome.
[0027] In one form of the invention an opening is made in the top
dome of the thermoelectric current driver to allow hot gas to
escape.
[0028] A preferred embodiment of the invention is to directly
combine a heat dependent thermoelectric generator with a
thermoelectric chiller. In this case, current generated in the
torus being heated at the hot fins is transferred directly to the
torus of the chiller.
[0029] By regulating the temperature of hot fins of the chiller
component a temperature lower than would occur otherwise in the
torus chiller component is achieved. By regulating the temperature
of cold fins of the chiller component a hot fin temperature higher
than would occur otherwise in the torus chiller component is
achieved.
[0030] In another preferred embodiment hot gases escaping from a
first thermoelectric generator are conveyed or allowed to move into
a second thermoelectric generator wherein current produced in said
second thermoelectric generator directly powers a torus
thermoelectric chiller component. This hybrid version having two
thermoelectric generators includes a means to allow excess heat to
be removed from a first thermoelectric generator. This may be as
simple as creating an opening in the top of a reflective dome in
the combustion chamber. Alternatively a fan can be used to move hot
air through a duct to the thermoelectric generator providing
current to the chiller component. The amount of fuel being provided
to the first thermoelectric generator can be controlled by manual
means. For example a variable fuel pressure regulator can be
manually adjusted to the desired amount of electrical energy
output. Liquid fuel sources can be similarly modulated with similar
liquid feed controls. Also many fuels can be electrically
controlled with fuel-injector-type control valves.
[0031] In a preferred embodiment fuel is digitally controlled by
opening and closing valves with fixed fuel flow capacity in ratios
of 1:2:4:8. Fuel amounts from 1 to 15 can be controlled depending
on which valves are open or closed under digital control.
[0032] In another preferred embodiment a physical means is provided
to exchange hot output and cold output in said chiller hybrid to
allow an environment that was otherwise chilled to be heated and an
environment that was heat to be chilled. This feature allows the
switching from heating to cooling for a fixed ducted system. Thus
if heat were being dumped to the outside of a building while
chiller air were being circulated within a house and the need arose
to heat the house, this means would cause hot air to circulate
within the house while cold air was dumped to the outside.
[0033] In another preferred embodiment cold liquid gas, or air from
a first thermoelectric chiller is directed to the hot fins of a
second electrically driven torus chiller to increase the
effectiveness of the chiller overall by increasing the differential
temperature in a cascaded manner. An efficient method-combining
element is to have the cold fins of a first chiller in common with
the hot fins of a second torus thermoelectric chiller element. One
implementation of the cascade thermoelectric chiller utilizes
current from the utility grid. Current from the grid is utilized in
the same manner as for a single stage torus thermoelectric chiller.
Current can be directed to an ac/dc high frequency down converter
by one or more connections to the grid.
[0034] Another preferred embodiment of the chiller invention is a
cascade of components including torus thermoelectric generators. A
principle version is a torus thermoelectric chiller driven by two
thermoelectric generators. Greater temperature differential can be
obtained by combining more stages of chiller and power sources.
[0035] A unique method is used to direct the high current flowing
in the thermoelectric chiller. An insulator is used to force
current around the ring. This insulator is placed between any two
coupons. On each side of the insulator is a conductor terminal,
which extends outward from the torus of coupons. The conductor
terminals of the chiller are connected directly to the
thermoelectric generator terminals. The current driver terminal may
be a fuel powered current ring or the terminals of a down-switching
power supply driven from the utility grid. Another embodiment
places low impedance, electrically alterable switches between the
secondary of the current driver and the electrically driven torus
thermoelectric chiller. This allows a change in the direction of
current in the thermoelectric chiller and therefore the direction
of heat flow. Also it modulates the heat flow in the torus
thermoelectric chiller by alternately transferring heat in either
one way or the other, some time one way and the balance in the
other direction for modulation, or no heat flow under thermostatic
feedback control or by manual means.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment current flow is controlled in one
or the other direction by MOSfet switches inserted in the secondary
circuit that connects current driver and thermoelectric chiller
component to serve as an electrically alterable current direction
switch. This modulates heat flow and serves as a summer-winter
switch in the case of home heating and air conditioning,
eliminating eight electromechanical valves otherwise required to
redirect the fluid lines serving the chiller. The number of MOSfet
switches employed in a torus thermoelectric chiller component is
determined by the maximum thermal gradient generated by the chiller
ring and depends on the current producing capacity of the current
driver and the current carrying capacity of MOSfet switches used
for heat flow reversing.
[0037] In another preferred embodiment a pulse-width modulator chip
is used to alternately control MOSfet switches to alternately drive
rectified utility current in the primary winding of the
down-converter as a push-pull topology. The secondary high current
winding of the current driver consists of two center-taped turns,
the center-tap connected directly to one terminal of torus
thermoelectric chiller component the ends connected to the other
terminal of torus thermoelectric chiller component through MOSfet
switch banks controlled synchronous by the signals of the primary
pulse-width modulator chip to deliver secondary current to the
torus thermoelectric chiller component in one direction or the
opposite direction if pulse-width drive signals are changed from
one MOSfet switch bank to the other. Alternate switch connections
for MOSfet switch bank drive can be made by electronic means to
reverse the direction of current flow of the secondary current in
the torus thermoelectric chiller component changing the direction
of heat flow in the chiller component. If a simple oscillating
circuit is used, current input to the chiller cannot be modulated
by pulse width and the heat flow in the chiller will be at full
capacity. The number of windings needed in the primary of the
down-converter primary depends on the secondary current required to
drive the electrically driven torus thermoelectric chiller
component, typically 1,000 Amperes, and can be determined by those
skilled in the electronic arts.
[0038] There are other means of modulating input current to torus
thermoelectric chiller driven by utility grid. This involves
intermittently selecting a 220 vac input winding in the down
converter, or using 120 vac to power this input winding, or by
providing open circuit control to the primary winding.
[0039] Another means of controlling the heat flow in torus
thermoelectric chiller is to reduce cooling to the hot fins. This
is done by reducing the fan or fluid pump flow across the hot fins
under feedback control from a thermostat. This causes the cold fins
to be less effective because the hot fins have a higher thermal
gradient to push against to expel heat. In versions having a leak
proof chamber of hot fins and cold fins fluid flow is controlled by
the speed of a pump moving fluid in the same manner.
[0040] Transfer of heat by electrical current flow is improved in a
closed loop thermoelectric device by utilizing a combination of
n-type and p-type semiconductors. These produce a high Peltier
effect thereby producing a higher heat flow for torus
thermoelectric chiller component producing a given thermal
differential. The temperature differential is a function of current
and the ability of the air, gas, or fluid medium to carry heat. As
a rule of thumb, for 5-kW of electrical energy into a torus
thermoelectric chiller, the heat flow would be 60,000 BTU/hr and
the temperature differential can be adjusted to between 10 C to 200
C. The differential temperature depends on air, gas, or fluid flow
around the fins. Example 1 shows performance characteristics for a
typical electrically driven torus thermoelectric chiller component.
Btu/hr data were calculated using the mass of copper and the
temperature differential heat change with time for a particular
current flow.
EXAMPLE 1
Performance Characteristics for One Coupon of a Current Driven
Chiller
[0041]
1 Current Btu/hr 0 Amps 0 1 Amp 2 10 Amps 20 100 Amps 208 250 Amps
440 500 Amps 825 700 Amps 1,098 1,000 Amps 1,468
[0042] Tight junctions, very low levels of contaminating elements,
single crystals and special surfaces are required to produce a
uniform device.
[0043] Driving high current energy around a circle of
thermoelectric elements or coupons requires a special drive system
made up of a utility fed down-converter to produce the high
currents necessary and rectification of this current into dc.
Another means is to make use of a gas-powered, steam or exhaust
powered thermoelectric generator ring to supply high current to the
thermoelectric chiller. An important feature involved in the
extraction of electrical energy is an electrically alterable dual
MOSfet switch bank connected in the secondary windings of the
current source and the thermoelectric chiller ring. This allows
current reversal in the thermoelectric chiller ring and likewise a
change in heat flow direction due to electronic switching.
[0044] The dc current used by the thermoelectric chiller can be
obtained from batteries. Batteries in turn can be recharged by
various means including solar radiation. In this case the optimal
voltage needed by the thermoelectric ring is provided from
batteries such as lead batteries using a dc-dc down converter.
[0045] This thermoelectric chiller is very quiet when running thus
providing an opportunity to replace noisy electromechanical and gas
driven absorption refrigeration systems and appliances.
[0046] There are a variety of ways that heat can be exhausted to an
environment or cold transferred to an environment to accommodate
particular needs. A simple version uses a fan close to hot fins or
cold fins to blow hot or cold air away to a nearby environment. In
a version with leak proof chambers either a gas or liquid can move
heat from a chamber to another environment for heat exchange.
[0047] To provide these benefits details are given for making and
using a simple circular collection of coupons. Each coupon is made
by alternating a hot fin, that is a metal fin to be heated, an
n-type semiconductor, then a cold fin, that is a fin that is heat
reduced by the current flow or allowed to cool, then a p-type
semiconductor. Such coupons are place in registry, that is hot fin,
n-type, cold fin, p-type, hot fin, n-type, cold fin, p-type and so
on until a circle is completed. When the fins are made flat, a
wedge piece is added to produce continuity to the circle. A single
insulator is placed in the circle across which current is injected
and removed as desired. A heat flow is produced when current is
passed around the ring and one set of fins become heated while the
others are reduced in heat, that is cooled by the current flow.
This heat flow is proportional to the current flow in the ring
causing a temperature differential between heated hot fins and the
fins being cooled.
[0048] Useful heat capacity depends on the number of coupons and
the differential temperature of hot and cooled fins while an air,
gas, or liquid flows to supply and remove heat from the
thermoelectric chiller.
[0049] For clarity of the disclosure and definition of the claims
the following terms are defined:
[0050] "Semiconductor" means: a mixture of one or more elements
that has the property of allowing either electrons or holes to move
through the mixture depending on whether the mixture has an excess
n-type or p-type dopant. The semiconductor nature of thermoelectric
wafers is well established in the thermoelectric literature.
[0051] "Torus thermoelectric chiller" means a circular array of
n-type and p-type semiconductors and plated fins wherein electrical
current is introduced to the ring to cause one set of fins to
become hot and the other to become cool depending on the direction
of dc current. The chilling function is emphasized but both the
cooling and heating effects can be utilized.
[0052] "Fin" means: an elongated metal slab with optional tapered
end which is connected on one side to an n-type semiconductor and
on the other side to a p-type semiconductor or on either side to a
conductive wedge.
[0053] "Cold fin" means: a fin to be cooled or a fin to be allowed
to cool in a thermoelectric generator and a fin to receive heat
from gas or liquid in a thermoelectric chiller.
[0054] "Hot fin" means: a fin that is to be heated in a
thermoelectric generator and a fin from which heat is extracted in
a thermoelectric chiller.
[0055] "Coupon" means a repeating component of the thermoelectric
device made up of at least one n-type semiconductor, one hot fin,
one p-type semiconductor, and one cold fin. In the device having a
wedge component with each set of fins and semiconductors a coupon
includes the wedge component.
[0056] "Kester's solder" means: lead free solder paste containing
tin, copper and silver.
[0057] "Belleville disk spring" means: deflecting washers that
maintain constant compressive pressure through thermal expansion
and contraction of other members.
[0058] "Wafer" means: an n-type or p-type semiconductor made in the
shape of thin slab where the thickness of the shortest dimension is
from 1% to 20% of the either of the other dimensions.
[0059] "Wafer side" means: the surface area denoted by the larger
dimension of the wafer.
[0060] "Wafer edge" means: the surface area denoted by the smallest
dimension and one or the other dimensions.
[0061] "Current driver" means: a source to provide current input to
one or more thermoelectric chillers.
[0062] "Torus element" means: the thermoelectric ring.
[0063] "Component" means either the thermoelectric generator or the
thermoelectric chiller in a thermoelectric hybrid or
combination.
[0064] Before describing how to produce the invention figures are
provided that illustrate working versions. Examples are intended to
illustrate the basic principles and elements of the device and is
in no way is intended to limit the scope of the invention as
described in the claims.
[0065] FIG. 1 illustrates a p-type 1 and an n-type 2, crystalline
wafer. These wafers are made by casting the n-type or p-type
semiconductor material.
[0066] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the elements
consisting of a cold fin 3, a hot fin 4, a p-type crystalline wafer
1 and an n-type crystalline wafer 2 along with a wedge 5 that
comprises a coupon of the invention.
[0067] FIG. 3 illustrates an assembled view of the elements of the
coupon and the relative position they will occupy when they are
assembled as a complete coupon. p-type crystalline wafer 1
positions to one side of cold fin 3, which has a layer of solder
paste in the region where the p-type wafer 1 will bond to cold fin
3. Cold fin 3 has a layer of solder paste on the opposite side in
the region where n-type wafer 2 will bond on cold fin 3. Hot fin 4
has solder paste in the regions that will bond it to the wedge 5
and to n-type wafer 2 completing the coupon. FIG. 3 illustrates the
final positions of the elements of the coupon seen in FIG. 2, 62 of
these coupons are used in the completed thermoelectric ring
illustrated in FIG. 4. This number can be varied depending on the
operating current and voltage of the power supply. The Peltier
effect also determines how much heat flow is produced for a given
current and the current also determines the temperature
differential between the hot and cold fins. It should be understood
that the cold fins need not be directed at 90 degrees to the hot
fins. Furthermore it is possible to fashion the shape of either the
hot fin or the cold fin or both to preclude the need for a wedge
component.
[0068] FIG. 4 illustrates the assembled thermoelectric chiller ring
6, made up of 62 coupons of FIG. 3, along with two special cold
fins 7 and 8. One of these is an extra cold fin used to allow a
cold fin rather than a hot fin for connection to an ac-dc high
frequency down-converter. Alternatively the extra cold fin is
connected directly to the terminals of a high current
thermoelectric generator. These cold fins are separated by an
insulator preferably a mica insulator, 9. The purpose of the cold
fins and mica is to provide terminals for the ac-dc high frequency
down-converter or high current thermoelectric generator
connections. The mica insulator breaks the electrical circuit of
the ring and allows the current to travel around the ring and flow
back into the negative terminal of the current supply. In FIG. 4,
the cold fin 3, the p-type wafer 1, the hot fin 4, the n-type wafer
2, and the wedge 5 can be seen in their assembled position, like
coupons repeating all the way around the ring with the single
interruption of the substitution of two cold fins 7 and 8 separated
by insulator 9.
[0069] FIG. 5 illustrates how the strap 10 fits around the top
portion of the ring to compress the elements by the tensioning of
the strap with bolt 11. The tension on the strap, and likewise the
compression of the elements is maintained at operating temperatures
as well as at ambient temperature by a series of Belleville washers
12, compression maintained at approximately 500 pounds on the strap
10. In FIG. 5, the tips of hot fins converge at the center to leave
a hole in this configuration that can be plugged.
[0070] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section of a current driven
version of the thermoelectric chiller invention 13. A double bowl
14 is insulated with heat barrier material between the bowls. This
serves to prevent heat from flowing from the hot chamber 15 of the
thermoelectric chiller into the cold chamber 16 while allowing a
gas or air or fluid to heat exchange with the hot fins. Inlet pipe
17 and outlet pipe 18 allow air, gas, or fluid to enter the hot
chamber to heat exchange with the fins. Inlet pipes 19 and outlet
20 allow a gas, air or fluid to enter the cold chamber 16 to heat
exchange with the cold fins. The double insulated bowl 21 and 22 in
combination provide structural integrity when bowl flange 23 is
bonded to ring 6. This is important to maintain the thermoelectric
chiller ring in a circle, thus preventing it from going egg-shaped
and failing in the electrical conductivity mode. Welded together
bowls 21 and 22 are bonded to chiller ring 6 with room temperature
vulcanizing rubber, such as General Electric high temperature
silicone adhesive. This material is also used to attach the cold
fins 3 to the supporting ring 23. Lower liquid containment bowl 24
mounts to fiberboard ring 25 that connects to the thermoelectric
chiller ring 6. This lower bowl 14 provides structural integrity
for the thermoelectric chiller, a base for the system. Inlet-outlet
pipes 17, 18 are welded to the upper double bowls 21 and 22.
Inlet-outlet pipes 19, 20 are welded to 24 to receive and exhaust
air, gas, or fluids from the thermoelectric chiller. Terminals 26
and 27 of the thermoelectric chiller 13 connect to the current
driving power supply.
[0071] FIG. 7 illustrates one implementation of the thermoelectric
chiller. The utility grid plug 28 provides power for the
thermoelectric chiller and ac-dc high frequency down-converter 29.
Normal 50 or 60 Hertz alternating current is first converted to
direct current. Next the direct current is converted to a high
frequency alternating current to prevent saturation of the ferrite
core as described later with regard to FIG. 22. The secondary
winding's high frequency ac is then rectified into high amperage
direct current. The rectified high amperage current produces heat
in the hot fins and cools the cold fins in a unit as described as
13 in FIG. 6. The inverter 29 is driven by a PC board 30 and cooled
by blower 31 driven by motor 32. Inverter 29, board 30 and blower
31 and motor 32 are encased in a metal case 33 and together
comprise a power supply unit 34.
[0072] In a preferred embodiment all fins are assembled vertically
in a thermoelectric chiller 35 so as to facilitate flow of a gas,
air or fluid across the fins as shown in FIG. 8. Diaphragm 36
separates the gas, air, or fluid of the hot chamber 37 from the
cold chamber 38, having insulating properties to reduce heat flow.
Flange 39 is a support around the ring. Inlet 40 and outlet 41
allow a gas, air, or liquid to cool the hot fins in the hot chamber
37. Inlet 42 and outlet 43 allow a gas, air or liquid to exchange
heat in the cold chamber 38. Baffle 44 seals the end of the hot
fins 4, and baffle 45 seals the ends of cold fins 3. Current from
the utility grid-driven down converter 29 in 34 enters the chiller
35 through leads 46 and 47.
[0073] FIG. 9 illustrates another preferred implementation, a
thermoelectric chiller, thermoelectric generator hybrid. Current
for the chiller component is obtained from a gas-powered
thermoelectric generator 48. In FIG. 9 generator 48 is illustrated
in cross section. This is a version of a gas or liquid combustion
generator. 49 shows a burner bowl with attached perforated metal 50
that holds mesh 51. This serves to prevent incoming air-fuel
mixture from combusting before entering the combustion chamber.
Inlet pipe 52 allows an air-fuel mixture to enter the burner bowl.
Support ring 53, an insulator, lifts the generator ring so that
burner inlet pipe 52 can pass underneath without having to shorten
any of the cooling fins 3. 54 is a top burner bowl with an exhaust
vent 55 that is attached to the ring 6. 54 is a larger, outer bowl
that serves to give the ring 6 strength when welded-together in
double-bowel combination. FIG. 9 illustrates an air blower 56 open
to the top and driven by motor 57 with power cord and plug 58.
Output terminals 59 and 60 from the thermoelectric generator are
ohmically connected to cold fins 7 and 8 of chiller component 35 by
brazing, welding or soldering.
[0074] In a preferred embodiment the output terminals 59 and 60 are
tapped to provide some electricity for ancillary or control
systems. A standard dc to ac converter provides one or more ac or
dc voltages needed to drive electrical parasitic operation.
[0075] In a preferred embodiment hot gas used to power the
thermoelectric portion of a thermoelectric generator-thermoelectric
chiller hybrid is produced in a remote combustion chamber. Hot gas
from the combustion chamber is circulated over the hot fins of the
thermoelectric generator. Chiller demand is controlled by
restricting make up air while venting exhaust. In another preferred
embodiment fuel addition is automated. The remote combustion
chamber can also be used in a hybrid that produces both electricity
for miscellaneous uses and current for the chiller hybrid. The
benefit of a remote combustion feature is that many different
sources of combustion can be used. Examples include coal, wood,
agricultural byproducts, garbage and waste oils.
[0076] FIG. 10 illustrates another preferred implementation of the
thermoelectric chiller hybrid utilizing exhaust heat from 61, a
thermoelectric generator and part of the combination 62. In this
case exhaust heat 63 of a thermoelectric generator 61 producing
electricity for other purposes enters a second thermoelectric
generator 64. This provides electrical current for the chiller
component 35 in the same manner as in FIG. 8. The total device
shown is a normal thermoelectric generator 61 having one or more
voltage outlets, another thermoelectric generator 64 taking the
exhaust heat from the first generator 61 and a third thermoelectric
torus 35 which gets electrical current from said second generator
64 and thereby allows production simultaneously of electricity, and
heating or cooling. This model of the invention has the cold fins
and the hot fins vertically opposed. Use is made of either or both
the hot section of the chiller component or the cold section of the
chiller component in the same manner as a thermoelectric chiller
driven by ac or dc current sources. Heat and cold are utilized in a
variety of ways by passing a gas, or air or a fluid over hot fins
and cold fins respectively and moving that gas, air or fluid to a
heat exchanger or an environment to be heated or chilled. As with
other versions of the chiller component a means is provided to
electrically or mechanically reverse the current coming from the
thermoelectric generator component. In this manner a fixed
connection to a heat exchanger within a central air conditioning
system need not be modified when switching from heating to cooling.
Similarly this version of thermoelectric generator chiller hybrid
utilizes a means to adjust the amount of heat flowing to the
chiller component. For example a heated gas bypass can be installed
to allow hot gas escaping from the first thermoelectric generator
to by pass the second thermoelectric generator. This is especially
useful if waste heat is being use to heat water.
[0077] In thermoelectric chiller hybrids where electricity is being
produced in addition to heating and cooling the hybrid device is
improved by adding a battery backup to accommodate immediate needs
for electricity. This is accomplished by traditional methods of dc
to ac conversion as discussed elsewhere. In some cases it is
desirable to recharge the batteries from the utility grid so a
means to connect to the grid and a means for converting ac to dc
needs to be provided.
[0078] FIG. 11 illustrates a steam, hot gas, hot air or hot fluid
driven thermoelectric generator combined with a thermoelectric
chiller 35. This torus thermoelectric generator 65 is comprised of
ring 66, hot fins 4, circular array of n-type and p-type
semiconductors, 1,2, diaphragm 67 in the center of the ring
separates the hot chamber 68 from the cold chamber 69, flange 70
which extends in the plane of the diaphragm around the rim, hot
chamber enclosure 71, cold chamber enclosure 72, hot baffle 73,
cold baffle 74, hot inlet pipe 75, hot outlet pipe 76, cold inlet
pipe 77, outlet pipe 78, and current transfer terminals 79 and 80.
Current produced in said generator 65 when heated and cooled is
transferred to a torus chiller component 35 through current
terminals 81 and 82. The connection between the generator and
chiller must be an ohmic connection, accomplished by brazing,
welding or soldering. The torus thermoelectric chiller 35 can be
identical to the thermoelectric generator 65. Alternatively the
chiller component can be made larger or smaller by varying the
number of fins, thickness or cross section of the semiconductors,
or size of the fins. In a preferred embodiment enclosures 71 and 72
are insulated.
[0079] Hot gas for the compartmentalized chiller hybrid may be any
of a variety of heat exhaust sources. Example include automobile
exhaust, air circulating around a hot engine, gas from a remote
combustion chamber, steam exhaust, and gas turbine exhaust.
[0080] In a preferred embodiment remotely generated hot liquid
heated in a boiler-type appliance is used to power the
thermoelectric portion of a thermoelectric generator-thermoelectric
chiller hybrid. Hot liquid from coils in the combustion chamber is
pumped through inlet 75 over hot fins 4 of the thermoelectric
generator 65 illustrated in FIG. 11. Chiller demand is controlled
by restricting make up air while venting exhaust or by controlling
fuel addition. The benefit of a remote combustion feature is that
many different sources of combustion can be used. Examples include
coal, wood, agricultural byproducts, garbage and waste oils.
[0081] Alternatively, hot gas from a remote combustion chamber is
circulated or passed through 75 in FIG. 11 or in lieu of combustion
gas in FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0082] FIG. 12 illustrates a three component cascade thermoelectric
chiller hybrid. Current is produced in thermoelectric generators 84
and 85. These generators are the same as 65 shown in FIG. 11. The
chiller component 83 is a cascade of two thermoelectric rings that
share common intermediate fins 86. The chiller component is
comprised of ring 87, hot fins 4, and circular array of n-type and
p-type semiconductors 1,2. Diaphragm 88 in the center of the ring
separates the first hot chamber 89, from the common chamber 90,
flange 91 which extends in the plane of the diaphragm around the
rim, a second diaphragm 92 which separates the common chamber 90
from the chilled chamber 93, cold chamber enclosure 94, hot baffle
95, cold baffle 96, hot inlet pipe 97, hot outlet pipe 98, cold
inlet pipe 99, outlet pipe 100, current transfer terminals 101
through 108. Current produced in both generators, 84 and 85 when
heated and cooled is transferred to the torus chiller 83 by
connecting terminals 105 to 101, 102 to 106, 108 to 103, and 107 to
104. The connections between the generators and cascade chiller
must be ohmic connections with lowest resistance possible. This is
accomplished by keeping leads as short as possible and by brazing,
welding or soldering connections. A single generator of the 84, 34,
48 or 64 type or more than one 84, 34, 48 or 64 type generator can
drive the thermoelectric chiller component 83. While shown in FIG.
12 with long leads from 85 through 107 and 108 to chiller component
83, the preferred arrangement is for 85 to be connected to 83 with
leads as short as possible.
[0083] In a preferred embodiment common hot fins 86 in section 90
are replaced by overlapping fins, a first set extending opposite
from fins 4 of section 89 and a second set extending opposite from
coldest fins 3 in section 93. In another preferred embodiment an
insulator is inserted between both sets of overlapping fins to
reduce the likelihood of an electrical short. To improve
performance a heat conducting, electrical non-conducting liquid is
contained in chamber 90. This arrangement allows thermoelectric
generator 85 to connect through leads 103 and 104 opposite to leads
101 and 102. In multiple cascades serial thermoelectric generators
can be arranged at 90 degrees to one another thereby keeping
current connections as short as possible. It is also possible to
have a cascade chiller effect by pumping a gas, air or a fluid
between to physically separated chiller components wherein fluid is
circulated between the cold fins of a first chiller component and
the hot fins of a second chiller component. This can be continued
in the same manner for three or more chiller components.
[0084] As with other chiller configurations dc current needed to
drive the chiller can be obtained from the utility grid ac by a
switching power supply which converts 50 or 60 cycle ac to higher
frequency as current and then to dc current. This switching
power-supply can be modulated to vary the output current and
thereby control the amount cooling. Control can also be maintained
using a powerstat, or triac or manual electric range burner control
duty cycle element.
[0085] The compartmentalized version of the thermoelectric chiller
can be run from current supplied by a thermoelectric generator or
by electricity from an internal combustion generator.
[0086] Many other sources of heating or cooling can be used to
power the thermoelectric generator portion of thermoelectric
chiller hybrids. Examples include coal gas, biogas, methane,
propane, ethane, and gasoline.
[0087] In thermoelectric chiller hybrids that provide electricity
in addition to cooling and heating it is preferred to have one or
more batteries to provide energy while the thermoelectric generator
is powering up. Ac current is provided by traditional means of
converting dc to ac.
[0088] FIGS. 1 through 12 illustrate preferred forms of this
invention being a tabletop type arrangement. It should be
understood that the general nature of the thermoelectric devices
could be fitted to many forms, uses and sizes. By tapping current
from leads 59 and 60 in FIG. 9, ac or dc energy can be made
available in addition to cooling. For example the arrangement as
described in FIG. 9 can be made to be carried in a back pack
allowing the user to carry around a source of 120/240 volt
alternating current while at the same time providing refrigeration
and freezing capability for portable and stationary environmental
enclosures. Such a backpack would allow the use of tools that
normally run on alternating current while providing refrigeration,
climate control and safe storage for food and medical supplies.
Still smaller versions could be used to replace a battery pack and
satisfy the refrigeration requirements of instrumentation. Such a
backpack version could replace rechargeable batteries and could be
used with standard rechargeable battery tools that can benefit from
cooling.
[0089] In a preferred embodiment a hybrid thermoelectric chiller
device and mechanical tool is constructed which comprises an
electric motor to drive the mechanical tool and a chiller to
provide cooling. An advantage of the hybrid tool is that feedback
from the tool can be used to control the rate that fuel is burned
and the cooling rate. An example is the use of a hybrid system for
electricity to drive a cryostat and for cooling to freeze tissues
to be sectioned. This would be useful in obtaining pathology
forensic slides in the field. In another preferred embodiment a
general version of said hybrid tool has a uniform thermoelectric
component that is fitted to a variety of mechanical components
where refrigeration is beneficial. This feature allows a single
hybrid thermoelectric component to be exchanged among several tool
types. Another example of hybrid use is for cutting brick and tile.
Electricity drives the diamond-cutting wheel while cooling is
provided for the water used to wet the cutting blade.
[0090] FIG. 13 illustrates a variation of the utility powered
thermoelectric chiller of FIG. 8 where air passes over the heating
fins circulated by motor 109 driving dual blower 110. This device
111 is powered by utility plug 112 through diode bridge and
push-pull driver 113, which drives the primary winding of a
down-converter transformer 114. Current from the down-converter
powers the thermoelectric chiller through terminals 115 and 116 to
heat the hot fins and cool the cold fins. Enclosure grill 117 is
used to cover the cold section 118 and diaphragm 119 separates the
hot section 120 from 118. Baffle 121 separates incoming air to the
hot chamber 120 and the exit air. The unit 111 is a self-contained
reversible heating and cooling device that has utility as a climate
control device.
[0091] FIG. 14 illustrates the application of a 111 thermoelectric
chiller in the ceiling and outside wall of a home 122, an office or
commercial building. The heat given off by the chiller device 111
when mounted in the ceiling can be drawn out of the attic space
with an exhaust fan 123. In the case of the outside wall mounted
chiller device 124, ambient air is used to remove heat from the hot
fins and the heated air is exhausted to ambient. Unit 124 can also
be window mounted. Both units 111 and 124 are receiving power from
electrical plug outlets 125 and 126. Thermostats 127 and 128
control units 111 and 124.
[0092] FIG. 15 illustrates the installation of a 111 thermoelectric
chiller in existing climate control ducts as shown for ductwork 129
and 130 in the attic 131 of a building 132. The original air
conditioning and heating system 133 can remain in place with the
111 thermoelectric chiller installed in ductwork 130 and connected
to electrical power plug 134 and thermostat 135. Inlet/outlet air
grills are shown as 136, 137, 138 and 139 to provide climate
control for room 140 and 141. This technique can be used in new
construction or retrofitted to existing systems.
[0093] FIG. 16 illustrates the front and side view of a packaged
unit 142 that can supply the electricity, hot water, air
conditioning and heating for existing buildings or new
construction. 142 is designed to fit into places where floor space
is at a premium or to be hung on a wall inside a building or
mounted outside any floor of the building. The idea is to be able
to provide all the utilities for a building without having to
rewire or re-plumb the building. All that is needed is a single
fuel supply such as a natural gas or propane gas pipe. 142 uses a
battery bank 143 powering an inverter 144 that connects to the dc
side of the thermoelectric generator 145. The battery bank 143 and
inverter 144 can be charged by the utility grid or the generator,
providing the building or facility with high reliability even
during grid failure. Using the battery allows the generator 145 to
go to sleep at night when electric loads are low, restarting during
morning when loading increases, using fuel controller 146 to burn
minimum fuel to run at the edge of current requirements. Exhaust
heat current driver 147, similar to 64 in FIG. 10 produces drive
current to power the thermoelectric chiller 35 to air condition the
premises. Water heater 148, heated by waste heat supplies
re-circulating hot water throughout the premises with circulating
pump 149. Switch 150 is an A-B switch that allows the user to
select power from the grid or depend on the packaged system 142 for
all power needs. The last stage of the exhaust exits vent 151. 152
shows brackets for floor mounting.
[0094] FIG. 17 illustrates the preferred embodiment as a closed and
opened door floor mounted or wall hanging unit 142. Air ventilation
for the cabinet is through grill 153.
[0095] FIG. 18 illustrates the system of FIG. 17 configured as a
flowerbed model, to be installed outside the residence or building,
or on the roof with water heater 148, pump 149 and exhaust vent 151
mounted external to the cabinet 154. Air ventilation is through
grills 155. The unit has self-supporting foundation 156.
[0096] FIG. 19 illustrates the unit of FIG. 18 with foundation 156,
fuel control 146, thermoelectric generator 145, exhaust driven
thermoelectric current source 147 for thermoelectric chiller
component 35, the battery bank 143 drives the inverter-up-converter
144 from the utility grid or the bank 143 is charged directly from
the generator. The inverter-up-converter 144 connects to the
generator's dc bus to peak shave until the generator can increase
heating and assume the full load, approximately 30 seconds or less.
The flowerbed model is a configuration that is traditional for
Freon and absorption air conditioning and heating applications on
the United States. The wall hanging unit of FIGS. 16, 17 will find
utility in older buildings where they can be mounted on an outside
wall, above the ground. In the case where the unit is mounted two
stories or higher, a small balcony or veranda, accessible through a
window would provide a means for servicing the thermoelectric
generator-chiller hybrid 142 and could serve as a balcony for the
residence.
[0097] FIG. 20 illustrates a solar version for powering a
thermoelectric current driver that powers a thermoelectric chiller
component 35. Motor 157 and blower scroll 158, cool hot fins 4 as
in hot section 120 of FIG. 13. Solar energy is collected by
reflective cone 159 and focused on hot fins 4 of thermoelectric
generator torus 6. Blower 160 circulates air to cool cold fins 3 of
the generator ring 6. Cold fins are shielded from solar radiation
161. The complete assembly 162 can be mounted to track the sun and
thereby use the collected solar radiation to provide air
conditioning and refrigeration for a process, home, office or
building. This 162 works best when air-conditioning loading is high
at midday. In addition to the use of cones to focus sunlight on the
thermoelectric generator portion of the thermoelectric
generator/chiller hybrid, sunlight may be focused by a lens
situated over the thermoelectric generator or by surrounding the
thermoelectric generator with a reflective dish which focuses the
sunlight on a second dish situated in the focal path of the first
dish and reflecting sunlight on the hot fins of the thermoelectric
generator.
[0098] FIG. 21 illustrates a solar air conditioning device 162
mounted on a sun-tracking mount 163, maintaining 162 pointing to
the sun by actuator device 164. A water-glycol mixture, or any
other suitable fluid is circulated through the thermoelectric
chiller component 35 and then piped through a pipe loop 165 through
building 166 where coil 167 is used to cool the inside air of
building 166. The fluid is then returned to the chiller component
35 to have heat in the fluid expelled to ambient air and fluid
refrigerated. The return fluid in one embodiment is delivered to
insulated tank 168 with insulated cover 169 to serve as cold store.
Fluid 170 can be water, glycol, water-glycol, brine, or any other
suitable fluid. Fluid then exits tank 168 through circulating pump
171 to thermoelectric chiller component 35. Using cold storage tank
168, the building 166 can be cooled well after sunset by
circulating fluid that was refrigerated well below ambient during
daytime operation. FIG. 21 shows two solar units 162 with chiller
component 35 operating in tandem. 162 can also be used with
individual loops and operated with fluid from a single loop
operated in parallel. Another variant uses liquid cooling to
replace the blower and motor air cooling of the hot fins 4 as with
the chiller component 35 in FIG. 11. An alternative means to
provide solar heated hot fluid to the thermoelectric generator is
to place a metal tube in the center of linear parabolic reflective
member which is located in an east-west axis. As the seasons change
the angle to the sun is adjusted. As the sun rises, passes across
the sky to setting, sunlight is focused on the metal tube where it
heats the fluid inside. A pump circulates the fluid to the hot fins
of the thermoelectric generator portion of the thermoelectric
generator/chiller hybrid.
[0099] FIG. 22 illustrates a chiller ring 6 driven by MOSfet
drivers 172 controlled by pulse width modulator chip 173. This
configuration uses ac power from the utility grid 174 or from other
sources processed through bridge rectifier 175 into dc power to
drive the primary winding 176. The magnetic core 177 couples the
primary winding 176 with the secondary windings 178 and 179. MOSfet
switches 180 and 181, controlled by pulse width modulator chip 173
driving through double-pole-double-throw switch 182 switch
secondary windings 178 and 179 open or closed. The drive current
directions in the secondary windings 178 and 179 are determined by
switch 182 and timing of switches 180, 181. The direction of drive
current 183 in the chiller ring 6 is always the same for a
particular 182 switch mode setting. This is because of the
arrangement of leads 184 connected to chiller ring 6. Drive current
direction is due to the position of switch 182 and the timing of
switches 180, 181. 182 describes a two-mode switch that determines
the direction of heat flow across chiller ring 6. 185 is a side
view of the switch-mode down converter that shows how drive
terminals are connected in 184 to cause current to flow in one
direction only 183 when switch 182 is in one mode or current in the
opposite direction 186 when switch 182 is in the other mode.
Electrically operated switch 182 can be used to control the average
heat flow in chiller ring 6 by operating switch 182 in one mode for
a longer or shorter period than switch 182 is in the other
mode.
[0100] FIG. 23 illustrates an electrically alterable switching
bridge 187 connected to secondary 188 controlled by electrical
input 189 that determines the direction of current 190 and 191 in
chiller ring 6. FIG. 23 illustrates chiller current reversal caused
by control signal to lead 189 causing heat flow reversal when an ac
input 174 is used to drive chiller ring 6. Secondary winding 188
produces an ac input to bridge 187 outputting dc current from
bridge 187 into chiller ring 6 under electronic control of lead
189.
[0101] A preferred embodiment of the thermoelectric generator part
of the thermoelectric hybrid uses hot fins coated with a combustion
catalyst when combustion occurs at or near the hot fins. The n-type
and p-type semiconductors play an important role in allowing high
heat flow efficiency. Example 3 gives the range of elements and a
preferred amount of elements making up the n-type
semi-conductor.
EXAMPLE 3
n-Type Semiconductor Composition
[0102]
2 Element Range Preferred Amount Selenium 5%-10% 6% Bismuth 40%-60%
47% Tellurium remainder to 100% 47%
[0103] Example 4 gives the range and preferred amount of the p-type
semiconductor.
EXAMPLE 4
p-Type Semiconductor Composition
[0104]
3 Element Range Preferred Amount Antimony 28%-30% 29.1% Bismuth
8%-10% 9.5% Tellurium remainder to 100% 61.4%
[0105] Copper and other elements greatly degrade performance of
these semiconductor components therefore high purity elements are
preferred. Each chemical element should be at least 99.9% pure and
preferably 99.999% pure. In a preferred embodiment said elements
are combined and melted to a temperature of about 700 degrees
before being cast into a desired shape.
[0106] Slow cooling of the combined elements makes high quality
semiconductors. A preferred size for the wafers is 1.5 mm thick by
2-cm by-2 cm. For ease of presentation the 2-cm by 2-cm sides are
called faces and the 1.5-mm.times.2-cm sides are called "sides". To
achieve slow cooling combined melted semiconductor material is
poured into a mold of the desired shape having the thin direction
cast vertically, that is, sides are facing horizontally. In a
preferred embodiment the wall of the mold is coated with hollow
ceramic spheres obtained from fly-ash material that floats on
water. The ceramic spheres are in the form of a powder that has
relatively uniform size of less than 10 microns. Preferably the
powder is held together in the mold by propylene glycol or milk of
magnesia. In a preferred embodiment cast faces of the semiconductor
are lightly smoothed using a belt sander with 100-grit aluminum
oxide sandpaper. Properly cast wafers have a crystal grain size
that microscopically appears to approach 2-mm. Transfer of
electrons across the semiconductor is improved when some portions
of the semiconductor are without a boundary barrier in the
direction of flight of the electrons.
[0107] Semiconductors are protected from infiltration of copper
atoms and components of solder by coating them entirely with a thin
layer of nickel, ranging from 1 to 10 microns thick. The edges of
the semiconductors are further coated with a non-conducting
insulator to reduce heat conduction not progressing through the
fin. In a preferred embodiment the coating is a high temperature
polymer, such as Tempilaq, manufactured by Air Liquide America
Corp. of South Plainfield, N.J. 07080, USA. The sides of the
semiconductor are further coated with an additional thickness of
nickel of at least 20 microns, preferably 20 to 30 microns.
[0108] In a preferred embodiment fins are made of copper. To reduce
corrosion and prevent migration of copper into the semiconductor
the fins are coated with metal more resistant to oxidation,
preferably nickel. In a preferred embodiment the fins are tapered
on the opposite end connecting to the semiconductor to allow
complete metal filling of the circle. In another preferred
embodiment the ends of the hot fins facing the center of the circle
are tapered to reduce the likelihood of an electric short caused by
fins touching.
[0109] An alternative approach to achieve uniform
metal-semiconductor filling of the circle is to have straight ends
on the fins and to insert coated copper wedges periodically around
the circle. Preferably the copper wedges are coated with nickel and
placed in registry with each coupon.
[0110] A single insulator is placed in the ring and preferably an
additional cold fin with adjacent semiconductor. In a preferred
embodiment the insulator is made of mica.
[0111] Placing solder between the surfaces of the fins and the
semiconductors completes assembly the thermoelectric device.
Preferably prior to assembly solder is applied to both sides of the
hot and cold fins at a thickness of between 50 and 100 microns.
Kester's solder is preferred but an additional 4% of silver needs
to be added for optimal performance.
[0112] A considerable outward radial force occurs when current is
applied to the hot fins and current flows in the torus. To prevent
collapse of the device compressive force needs to be supplied. This
is accomplished by tightening a metal strap around the device. To
prevent shorting by the metal strap and insulating material is
place around the ring before attaching the metal strap. Preferably
the insulating wrapping is heat shrinkable polyamide. In another
preferred embodiment the steel band is held in compression using
one or more Belleville disk spring washers. These allow compression
to be retained when the device cools. Non-metallic thermo-stable
plastic can be used in lieu of a metal band with electrical
insulator. Prior to assembly each coupon is tested for its
thermoelectric activity.
[0113] After assembly and application of inward compression by the
metal ban the device is heated. In a preferred embodiment the rate
of heating is 10 degrees per minute to a temperature of 270 degrees
C. The device is removed and allowed to cool in air. In another
preferred embodiment the cold fins are positioned downward so any
excess solder drips along the cold fins creating extra surface area
for heat exchange.
[0114] In a preferred embodiment the thermoelectric chiller device
claimed herein is combined with a mechanical compressor and air
storage chamber to provide a portable, quite and efficient air
compressor system for sanitary power tools, plus the ability to
flash freeze foods or tissue being processed.
[0115] In addition to thermoelectric tools, which benefit from
cooling the thermoelectric device disclosed here can replace other
means of supplying energy with refrigeration to appliances. Thus a
thermoelectric generator/chiller hybrid can be used to power a
common household refrigerator or freezer while supplying
electricity to power lighting, stoves, dishwashers and fans.
Similarly, gas or liquid fuel can power electric stoves by
utilizing a thermoelectric device that also chills and electrifies
the appliance. Such appliances fitted to burn wood would be
especially useful in remote areas where wood is abundant and
electricity is not present, but refrigeration is always needed for
food preservation and for creature comfort. As with thermoelectric
tools thermoelectric appliances have the benefit of allowing
feedback to control the rate of combustion and heat rate for
refrigeration.
[0116] In another preferred embodiment a thermoelectric powered
generator/chiller hybrid and water heater and water harvesting
machine is designed to be affixed to the outside of an apartment,
townhouse, condominium or the floor of an office to provide
electricity, climate control and water independent of the
building's services, needing only a fuel supply. Such a system will
make retrofit of existing facilities easier providing an
alternative to high cost, unreliable utilities and nuclear source
power in Europe and elsewhere in the world. Various conservation of
energy features of the thermoelectric chillers and chiller hybrids
provide great diversity for implementing heating, cooling and
energy storage systems. For example thermoelectric devices can be
utilized in new housing construction. A basic version is the
utility grid-driven central heat and air conditioning system.
Placed in a closet, attic or basement, a grid-driven thermoelectric
unit can utilize a short return air and minimum amounts of ducting.
Waste heat can be utilized during the summer to keep water hot for
bathing. The thermoelectric generator-chiller hybrid can be used in
the home the same way, with electrical energy for the home provided
by fuel combustion, air conditioning and heating requirements
supplied from the exhaust heat. In this way, supplemental options
can include not only the heating of sanitary water, but also the
heating of a water reservoir as an energy store and the chilling of
another store as a freezing water storage bank, this energy drawn
out as needed to satisfy house requirements. Another option for the
thermoelectric generator-chiller hybrid is a solar feature wherein
a means is provided to concentrate sunlight to heat hot fins,
thereby saving fuel. Still another option is in heating the hot
fins using a separate or remote combustor or boiler that can
operate with any fuel. Still a further option is to add a water
electrolysis system, with a means to store hydrogen and oxygen. A
thermoelectric system with solar collector can produce electricity
as needed, with any surplus electricity converted into hydrogen gas
during daylight hour. Later, the hydrogen can be burned to produce
electricity while supplying environmental heating, cooling and
sanitary hot water. Similarly, the thermoelectric generator,
driving stand-alone versions of the thermoelectric heater-chiller
components can also supply the electrical requirements of other
applications. This variant, although less efficient than the hybrid
form that produces drive current for the thermoelectric chiller
component using only waste heat from the generator, is more
versatile in that electrical output can be provided for many other
purposes when heating or cooling is not needed.
[0117] A very important aspect of the thermoelectric chiller is
that either or both the hot and cold fins can be used to produce
energy storage. For example when a house needs to be heated and the
chiller provides hot air to the house, cold liquid or air being
circulated to the cold fins can provide water chilling or freezing,
which a form of stored energy that can be utilized at a later time.
Stored cold water can be used to condense water from high humidity
air. This is especially useful in arid regions where the cooling of
nighttime high humidity air allows the condensation of large
quantities of moisture can be a source of pure water.
[0118] It is also possible to add to these systems a molten salt
heat storage system. Excess heat from the chiller can be transfer
to a storage reservoir and used as needed by extracting heat from
the store by circulating fluid, air or gas through the store using
a heat exchanger in the molten salt to supplement the performance
of the thermoelectric chiller as needed.
[0119] Cooling applications, that use the utility grid to supply
current to the torus thermoelectric chiller device, include
environmental central air conditioning and heating systems,
individual room cooling and heating systems installed in either the
ceiling, wall or window mounted stand-alone configurations. In
retrofit applications, the chiller can replace both the cooling and
heating features of a failed system, by inserting one or more
thermoelectric chiller-heaters into existing ducts. Individual
rooms can also be climate controlled by placing units in the
ceilings, walls or windows.
[0120] Utility driven thermoelectric chillers can be used in
appliances. Refrigerators, freezers and combinations will be
simpler to manufacture and cheaper to operate with a thermoelectric
chiller in the top, another in the bottom or wall of the
refrigerator or walk-in appliance. Thermoelectric chillers will
operate quietly, more efficiently than electromechanical versions.
A fan can circulate cold air inside the refrigerator-freezer while
another fan removes heat from hot fins on the outside. Defrosting
of these refrigerator-freezers is by simple current reversal.
[0121] In frozen food production applications, thermoelectric
cascade chillers can freeze air that can then be poured over
just-cooked food, assuring sealed in freshness.
[0122] Cold air or liquid, chilled by a thermoelectric chiller can
be used as a dehumidifier in the home, business or institution.
This means can be used for condensing outside moisture in the
atmosphere to provide a water supply. In a preferred embodiment,
chilled water is sprayed in droplet form through a flow of ambient
high humidity air. Water droplets facilitate the condensation of
water from the cooled ambient air, trapping the moisture as a water
supply.
[0123] During winter months, by reversing the current flow in the
thermoelectric chiller, it can serve as the heating source for the
home, office or institution needs. For new or retrofit applications
the same system used for cooling in summer can provide heat in the
winter. This is accomplished by either reversing the direction of
the current in the torus, or by reversing the input/output ducting
of the torus chiller.
[0124] Heat from a thermoelectric chiller can be used for cooking.
A hybrid appliance can be both a refrigerator and a stove in the
same appliance, so that food can be kept cold until time for
cooking, then the food cooked for a prescribed time, ready to be
eaten at a pre-set time. This is accomplished by reversing the
current in the chiller; fins of the thermoelectric that were
chilling food so it now provides heat for cooking in the same
chamber. Industrial thermoelectric chillers can be used to cook
food on a continuous basis, with the additional feature that at the
end of the cooking cycle the food can be quenched with liquid air
harvested from a cascade version of the torus chiller to seal in
freshness. The processed food can then be passed into a cold
storage environment maintained by thermoelectric chillers that also
provide the heat for cooking. Both heating and cooling
possibilities are provided, at the same time, by the thermoelectric
torus chiller.
[0125] A thermoelectric chiller can be used as a hot water heater
while the cold fins provide a cold water energy store that can
later be used as a cold bank to enhance the performance of the same
or other chillers.
[0126] The above-described applications apply the same for direct
current-driven, waste-heat-driven, and grid-driven thermoelectric
chiller systems. The same advantages and applications mentioned
above apply to thermoelectric generator-chiller hybrids having
soldered or brazed tight electrical connection between the
generator and chiller. An added feature of the generator-chiller
hybrid is that some of the electrical energy from the torus can be
taped from terminals between the generator and chiller and used to
power fans and electronic controls, making the unit independent of
outside electrical power source needs.
[0127] When electrical energy is needed for a household, along with
environmental heating, cooling, and sanitary hot water, the
thermoelectric generator, with a waste heat-driven thermoelectric
generator-chiller hybrid is the preferred variant. This version can
be used to operate a stand-alone clothes washer-dryer combination
appliance. Electrical energy for this appliance is produced in the
first generator to drive motor and control mechanisms, while the
waste heat that is converted into current is used to drive the
chiller-heater component. In this way, the home can be air
conditioned while the heat of the hot fins and exhaust of the
generator heat water for washing and then dry the clothes with
heat.
[0128] In the waste heat-driven generator-chiller version, as well
as other chiller versions, any excess electrical energy can be
converted into hydrogen by the electrolysis of water, the hydrogen
stored in a bladder or compressed into a pressure vessel for
storage. The hydrogen can then be consumed as needed as fuel to
recovery energy, converting it back into electrical energy and used
to drive electrical loads, heating or cooling applications.
Although the water-to-hydrogen electrolytic process is at best 70%
efficient, the other 30% of the energy becomes heat that can
promote a methane formation reaction. When the hydrogen producing
electrolytic process is located within a biogas generator, the heat
helps methane producing bacteria convert cellulose and sanitary
waste into methane gas, the methane-hydrogen fuel mixture can be
stored in a pressure vessel or in a roll-out bladder. This fuel
mixture is a suitable fuel to burn as needed in thermoelectric
generators and generator-chiller hybrids.
[0129] Thermoelectric generator-chiller hybrids can be used in
mechanical applications as well as with self-powered appliances.
Generator-chiller hybrids can be used to power a car or other
vehicles with first a thermoelectric generator providing the
electrical energy for locomotion. Exhaust heat passing through a
second thermoelectric generator produces heating, chilling, air
conditioning and refrigeration for inside the vehicle and for the
cargo hold. A thermoelectric, fuel-driven, chiller hybrid truck can
be used in city; between and in remote places to keep food cold or
frozen as needed and provide transportation.
[0130] A thermoelectric cascade chiller can be used to liquefy
methane to allow convenient cryogenic storage onboard vehicles in
insulated vessels and used as needed for transportation fuel.
[0131] A thermoelectric, fuel-driven, chiller hybrid powered
vehicle or stand-alone chiller unit can be used to provide the
electricity to drive pumps and at the same time to produce heat to
lower viscosity when spraying viscous polymers, chilling the
material to set the polymer after coating.
[0132] A thermoelectric fuel-driven chiller hybrid can supply
electrical energy to control and drive an injection molding system
and at the same time provide heat to melt polymers and provide
cooling for the injection molds. A thermoelectric chiller can
provide cooling for a personal refrigeration suit. Alternatively a
thermoelectric fuel driven chiller hybrid could provide for
electrical needs as well as personal cooling.
[0133] The thermoelectric systems described herein have the unique
advantage of being able to take otherwise wasted heat or waste
cooling and conserve the wasted energy. FIG. 24 illustrates just
one scheme for storing and recovering energy in this manner. The
illustrated scheme uses the waste heat version of a packaged
thermoelectric chiller hybrid shown in front view as a 142 of FIG.
16. Some components of 142 are illustrated separately; a first
thermoelectric generator 145, a second thermoelectric generator
component 147 utilizing waste heat from 145 ohmically connected to
a compartmentalized thermoelectric chiller component 35. Heat
energy not utilized by the second thermoelectric generator 147 is
passed to a hot water heater 148. In another example hot gas from a
re-circulating fuel combustor 192 can be used to supply heat to the
generator 145. Heat from 192 is transferred to the first
thermoelectric current driver 64 that is inside 147 and
thermoelectric generator 61 that is inside 145 operating on hot
gas.
[0134] Pump 193 circulates hot gas, air or fluid from the hot fins
of the chiller component 35 and pump 194 circulates chilled gas,
air or fluid over cold fins of chiller 35. Hot gas, air, or fluid
pumped by 193 passes through lines that are connected to one or
more heated appliance 195, 196 and household environment 197. The
hot gas, air, or fluid line also connects to a heat exchange which
stores energy in a molten salt reservoir 198. These lines also
connect to a heat exchanger in a biogas producing pool or pond 199.
Also in line is a heat exchanger 200 that allows excess heat to be
dumped to the atmosphere when needed. Valves control when, for how
long, and what amount of heat is used by each component in the
circulating lines pumped by 193. Pump 194 circulates chilled gas,
air, or liquid to one or more appliances to be cooled 201,
household environment 202, and to an ice storage reservoir 203. The
chilled lines also connect to heat exchanger 204 that dumps excess
chilling to the atmosphere as needed. Also connected to lines
pumped by 194 is a water collection system 205 using heat
exchangers 206 and 207. Heat exchanger 206 chills water used to
make droplets from nozzles 208 to increase the collection of water
from humid air chilled by heat exchanger 206. Heat exchanger 207
takes fluid cooled by air exiting water collection system 205 and
returns cooled fluid to the loop of pump 193 to aid in cooling the
hot fins of chiller 35 when the chilling loop of pump 194 requires
the extra chill capacity and heating system requirements are low.
Any excess electricity produced by thermoelectric generator 145 is
used to produce hydrogen, which is formed in electrolysis vessel
209 in biogas pond 199, stored in a roll-out bladder 210, or the
gas travels by line 211 to pressurizing pump 212, where the
hydrogen-methane gas mixture is stored in pressure vessel 213. The
gas mixture can be burned as needed, traveling by line 114 to
thermoelectric generator 145. Large arrow 214 represents energy in
the form of the heat energy from burning gas, or burning a gas
mixture, or the heat energy from a re-circulating fuel combustor
192, or heat from a boiler type combustion system. The heat flow
represented by 214 can be seen exiting 145 in two ways, the larger
of this part entering 147, the largest part entering 148, and the
largest part of the flow exiting 148 is in the form of heated water
through pump 149. These large arrows represent an energy balance
for the system. The bulge 215 in the heat flow arrow that passes
through chiller 35, represents the Joule heating contribution made
by current circulating in the torus ring of chiller 35, causing
more heat to exit chiller 35 than heat is removed by cold fins. The
electrical output 216 of thermoelectric generator 145 powers the
electrical needs of household 217. Any surplus electricity can be
used to electrolyze hydrogen in pond 199 with electrolysis vessel
209. Medical grade oxygen is also produced by the electrolysis of
water into hydrogen, pure oxygen gas can be delivered by pipe to
the household to benefit patients with respiratory problems, or
oxygen can be pressurized in bottles, stored for use elsewhere as
needed. Solar energy 218 passes into biogas pond 199 to stimulate
methane production as needed.
[0135] In a preferred embodiment re-circulating fuel combustor 192
is replace by a boiler type combustion system which delivers hot
fluid to and then is returned from a compartmentalized
thermoelectric generator that is ohmically connected to chiller
component 35. Re-circulating hot fluid lines can be connected as
well from one or more solar collectors to the compartmentalized
thermoelectric component 35 of the generator-chiller hybrid. In
this system, ambient temperature liquid can be pumped to the cold
fins of chiller 35 to improve efficiency.
[0136] Thus having described the method of manufacture of
components, the assembly of components, and an efficient means to
extract energy produced by a temperature differential, a means to
improve the overall efficiency of causing heat to flow by
electricity by combining said thermoelectric generator device with
a thermoelectric chiller device and by having given a variety of
examples as to how to combine said thermoelectric devices operate
with other components to provide a broad range of useful products,
we claim:
* * * * *