Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
136207000 | Including an electric heater | 11 |
20090151767 | COMPOSITE THERMOELECTRIC MATERIAL AND METHODS FOR MAKING - Thermoelectric materials, devices, and systems are presented. One embodiment is a composite material comprising a matrix comprising a thermoelectric material; and an electrically conducting phase disposed within the matrix. The electrically conducting phase has a lower electrical resistivity than the thermoelectric material, and it forms a continuous electrically conducting path through the matrix from a first surface of the material to a second surface of the material. Another embodiment is a device, comprising a thermoelectric element. This element is made of the above composite material. A further embodiment is a thermoelectric system, made of a heat source, a heat sink, and the thermoelectric device disposed in thermal communication with the heat source and heat sink. The system may be configured for power generation or for thermal management. | 06-18-2009 |
20090151768 | HEAT TRACING APPARATUS WITH HEAT-DRIVEN PUMPING SYSTEM - In a heat tracing system using heat from a radiant heater to heat a circulating fluid, thermoelectric generation modules are used to generate electricity for powering a circulating pump. Thermoelectric power generation modules are sandwiched between a heat-absorbing plate and a heat sink, and this assembly is positioned with the heat-absorbing plate adjacent to a radiant heater. A conduit loop passes through the heat sink, such that a fluid circulating through the conduit is heated from heat drawn from the heater into the heat sink. Due to the temperature differential between the hot and cold sides of the thermoelectric modules, the modules produce electricity to power the pump circulating the fluid through the conduit loop. Supplementary heat exchanger components may be provided for additional fluid-heating capacity, and thereby increasing the amount of heat available for the heat tracing loop. | 06-18-2009 |
20110290294 | DEVICE FOR CONVERTING ENERGY AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS WITH THE DEVICE - The present invention provides an energy converting device, which includes: a base substrate; and a plurality of thermoelectric element structures which are sequentially stacked on the base substrate and electrically interconnected in parallel to one another. | 12-01-2011 |
20130068272 | THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE USING A SOLVATING MATERIAL - The present invention relates to a thermoelectric conversion device using a solvating material, the device comprising: a cell with a closed structure, comprising a metal ammonia or metal amine compound as a solvating material; a polarization or porous separation membrane; and a heating unit, which prevents the outflow of the solvating material and thus maintains the solvating material in a reversible state. | 03-21-2013 |
20130074900 | Electrocaloric Refrigerator and Multilayer Pyroelectric Energy Generator - In accordance with the invention, there are electrocaloric devices, pyroelectric devices and methods of forming them. A device which can be a pyroelectric energy generator or an electrocaloric cooling device, can include a first reservoir at a first temperature and a second reservoir at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature. The device can also include a plurality of liquid crystal thermal switches disposed between the first reservoir and the second reservoir and one or more active layers disposed between the first reservoir and the second reservoir, such that each of the one or more active layers is sandwiched between two liquid crystal thermal switches. The device can further include one or more power supplies to apply voltage to the plurality of liquid crystal thermal switches and the one or more the active layers. | 03-28-2013 |
20130255741 | STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR COUPLING HEAT TO AN EMBEDDED THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE - An integrated circuit with an embedded heat exchanger for coupling heat to an embedded thermoelectric device from a thermal source that is electrically isolated from a thermoelectric device. A method for forming an integrated circuit with an embedded heat exchanger. | 10-03-2013 |
20130312805 | Method and Apparatus for Using Thermionic Devices to Recover Energy from Light Sources and Other Energy Conversion Devices - A lamp having a light emitting diode, a Peltier device, a heat sink, a translucent, thermally conductive window, and an optical fluid. The Peltier device is in thermal communication with the light emitting diode and converts a waste thermal energy discharged by the light emitting diode into an electrical energy. Conductors transfer the electrical energy from the Peltier device to a boost circuit which converts a level of a voltage associated with the electrical energy output from the Peltier device to a higher, more useful value. The heat sink transfers a second thermal energy from the Peltier device. The optical fluid is located between the translucent, thermally conductive window and the light emitting diode. The optical fluid has an angle of diffraction having an intermediate value relative to an angle of diffraction associated with the light emitting diode and an angle of diffraction associated with the translucent, thermally conductive window. | 11-28-2013 |
20130333738 | THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION MATERIAL, AND FLEXIBLE THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT USING THE SAME - An object of the invention is to provide a thermoelectric conversion material that can have a balance between flexibility and high thermoelectric conversion capacity, a thermoelectric conversion element using the material, and a device that uses waste heat of, for example, an electronic apparatus and a vehicle by using the element. Provided is a thermoelectric conversion element that includes a layer constituted by an organic material in which a fine particle of a carbon nanotube is dispersed and which has flexibility, preferably, a high glass transition temperature and low thermal conductivity, and in which a mass ratio of the carbon nanotube to the organic material is 50% by mass to 90% by mass, and a device in which the thermoelectric conversion element is installed to a heat release portion of an apparatus. | 12-19-2013 |
20140216517 | VERTICAL THERMOELECTRIC STRUCTURES - A thermoelectric device is disclosed which includes metal thermal terminals protruding from a top surface of an IC, connected to vertical thermally conductive conduits made of interconnect elements of the IC. Lateral thermoelectric elements are connected to the vertical conduits at one end and heatsinked to the IC substrate at the other end. The lateral thermoelectric elements are thermally isolated by interconnect dielectric materials on the top side and field oxide on the bottom side. When operated in a generator mode, the metal thermal terminals are connected to a heat source and the IC substrate is connected to a heat sink. Thermal power flows through the vertical conduits to the lateral thermoelectric elements, which generate an electrical potential. The electrical potential may be applied to a component or circuit in the IC. The thermoelectric device may be integrated into an IC without adding fabrication cost or complexity. | 08-07-2014 |
20140230874 | Waste heat thermoelectric generator with auxiliary burner - A thermoelectric generator utilizing a number of thermoelectric modules to produce electric power from waste heat when waste heat is available and from an alternate heat source when waste heat is not available. In both cases hot gasses are directed along several separate paths so that all of the modules are provided with approximately equal hot side temperatures. In a preferred embodiment the engine exhaust exits into an octagonally-shaped plenum into eight separate heat exchangers. Eight modules are mounted in each of the heat exchangers for a total of 64 modules. Preferred embodiments of the present invention include an auxiliary combustion burner-blower unit producing a hot exhaust that exits into the plenum to provide electric power when the truck is not operating. Valve features are provided to control the temperature and exhaust flow rate through the generator. | 08-21-2014 |
20150083180 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND/OR APPARATUS FOR THERMOELECTRIC ENERGY GENERATION - Systems, methods and/or apparatus for the conversion of various types of energy into thermal energy that may be stored and/or then converted into electrical energy. The electrical energy may be available on demand and/or at a user's desired power requirements (e.g., power level and/or type). For example, the energy may be available at a particular voltage and either as direct current (DC) energy or alternating current (AC) energy. The electrical energy may be easily transported and therefore available at a user's desired location. For example, the systems, methods and/or devices may eliminate or reduce the need for electricity transmission, at least for certain applications. In exemplary embodiments, the system may include an organic phase change material for storing the thermal energy. | 03-26-2015 |