CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS:

This application is a continuation in pan of application serial number 08/607,382 filed 27, Feb. 1996 which is a continuation of application serial number 08/491,787 filed 19 June, 1995 now abandoned from which priority is claimed

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a thermoelectric power generation system that employs an absoφtion refrigeration cycle to increase Carnot. efficiency of converting heat from fuel to electricity.

BACKGROUND ART

Factors which diminish the efficiency of the thermoelectric power generator of fig. 1 include joule heating and the Thompson effect. The Thompson effect is the efflux or influx of heat in a conductor conducting an electric current simultaneously with the presence of a thermal gradient in the conductor.

Another impoπant factor that limits the efficiency of the thermoelectric power generator of fig. 1 is the rate with which the reservoir 18 supplies heat to the junction 14 and the rate with which junction 16 supplies heat to reservoir 20. This rate can be limited, for example, by thermal conductivities of the media of reservoirs 18 and 20 which reduce the

thermal gradient between junctions 14 and 16. Another consideration is that, while a large thermal gradient between the junctions generates a greater Peltier potential, it also results in increased heat being conducted through the junction and dissipated by the heat sink.

The net effect of factors leading to thermal losses is that, as the temperature difference across the thermoelement is increased, the advantage of increased thermopotential due to the increased difference of work functions is offset by a greater increase of thermal losses due to, for example, photon and phonon vibrations, etc.—

According to the present state of the art, the most efficient thermoelectric materials are semiconductors such as lead telluride, silver gallium telluride, copper gallium telluride, silver indium Telluride , silver gallium telluride, copper gallium telluride, sodium manganese telluride. Compounds of Selenium exhibit strong thermoelectric properties. Compounds containing at least one member of the group selenium, sulfur and tellurium are known a.s chalcogenides. Small amounts of various agents (doping agents) such as indium or sodium may be incoφorated in the thermoelectric compositions to establish the type of conductivity (p or n) of the material) The most commercially common pn materials used for electrical power generation are either Bismuth Telluride or Lead Telluride.

Those materials which are the primary materials used to generate electrical power according to the present state of the art, all have poor Carnot efficiencies, in convening fuel into electricity. The Carnot efficiency of present thermoelectric materials in commercial

electrical generation systems as a whole never exceed 6%. (Some manufacturers claim 8 - 9 % for n type lead telluride but this claim is not a system claim but a claim for a single material standing alone.) because of the low Carnot efficiency, thermoelectric devices are not employed for generating electricity for utility puφoses.

Thermoelectric generation of power using p n materials is generally employed only under conditions where reliability is a greater concern than energy efficiency. A typical commercial bismuth telluride electrical generator has a thermopile between a gas driven burner and a set of cooling fins exposed to ambient temperature. The temperature of gas (air) caπ-ying exhaust heat emitted from a well designed commercial thermoelectric generator is ideally very near the temperature of the cooling fins. Nevertheless, the present state of the an generator is characterized by substantial loss of heat such that the efficiency is about 6 %. -

According to practices of the present an, heat generated by thermoelectric devices that was not used to generate thermoelectricity was either used directly for such puφoses as to heat water or a room or was wastefully exhausted.

For example, some manufacturers of hot water heaters have placed a thermopile (generally thermal piles made of bismuth telluride) between a heat source (produced by a flame) and the water that is to be heated. This was an attempt to use all the heat to warm water that was not used to produce thermoelectricity .

The principle of the Carnot cycle which applies to the devices discussed above is to extract energy as heat, Q2. from a source at a temperature T2, apply a a portion of the energy to performance of work, W , and discharge the remainder, Qi = Q2 - W at a lower temperature. T _\ . According to the well known Carnot principle, the maximum efficiency, E = W/Q2 that can be achieved from a camot engine operating between temperatures Tiand T2, is::

Emax = (T2 - Ti ) / To (The Carnot efficiency)

The objective in operating a refrigerator is to perform work to withdraw heat Q2' from a source at temperature T2' and to discharge the heat Q ' to a heat sink at temperature Tj' where Tj > T2. This requires performing an amount of work W which is equivalent to an additional amount of heat discharged to the heat sink so that the total amount of work discharged to the heat sink is Qi' where:

Ql = Q2 +

A typical absoφtion refrigerator system circulates a solution containing two components which have different boiling points. A common solution for this type of refrigeration is ammonia dissolved in water. A gas flame heats the solution of ammoniated water to drive off gaseous ammonia. The ammonia gas is then cooled in a condenser to ambient temperature and condenses to a liquid. The heat of condensation is expelled to the ambient environment. The liquid ammonia is then discharged into an evaporator where it

evaporates and therefore absorbs heat so as to produce a cooling effect. Hydrogen gas is present in the evaporator and mixes with the ammonia thereby ballasting the pressure throughout the system. The heavy ammonia vapor mixed with hydrogen is then conducted to an "absorber" where the ammonia is absorbed by incoming water and the hydrogen is expelled. The ammonia dissolving in the water generates heat and this heat of solution is allowed to dissipate from the absorber in order to maintain the temperature of the water ammonia solution at ambient temperature and ensure that the water is saturated with ammonia at room temperature. Then the ammonia-in-water solution circulates back to the location of the flame where ammonia is driven off by the heat of the flame and the cycle is repeated. so that the cycle is repeated. .

All of the generating and refrigerating devices of the present art described above discharge large amounts of waste heat in accordance with the limitations defined by the Carnot principle.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an efficient electrical generation system by using refrigeration principles to direct heat flux through one or more thermoelectric devices that would otherwise be lost as heat exhaust in conventional devices. .

In one embodiment, a first thermopile is positioned between the gas flame and the boiler unit of an absoφtion refrigerator so that part of the heat flux generated by the temperature

gradient between the flame and the boiler is used to generate thermoelectric power in the first thermopile. The second thermopile has its high temperature side exposed to an air current that has been positioned to draw heat from the absorber and condenser, and its low temperature side cooled by positioning proximal to the evaporator.

In another embodiment, the invention comprises a unit that includes an absorber refrigerator and a one or more thermopiles where the units are ganged together in succession such that heat exhausted by one unit is passed onto a successive (lower stage) unit. Each stage is characterized as operating in a temperature range that is lower than the preceding stage and higher than the following stage. The thermopile of each unit has a "high temperature side" maintained at an elevated temperature by contact with the condenser of the absoφtion refrigerator and whose "low temperature side" is cooled by contact with the evaporator side of the same refrigerator. Each stage may have more than one unit and any stage may have fewer units than a next higher stage corresponding to a heat flow through the system that diminishes due to the generation of thermoelectric power as the heat flows from one stage to the next stage.

The efficiency of the system of units ganged together in stages resides ideally in the fact that the heat escaping from one stage is used to produce thermoelectricity in the following stage so that the heat expressed at the last stage is substantially reduced from the heat entering the first stage in contrast to devices of the present an. The system is amenable to using the presently known most efficient thermoelectric materials.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art in view of the description of the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and the industrial applicability of the preferred embodiment as described herein and as illustrated in several figures of the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES:

Fig. 1 illustrates the Peltier effect.

Fig. 2 shows one embodiment of the thermoelectric power generating system of the invention.

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the system with a circulating fan and an additional thermoelectric pile.

Fig. 4 shows a thermoelectric generator unit of the invention.

Fig. 5 shows four units of fig. 3 ganged together.

Fig. 6 shows an arrangement for ganging together more than one unit per stage.

Fig. 7 shows alternate locations for positioning the thermopile within a stage.

Fig. 8 shows altemate locations for positioning the thermopile between stages.

Fig. 9 shows a thermoelectric generator with a filter separator.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best presently known mode of practicing the present invention is a system including a boiler for boiling ammonia out of a mixture of water and ammonia, a separator for separating the vaporized ammonia from the water and returning the water to an absorber, a condenser for condensing the ammonia, and evaporator for evaporating the ammonia and returning the ammonia vapors to the absorber. Heat generated in any one of the absorber, condenser or boiler is passed through the high temperature side of a thermoelectric unit to the low side of the thermoelectric unit wherre it is used to evaporate the ammonia.

Turning now to the drawings for a more detailed discussion,. Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of this invention for converting heat to thermoelectric power.

There is shown a boiler 1 1 for heating a solution of ammonia and water. The solution contained in the boiler 1 1 is forced up through line 17 to separator 13. In this embodiment, the boiler has a temperature of about 70 °Celsius.

A first thermopile 21 is positioned such that the thermal high side is in thermal contact with the burner 24 and the thermal low side is the top side in thermal contact with the boiler l l. A thermopile containing bismuth telluride is preferred which produces 1.65 volts at 14 watts.

The heated solution then passes to separator 13 where ammonia vapor goes out line 30 to condenser 31. and water goes out conduit 34 joining conduit 35 back to absorber 36.

In absorber 36, ammonia mixed with hydrogen coming through line33 from evaporator 27 recombines with water and the recombined water and ammonia go back on line 22 to boiler 1 1 while hydrogen escaping from the combined water and ammonia goes on line 35 to the evaporator 27.

Fig. 2 shows a source of hydrogen 32 with a valve 39 for admitting a controlled amount of hydrogen into the conductor 33. Fig. 2 also shows a pump 23 (fan) for aiding circulation of hydrogen sepaπed from the amonia and water in the absorber 36 back to the evaporator 27.

In evaporator 27, liquid ammonia from the line 42 leading from condenser 31 vaporizes as it mixes with hydrogen gas returning from the absoφtion unit 36.

A second thermopile 28 is shown whose thermal high side absorbs heat from air circulating through line 19 that is used first used to cool condenser 31, then cools absorber 36 and finally passes in contact with boiler 11.. The thermal low side of second thermopile 28 conjuncts with tlie evaporator 27.

A cowling 29 is shown around condenser 31. The air through line 19 is heated when air fan 45 draws cooling air passing through cowling 29 and cowling 41 around absorber 36 then through a junction box 38 which draws hot air from bumer 24. The junction box 38

can thus be used to shunt the incoming air from the condenser 31 and the absoφtion unit 36 first through the flame and then into the line 19 taking heat to the thermal high side of the second thermopile 28

The invention combines the traditional thermoelectric material having a high thermoelectric potential but a low efficiency of power conversion with the refrigeration principle to produce a system having a second temperature potential or difference to drive a second thermopile made up of traditional thermoelectric materials

The invention thereby invokes the refrigeration principal to apply heat discharged in establishing a temperature gradient across a first thermopile to drive a second thermopile.

Example of embodiment 1.:

The gas flame from burner 24 boils and agitates a solution of ammonia and water in boiler 1 1 so that a portion of the solution flows through the line 17 into separator 13. In so doing, more than 90% of the heat produced by the flame is conducted through the first thermopile 21 About 6 % of the heat flux passing through thermopile 2 lc produces 14 watts of electricity at 1.65 volts. The ammonia in the evaporator 27 undergoes a liquid to vapor phase change and in so doing absorbs more than 315 calories of heat per gram. Water flows out from the separator 13 to the absorber 36 via hne 34 connected to another line 35 that is the retu path for the hydrogen. The vaporized ammonia in the separator 13 goes through line 30 leading to condenser 31 where the ammonia gives up more than 315 calories of heat per gram that the ammonia absorbed at boiler 11. The liquid ammonia

continues in line 42 (an extension of line 30) to evaporator 27. Here the ammonia is subjected to negative pressure due to the absorber 36 recombining ammonia and water. Because of this, ammonia again absorbs more than 315 calories per gram in the transition form liquid to gas. This produces a cooling effect which draws heat through a second thermopile 28 that is receiving pan of its heat from ambient air that has been prewarmed by heat from condenser 31 and heat transfer from exhaust gases from the bumer 24 through an air moving system composed of cowling 41, air lines, 16 and 20 and a fan 5 (2 - 3 watts). The air moving system also draws heat from the absoφtion unit 36 that is drawn off by cowling 41 connected to air line 20. The vaporized ammonia then combines again with water in the absorber 36 via connecting line 13. The accompanying hydrogen leaves the absorber 36 via retum line 15. the same return line 15 delivers water separated in separator 13.

The second thermopile 28 thus converts to electrical energy a portion of energy not converted to electrical energy by the first thermopile 21. Using current thermoelectric materials, the amount of electrical energy convened by each thermopile is below 8% of the total available energy whereas the amount of electrical energy convened by the combined thermopiles of the present invention is about 14% .

In the foregoing example, the ammonia-water solution of the system has been designed to boil at about 70° Celsius ( ambient temperature) so that the condenser cooling fins of the ammonia and water absoφtion refrigerator has a temperature of 70° Celsius. The exhaust gas is emitted at a a temperature a few degrees over 70 degrees Celsius. The thermopile

produces about 14 watts at 1.65 volts. The system also produces about 20 or more watts of cooling power. Because of the inefficiency of the burner, 20 or more watts of heat energy does not go through the thermopile. This energy is routed to the high temperature side of the second thermopile 28 while the cooling power is expressed on the low temperature side of the second thermopile 28. electrical output of the second thermopile is just over 10 watts. The effect of this is that using state of the art thermopiles that have a 6% Carnot efficiency for convening fuel into electricity can approach an overall system efficiency of up to 10 % (or more) Carnot efficiency by adapting the refrigeration technique of this invention.

The invention retains the advantages characteristic of thermoelectric power generation of having no moving parts in the actual generation process. The fan is only an added feature which aids in moving the air and may be eliminated for a passive air moving system to move the warm air past the high temperature side of the second thermopile. Furthermore, non-induction motors that have long life expectancies and high reliability of thermoelectric generators can be employed where a fan will be more advantageous. The invention offers the traditional reliability of, thermoelectric generators that have no moving parts for applications at remote sites such as cathodic protection of pipe lines, power sources for communication devices and metering measuring devices. A further advantage of the invention is that it converts fuel much more efficiently than devices of the prior art.

The foregoing description discloses a generator system having two thermopiles with one heat source to drive two thermoelectric piles. It is another embodiment of the invention

that a third thermopile can be added as shown in fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows the thermoelectric generator system of fig. 2 with components indicated by numerals corresponding to fig. 2. In addition, condenser 31 heats a third thermoelectric pile 44 which has its low side in heat conducting proximity to an evaporator 47 of a second adsoφtion refrigeration system 46 whose condenser 48 is joined in a thermal path through a fourth thermopile 49 to the evaporator 27 of the first system

Additional thermoelectric piles and accompanying refrigeration systems can thus be cascaded together up to a practical limit depending on the temperature of the heat source.

Fig. 4 shows a thermoelectric power generator unit that can be ganged with other identical units as illustrated in fig. 5 Fig. 4 shows a boiler 54 , which receives a solution of ammonia in water gravity fed from an absorber 56 through line 52 and is heated from an outside source (outside source not shown in fig. 4 ) The heated solution passes on line 57 to a separator 53 where ammonia gas escapes on line 60 to condenser 61. The condensed ammonia gas proceeds to evaporator 51 where it evaporates and mixes with hydrogen coming from absorber 56 on line 58. Water returned to the absorber 56 on line 55 from the separator 53 is heated by absorbing ammonia from the hydrogen-ammonia mix. Absoφtion of the ammonia also reduces the partial pressure of the ammonia in the evaporated and thereby promotes evaporation of the ammonia in the evaporator. Hydrogen separated from the ammonia gas by absoφtion of the ammonia by water retums to the evaporator where it ballasts the pressure throughout the system and establishes the equilibrium partial pressure of the ammonia gas..

A thermopile 68 is placed between the condenser 61 and the evaporator 59 so that the temperature gradient between the condenser 61 and evaporator 59 generates thermoelectric power in the thermopile. The amount of hydrogen in the absorber-evaporator maintains the boiling temperature of the ammonia in the evaporator at a temperature sufficiently less than the temperature of the ammonia condensing in the condenser thereby establishing the temperature gradient across the thermopile so as to drive the thermopile. The temperature in the absorber 56 is less than the temperature of the boiler 54 which is necessary in order that heat taken in by the boiler 54 at one temperature from an upper stage (not shown) is delivered to the lower stage (not shown in fig. 4) by the absorber 6. minus heat exσacted by the thermopile. 8. The difference in temperature between the absorber 56 and boiler 54 also ensures that water at the lower temperature of the absorber is saturated with ammonia which is then driven off by the heat of the boiler 54.

The partial pressure of hydrogen is maintained by the volume of hydrogen maintained in the absorber-evaporator lines 28 and 15) and the gas moving device 6 5 (fan) which moves the ammonia-hydrogen mixture from the evaporator 59 through line 66 to the absorber 56 and thereby forces the hydrogen (stripped of ammonia by the absorber 56) passes back on line 59 back to the evaporator 51.

Summarizing the function of the thermogenerator unit of fig. 4, heat is taken in by the boiler 54 from an "upper" sttage source. The upper stage source may be the absorber of another thermoelectric generator or a "primary " source such as a motor. Part of the heat is extracted as power by the thermopile. The rest of the heat absorbed is discharged by the

absorber to the boiler of the "lower" stage thermoelectric unit.

Fig. 5 shows the primary heat source 70 to be body of warm water at a temperature of 98° delivering heat to a heat sink 72 at 48° celsius through four thermoelectric units 50 of this invention.

Fig. 6 shows an arrangement in which the "boiler " of the unit 50 (cutaway) of one stage is a tube 74 passing through two absorbers 54 of a next higher stage. In this manner, each successive stage may have fewer units thereby concentrating the heat passing from stage to stage as the operating temperatures of each stage is reduced due to the production of thermoelectric power in each stage. .

Variations and modifications of this invention may be suggested by reading the specification and studying the drawings which are within the scope of the invention.

For example, Fig. 1 shows a fan 23 in the hydrogen line 15 for circulating hydrogen.

Thermoelectric piles may be positioned at other locations.

Fig. 7 shows a thermoelectric pile 74 having the evaporator 50 on one side and the other side on the water absoφtion unit 56. Fig. 7 also shows a thermoelectric pile 76 having one side communicating with the condenser 61 and second side communicating with a

eans of heat rejection which is shown to be the atmosphere but which could also be a cooling system. Fig. 8 shows a thermoelectric pile 78 of having its high side communicating with the condenser 61 A of stage 50A and its low side communicating with the boiler 54B of stage 50B.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure is not intended as limiting and the appended claims are to be inteφreted as encompassing the entire scope of the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The thermoelectric power genrator of this invention is adapted for use in developing power from many installations where "waste" heat is presently generated but discarded. Sources of thermal energy other than combustible fuel may be used to drive the generation system. Other sources could include nuclear energy and geothermal energy. The feature of ganging systems of this invention together so that one system operating at one temperature drives another system operating at a lower temperature is a technique for greatly increasing the amount of heat that can be captured rather than wasted. It is anticpated that the principles of this invention will be applied in systems incoφorating newly discovered materials having higher Peltier coefficients so that the principles of the invention will be used for many years to come. Further advances in applying the system to capture waste heat discharged at high temperatures may be realized by utilizing other components that undergo phase changes other than liquid-gas phase changes to transfer heat from a heat source.