Title:
MATERIALS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR RESONANT AMBIENT THERMAL ENERGY HARVESTING
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/172952
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to materials, devices, and methods for resonant ambient thermal energy harvesting. Thermal energy can be harvested using thermoelectric resonators that capture and store ambient thermal fluctuations and convert the fluctuations to energy. The thermal resonators can include heat engines disposed between masses of varying sizes or diodes. The masses or diodes can be made of high and ultra-high effusivity materials to transfer thermal energy through the resonator and optimize power output. The masses or diodes of the resonator can be tuned to the dominant frequency of the temperature waveform to maximize the amount of energy being converted. The resonators can be added to existing structures to supply or generate power, and, in some embodiments, the structures themselves can be a mass of the thermal resonator. Methods for constructing and/or using such devices are also provided, as are methods for formulating ultra-high effusivity materials.
Inventors:
STRANO MICHAEL (US)
COTTRILL ANTON (US)
MAHAJAN SAYALEE (US)
LIU TIANXIANG (US)
KOMAN VOLODYMYR (US)
COTTRILL ANTON (US)
MAHAJAN SAYALEE (US)
LIU TIANXIANG (US)
KOMAN VOLODYMYR (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2018/049261
Publication Date:
November 14, 2019
Filing Date:
August 31, 2018
Export Citation:
Assignee:
MASSACHUSETTS INST TECHNOLOGY (US)
International Classes:
F03G7/04; H02N11/00
Domestic Patent References:
| WO2014110226A1 | 2014-07-17 |
Foreign References:
| US20050172993A1 | 2005-08-11 | |||
| US20110120116A1 | 2011-05-26 | |||
| US4086769A | 1978-05-02 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
PHEIFFER, Rory, P. et al. (US)
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