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DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a thermal generator. The invention has been made with particular reference to a combustion thermal generator suitable for equipping a vehicle, especially a motorhome, a caravan or a watercraft. However, other applications, such as portable generators in general, are not excluded. It is also particularly suitable for small applications, such as the generation of heat for domestic use, for mountain huts, and in general for any place without direct connection to the public gas network. The generator is particularly suitable for realising a thermoelectric generator and/or a cogenerator.

STATE OF THE ART

Combustion electric energy generators are known in the sector, particularly appreciated in the motorhome sector, where the vehicle must be energetically autonomous for all the needs of the occupants. From the earlier Italian utility model no.B02011U000093 by Longhi Giuliano a cogenerator for vehicles and rooms without electrical connection is known. Longhi's cogenerator comprises a burner and a circuit placed around the external wall of the combustion chamber thereof crossed by a fluid to be heated. Thermoelectric generators intended for the generation of electric energy, such as the Peltier cells which provide the well-known seebeck effect, are interposed between the combustion chamber and the path.

Longhi's cogenerator is very ingenious as in a small space and in a simple way it allows the recovery of the heat of the burner for heating air and water for domestic use, and the generation of current due to the seebeck effect.

However, Longhi's cogenerator leaves room for interesting improvements.

The subsequent patent application EP2911210 by Barin Luca exploits the principles of the Longhi's cogenerator described above, but does not improve it, as it refers to a generic management of the thermal delta for the generation of heat and the dissipation thereof, already anticipated by Longhi, which is able to manage automatic switching on and off as the temperature changes.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the known generators indicated above by improving them.

A preferable object of the present invention is to optimize the heating of a vehicle obtained by means of a cogenerator which comprises a thermoelectric generator.

A preferable object of the present invention is to optimize the efficiency of a combustion thermal generator placed on board a vehicle, especially a motorhome, or mobile in general.

A preferable object of the present invention is to optimize the efficiency of a seebeck effect thermoelectric generator.

A further preferred object of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric generator which is easy and economical to manufacture.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

According to one of its first general aspects, the present invention relates to a thermoelectric generator comprising a combustion chamber (25) which houses internally shielding and radiation means (45) to shield at least one wall of the chamber from the direct heat coming from the combustion flame, on the external side of which a plurality of means for generating seebeck effect electric energy (55, 70) are fixed, and to radiate it with a substantially uniformly distributed heat, where said plurality of generation means preferably comprises a plurality of seebeck effect cells arranged so as to cover said wall.

Advantageously, the cells for their arrangement and fixing are mobile independently of each other due to the thermal deformations, so that they are optimally compensated without loss of contact between the cells and the wall of the combustion chamber, with a consequent increase in electrical production efficiency. The irregularity of the deformations is further reduced by the shielding and radiation means.

The thermoelectric generator preferably comprises a substantially prismatic combustion chamber (25) with a substantially triangular section:

• the chamber comprises two upwardly converging walls (25a and 25b) of the triangular prism (25), at least one covered externally to the chamber by means for generating seebeck effect electric energy (55, 70);

• the combustion chamber houses internally flame generation means (36) (for example burner means) in proximity or at the lower side of the prism;

• the combustion chamber houses internally shielding and radiation means (45) to shield said upwardly converging sides (25a, 25b) from the direct heat coming from said flame and to radiate them with a substantially uniformly distributed heat.

Preferably, said external side is substantially planar and said seebeck effect cells have a corresponding planar wall in contact therewith, where the seebeck cells are placed side by side with each other with a mosaic tile pattern so as to cover uniformly at least partially said external side.

Preferably, the means for generating seebeck effect electric energy (55, 70) uniformly cover both said upwardly converging walls (25a and 25b).

The means for generating seebeck effect electric energy (55, 70) are in an amount such as to produce at least sufficient electric energy to guarantee the autonomous operation of the thermoelectric generator and more generally of the cogenerator (1), for example by supplying a control unit. However, it is preferable that the amount of electric energy produced is greater to supply other utilises, as well.

According to a preferable general characteristic, the walls of the combustion chamber (25a and 25b) covered by the means for generating seebeck effect electric current (55, 70) are covered at least partially, preferably uniformly, by cooling means (30), where said seebeck generation means (55, 70) are operatively interposed between said walls (25a, 25b) and said cooling means (30).

In this case, the seebeck generation means preferably comprise a plurality of seebeck units cooled by the cooling means, fixed one independently of the other to said walls (25a, 25b) to cover them with a mosaic pattern.

According to a preferable general characteristic of the invention, the shielding and uniform heat radiation means (45) comprise a flange with a V-shaped section, interposed between the flame generation means and said upwardly converging sides of the combustion chamber, oriented with the cusp (46) like the cusp (38) formed by said sides (25a, 25b).

The flange (45) preferably extends substantially over the entire length L of the chamber (25) in a direction orthogonal to the triangular section, where preferably also the flame generation means (36) have the same length.

According to some preferred embodiments, the flange (45) comprises one or more openings (48) on both sides of the v arranged in the zones with lower heat, for example in a position proximal to the cusp (46), to allow a greater passage of heat from the flame to the upper parts of the walls (25a and 25b) of the combustion chamber.

According to a second aspect thereof, independent and combinable with the others, the invention relates to a thermoelectric generator comprising a combustion chamber (25) at least partially externally covered by a plurality of seebeck cells (70) arranged with a mosaic tile pattern fixed to the chamber one independently of the other. The chamber can be defined by any number of walls, preferably with a flat external surface for contact with the seebeck cells.

According to some preferred embodiments of the invention, said seebeck cells are each part of respective cooled seebeck units, for example comprising support means for at least one cooling duct.

Preferably each unit comprises a compression plate (58) for clamping a seebeck cell (55) on a relative wall (25a, 25b) of the combustion chamber (25), where said plate defines at least partial support means (62) of a cooling circuit (30) on a side (58b) opposite to a side (58a) of contact with the seebeck cell (55).

According to a further preferable feature each unit comprises a second plate (60) coupled to the compression plate (58) to define between them a housing and support seat (62) of a duct (65) of the cooling circuit (30).

According to some preferred embodiments, said housing and support seat (62) has a surface of contact with said duct extended in the longitudinal direction of the duct as much as the extension (LI) of the compression plate (58) in that direction, where this direction is preferably parallel to the respective covered side (25a, 25b) of the combustion chamber (25).

According to particularly advantageous and synergistic examples, the generator with the seebeck cells with a mosaic pattern is also of the type with the prismatic chamber and the shielding and radiation means described above.

According to a third aspect thereof, independent and combinable with the others, the invention relates to a thermal generator comprising a combustion chamber (25) supplied separately with air and fuel gas in such a way as to be introduced in a form not premixed between them and in a variable ratio, in particular the chamber is supplied by respective air supply means and by fuel gas supply means, where:

• the generator comprises means for forced suction of the flue gases (72);

• the air supply means (80) comprise a suction opening of variable dimensions by means of a throttle valve (82).

According to some preferred embodiments, the throttle valve (82) can be controlled or moved manually, based on the indications given by a processing unit (78) communicating with at least one probe for detecting at least one parameter of the flue gases (74) of the combustion chamber and at least with means for detecting the height above sea level (76) and/or with means for detecting the atmospheric pressure.

Preferably the processing unit (78) is programmed according to optimal operating windows, each identified by a combination of ranges of parameter values selected from a parameter of the flue gases, a parameter of the flame in the combustion chamber, the height above sea level, the atmospheric pressure, a current value, in particular the processing unit is programmed to associate a respective predetermined position of the intake air throttle valve to each optimal operating window. According to some preferred embodiments, the throttle valve (82) can be controlled or set manually, based on the indications given by a processing unit (78) communicating with at least one probe for detecting the flame presence in the combustion chamber (25).

In this case, for example, the flame presence probe is an ionization probe which exploits the presence of positive ions developed by the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen to generate an electric current, the processing unit being programmed to determine whether the flame of the combustion chamber is ignited or not based on the measurement of said current and to make an estimate of the production of C02 based thereon, the processing unit is also programmed to adjust the parameters of the suction speed (72) and/or of the amount of air introduced into the chamber based on said C02 estimate.

Preferably the flame presence probe is composed of two electrodes crossed by the flame, one positive and one negative, the ions produced by the heat of the flame are attracted to the negative electrode rich in electrons and give rise to a weak direct current measured by the processing unit.

According to a fourth general aspect thereof, independent and combinable with the others, the invention relates to a combustion control process in a generator, characterized by: supplying the combustion chamber with air and fuel gas not premixed between them; introducing into the combustion chamber, by suction for example resulting from a forced suction of the flue gases, the air not premixed with the gas and in a variable amount defined based on at least one of: a parameter of the flue gases, a parameter of the flame in the combustion chamber, the height above sea level, the atmospheric pressure, a current value.

Preferably, the flame parameter is a direct current determined by an ionization probe.

According to a fifth aspect thereof, independent and combinable with the others, the invention relates to a cogenerator comprising:

- a thermoelectric generator (5) and

- a heat exchanger (10),

• the thermoelectric generator is equipped with a combustion chamber (25) and with a cooling circuit (30) in which a fluid circulates

• the exchanger (10) comprises:

- a tank (85) arranged in order to receive and contain said fluid coming from the cooling circuit (30); a pair of coils (86, 88) crossed respectively by the exhaust gases coming from the combustion chamber (25), and by water directed to a sanitary hot water delivery circuit (97); the tank (85) comprises an outlet for the fluid directed to a room heating circuit (90).

Preferably, the thermoelectric generator (5) comprises means for generating seebeck effect electric energy (55, 70) which at least partially cover the combustion chamber (25), and the circulation of the fluid in the cooling circuit (30) is such that it cools said means for generating seebeck effect electric energy (55, 70) before it enters the tank (85). More preferably, the thermoelectric generator is of the type indicated above.

Advantageously, the exchanger thus conceived and inserted in the cogenerator allows an optimization of consumption and a high efficiency of both electric current and heat for heating and sanitary water.

According to some preferred embodiments, said fluid is a mixture of water and glycol.

According to some preferred embodiments, the tank (85) contains at least one electric resistor (97) for heating the fluid, which can be connected to an electrical power supply network external to the cogenerator and managed by a control unit (170) to heat the fluid at least when the combustion chamber (25) is off.

According to a sixth general aspect thereof, independent and combinable with the others, the invention relates to a service system (96) for electrical, heating and sanitary water utilities comprising: a cogenerator (1) of the type indicated above,

- a room heating circuit (90) supplied by the cogenerator a sanitary water delivery circuit (95) supplied by the cogenerator an electric energy delivery circuit supplied by the cogenerator, where the cogenerator also supplies itself electrically and comprises a battery (160) for storing the current produced by the means for generating seebeck effect electric energy (55, 70).

Preferably the system comprises a control unit (170) supplied by the battery (160) and/or by the cogenerator (1).

According to a seventh general aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising a system of the type indicated above.

Generally speaking, it can be observed that the combustion chamber of the present invention has a fixed geometry, that is, its constant volume does not vary like for example the combustion chamber of a piston motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings and provided by way of an indicative and non-limiting example. In such drawings:

- Figure 1 schematically represents a cogenerator according to the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 show the burner of the cogenerator of Figure 1;

Figure 4 represents a cross section of the combustion chamber of the burner of the previous figures:

Figure 5 schematically represents the cogenerator of Figure 1 according to a different perspective point of view which highlights the outlet duct of the flue gases from the combustion chamber;

- Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the throttle means of the air entering the combustion chamber;

- Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the heat exchanger of the cogenerator of the previous figures;

- Figure 8 schematically shows a heating and hot water supply system for sanitary use comprising the cogenerator of the previous figures particularly suitable for a motorhome;

Figure 9 schematically shows a motorhome equipped with the system of Figure 8. Figure 1 shows a cogenerator indicated as a whole with the reference number 1.

The cogenerator 1 is formed as a cogeneration unit comprising a thermoelectric generator 5, and a heat exchanger 10 operatively connected to each other.

In particular, the unit 1 comprises first means 15 for conveying the combustion gases of the thermoelectric generator 5 to the exchanger 10, and second means 20 for conveying the preheated fluid from the generator 5 to the exchanger 10.

The preheated fluid, as will be seen below, first acts as a cooling fluid of the generator, so as to acquire heat and then transfer it to the exchanger.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the generator 5 comprises a substantially prismatic combustion chamber 25 with a substantially triangular section.

The upwardly converging walls 25a and 25b of the triangular prism 25 are covered externally to the chamber by a cooling circuit 30 connected to the exchanger to send the preheated fluid by means of the first conveying means 15.

The cooling circuit 30 uniformly covers the prism on two external sides of the triangle.

The section of the chamber 25 is substantially like an isosceles triangle, where the base side 32 is preferably shorter than the other two 34 converging upwards and opens onto a lower internal seat 35 for housing burner means 36 suitable for introducing the fuel. The cusp 38 of the triangular section opposed to the base 32 opens onto an upper internal channel 40 for collecting the flue gases, preferably comprising catalyst means 42. The channel 40 communicates with a suction outlet 43.

The walls 25a and 25b which define the upwardly converging sides 34 have corrugated internal sides to increase the heat absorption surface, for example they comprise lamellae 44 projected towards the inside of the chamber 25.

The chamber 25 comprises internally means for the uniform radiation of heat 45 to the walls 25a and 25b. In particular, said means 45 comprise an inverted V section flange 45 interposed between the burner means 36 and the upwardly converging walls 25a and 25b. In this way, the cusp 46 of the flange 45 is oriented like the cusp 38 of the chamber 25.

The flange 45 has walls 45a and 45b substantially parallel to the upwardly converging walls 25a and 25b of the chamber 25. It substantially extends over the entire length L of the chamber 25 in a direction orthogonal to the triangular section. It can be observed that the burner 36 preferably also has the same length.

The flange 45 has substantially solid walls, for example made of sheet metal, so as to shield the walls 25a and 25b from the flame. The walls of the flange 45 comprise one or more openings 48 on both sides of the v, in equal numbers and mirror each other. Said openings are arranged proximal to the cusp 46 and allow a greater passage of heat from the burner to the upper parts of the walls 25a and 25b, which otherwise would be colder than the lower parts, closest to the flame.

The openings 48 for example are made by bending flange edges cut into the walls 45a and 45b. Such edges, for example, are joined to the remaining part of the flange in a lower side and are distanced therefrom in the upper part. The openings 48 are preferably generally aligned with each other in the direction of the length L of the chamber 25, and preferably have a rectangular section. Preferably there is only one line of openings 48 for each wall 45a and 45b.

The upwardly converging walls 25a and 25b have respective flat external surfaces for coupling to a plurality of seebeck effect cells 55. Each cell 55 is fixed to the respective wall 25a/25b independently of the other cells 55, by means of a respective compression plate 58. Each seebeck effect cell 55 is interposed between the wall 25a/25b and the relative compression plate 58, where the latter are clamped between them, for example by means of screws. In this way it is advantageously possible to ensure that all the cells 55 have an optimal support to the wall of the combustion chamber, and therefore that their side intended to be "hot" for the seebeck effect to function, is suitably heated.

The cells 55 and the compression plates 58 are better visible in the enlarged and exploded scale detail of Figure 3. Here it can be noted how the seebeck effect cells 55 are cells with two flat sides 55a and 55b opposed to each other, one destined to be hotter than the other in order to generate the thermal delta between them optimal for the production of electric energy.

The compression plate 58 has a flat face 58a of contact with the relative cell 55, while the opposite face 58b is shaped with a concave section so as to form together with a second plate with concave section 60 a seat 62 for a cooling duct 65 at the back of the cell 55.

The seat 62 preferably has a surface of contact of the compression plate 58 with the cooling duct 65 extended over the whole length LI of said plate 58, thus increasing the exchange surface.

Even more preferably, also the surface of contact of the second concave plate 60 with the cooling duct 65 extends over the entire length LI, thus increasing the exchange surface.

In general, it is preferable that the plates 58 and 60 form a seat 62 between them which is a containment and contact duct 71 for the cooling duct 65, preferably with a circular section having a diameter equal to the external diameter of the duct 65 and a length equal to at least one of the two plates 58, 60, preferably at least 58, so as to maximize the mutual contact surfaces.

The seats 62 are arranged aligned with each other to form a plurality of parallel ducts 71 on the walls 25a/25b, preferably uniformly distributed so as to make the external temperature uniform.

In general it is preferable that the respective area of the opposed faces 55a and 55b of the seebeck cell 55 is smaller than the area of the face 58a of the compression plate 58, in particular it is preferable that the latter completely overlaps the seebeck cell.

In particular, the seats 62 act as a support for the duct 65 of the cooling circuit 30, which in this way takes the heat from the walls of the cells 55 and gives it to the exchanger 10.

The duct 65 preferably follows a path from an inlet to an outlet of the cooling circuit 30, from which it continues towards the exchanger 10. Along this path the duct 65 first meets the cells 55 located in the lower part of the generator and potentially hotter, and then those in the upper part.

The cooling fluid leaving the cooling circuit 30 is a preheated fluid carried to the exchanger 10 by the second conveying means 20.

In general, the fluid flowing in the cooling circuit 30 comprises glycol, more preferably a mixture comprising at least water and glycol.

Each cell 55 and the relative plates 58 and 60 form respective cooled seebeck units 70 which cover the outside of the walls 25a and 25b of the combustion chamber like a uniform mosaic, the example shows 9 on each side.

At least the plate 58 is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, for example aluminium.

The walls 25a and 25b of the combustion chamber are made of a material with high thermal conductivity and resistance to high temperatures, for example the 6060 Anticorodal aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy.

In general, it can be observed that a seebeck cell can preferably be made with many Peltier effect junctions in series.

The electric energy produced by the seebeck cells 55 is preferably stored in a battery 160 for supplying the control unit 170 and in general all the electrical parts of the cogenerator 1, which can be, for example, one or more spark plugs of the burner, and one or more temperature sensors.

In use, the burner 36 generates a flame in the chamber 25. The heat meets the V-shaped flange 45 which transmits the heat substantially uniformly to the walls 25a and 25b of the chamber 25. In this way the internal faces 55b of the seebeck effect cells 55 are optimally heated, being all substantially at the same temperature, preferably around 200° C. Furthermore, each of them enjoys uniform heating thanks to the fact that it adheres optimally to the respective hot wall 25a or 25b of the combustion chamber 25 thanks to the clamping exerted by the respective compression plate 58 independent of the other plates 58 of the other cells, like the mosaic tiles.

The external faces of the seebeck cells 55 are optimally cooled by the cooling duct 65 thanks to the fact that the duct takes heat from the compression plate 58 over the entire length thereof.

In this way it is possible to keep the external faces 55a of the seebeck cells, for example substantially around 80°C, providing a thermal delta optimal for the production of electric energy.

It is believed that the aspect of the mosaic distribution of the cooled seebeck units 70 and the aspect of the means for the uniform heat radiation 45 can also be exploited independently of each other in a thermoelectric generator, in this case for example, the mosaic distribution could also be adopted with combustion chambers of a different shape from the one illustrated.

With reference to the rear view of Figure 5, the connection between the suction outlet 43 and the first means 15 for conveying the combustion gases of the thermoelectric generator 5 to the exchanger 10 is better visible. The conveying means pass through the exchanger 10, for example in the form of a thermal exchange coil 86 (Figure 7) to exchange heat with other fluids, and continue in a section 15b for conveying to forced suction means 72, which can be made for example with a rotary pump or a fan.

The thermoelectric generator 5 comprises air supply means 80 and gaseous fuel supply means 84 not mixed with air.

The gaseous fuel supply means comprise, for example, a duct and a solenoid valve for enabling the passage from a storage cylinder to the combustion chamber 25.

The air is sucked into the chamber 25 in an induced manner by the means for sucking the flue gases. There are no means for forced air injection into the chamber.

The air supply means 80 comprise an opening for access of the air to the combustion chamber with variable dimensions by means of a throttle valve 82.

The thermoelectric generator 5 further comprises a flue gas analysis probe 74 and means for determining the height above sea level 76 fixed to the cogenerator 1. They communicate the detected parameters to a processing unit 78 programmed according to optimal operation windows, each identified by a combination of ranges of values of at least one parameter of the flue gases and the height above sea level. The processing unit is programmed to associate a respective predetermined position of the intake air throttle valve to each optimal operating window.

The processing unit is programmed to control the positioning of the valve 82, or to signal the positioning to be selected manually.

The combustion chamber 25, therefore, receives gaseous fuel and air not previously mixed between them, and in a ratio varied by the action of the throttle valve 82, based on the values of altitude above sea level and of at least one combustion parameter.

This aspect allows realising particularly small combustion chambers compared to those required with a supply of premixed air and fuel or with forced air injection. It also allows optimal operation when the motorhome moves with the generator on board.

Furthermore, the presence of the suction system permits to make the generator safe against any gas leaks, which would be sucked in and conveyed to the exhaust.

Finally, the generator is advantageously adaptable to various types of gas, in particular to both LPG and methane, by programming the processing unit 78 with a mapping of combustion values of the selected gas to be compared with those detected by the probe 74, and by installing suitable delivery nozzles.

In addition or as an alternative to the management of the combustion by controlling the air suction based on the analysis of the exhaust gases with the relative probe 74, we have verified that also a management through analysis of the flame in the combustion chamber provides useful results.

For example, it is possible to use a flame presence detection probe 190 in the combustion chamber 25 (Figure 8). This probe is, for example, an analysis probe capable of returning at least one parameter linked to the characteristics of the flame.

For example, the probe 190 is an ionization probe which exploits the presence of positive ions developed by the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen.

The probe is generally composed of two electrodes crossed by the flame, one positive and one negative, the ions produced by the heat of the flame are attracted to the negative electrode rich in electrons and give rise to a weak direct current. The current is a characteristic parameter of the flame that can be used to derive an air suction control.

By measuring this current it is possible to determine whether the flame is ignited or not and there is also a first effective indication for the excessive generation of C02 (carbon dioxide) to be used immediately for the adjustment of the parameters of the suction speed (72) and/or of the amount of air introduced into the chamber (82).

It is believed that the aspect of managing the combustion through analysis of the exhaust gases, and/or of the flame in the combustion chamber, and/or of the altitude and/or of the atmospheric pressure can be exploited both in combination and independently of the other aspects of the invention, it being able for example to be applied to any combustion heat generator. It can therefore be used, for example, in the absence of a triangular section of the combustion chamber, of uniform heat radiation means 45 and of electrical generation by means of the seebeck cells.

With reference now to Figures 7 and 8, the exchanger 10 comprises a tank 85 full of fluid, in communication with the cooling circuit 30 and with a room heating circuit of a vehicle 90 (Figure 9) suitable for heating the living spaces. Said communications take place respectively through the openings 21 (Figure 1) and 22 (Figure 5). The heating circuit comprises, for example, radiators or convectors 99 (Figure 9). The fluid in the tank 85 is the fluid preheated by the circulation in the cooling circuit 30 and subsequently brought to the exchanger 10 by the second conveying means 20. The tank 85 is preferably cylindrical in shape. As mentioned, the fluid is preferably a mixture of water and glycol.

The tank 85 contains a first coil 86 and a second coil 88 immersed in the preheated fluid. Said coils cross the tank from respective inlet points to respective outlet points, and preferably have development axes of the spiral that are parallel, preferably coinciding, with the development axis of the cylinder of the tank 85.

In general, the two coils 86 and 88 are preferably arranged with a development of the spiral according to respective coaxial axes, and one of the two develops with a diameter of the windings smaller than the diameter of the windings of the other one, so that the windings of one are placed externally to the windings of the other one.

The first coil 86 is crossed by exhaust gases coming from the combustion chamber 25. As these gases are hotter than the preheated fluid, the latter further increases its temperature. The coil 86 is preferably operatively interposed between the combustion chamber 25 and the suction fan of the exhaust gases 72.

The second coil 88 is crossed by water, a coil for instantaneous heating of water for sanitary use sent to a respective delivery circuit 95.

In this way the cogenerator 1, the room heating circuit 90 and the sanitary water delivery circuit 95 define a service system 96 for the electric, heating and sanitary water utilities for the vehicle, for example the motorhome 100 in Figure 9. It is believed that the exchanger 10 can be exploited both in combination and independently of the other aspects of the invention, it being able for example to be applied to any combustion heat generator. It can therefore be used, for example, in the absence of a triangular section of the combustion chamber, of uniform heat radiation means 45 and of electrical generation by means of the seebeck cells, and in the absence of a combustion management system through analysis of the exhaust gases and the altitude. Optionally, one or more electric resistors 97 are immersed inside the tank 85 for heating the fluid in the event that the thermoelectric generator 5 is not in operation. The resistors 97 can therefore be electrically connected to an electrical network, by means of a current socket.

In general, the cogenerator 1 and the service system 96 fulfil the dream of any motorhome owner, namely: · No frost problems in the hot water storage tank, as sanitary hot water is, among other things, instantaneously generated.

• No need to drain water below 0°C

• No electricity consumption, but rather the possibility of producing electricity in amounts greater than consumption.

Below we describe a preferred operating principle and some preferable options for completing the service system 96. The cogenerator control unit is preferably programmed to perform the following functions.

When starting the cogenerator 1, it is preferable to carry out a preliminary washing step before ignition in which the combustion chamber 25 is ventilated to ensure that no gas residues are present; for this operation the same suction fan 72 is normally used which will then draw the air necessary for combustion.

Finally, it is proceeded with the ignition: an electromagnetic valve 84 opens the duct for supplying the gas to the combustion chamber 25, where it is ignited by means of a spark plug positioned on the burner 36. A sensor checks that the flame has ignited: if this does not happen, the gas inflow is immediately interrupted. Once ignited, the flame develops inside the combustion chamber 25 bringing the fluid contained in the tank 85 of the exchanger 10 to the predetermined temperature (for example a maximum temperature of 85°C). The temperature in the tank 85 is generally controlled by sensors 150 (for example one or more bipolar thermostats) connected to the control unit of the cogenerator. Said fluid is also called heating liquid directed to the convectors, or cooling liquid of the seebeck cells. The exhaust fumes are sucked from the outside of the exchanger through the fan 72 while new fresh air reaches the burner through the throttle valve 82.

If the temperature of the heating liquid is lowered, the cogenerator ignites again automatically, supplying new heat to the convectors: in this way, the temperature of the heating liquid in the tank 85 is kept constant, minimizing heat variations.

Thanks to this, even the water intended for sanitary use 95 is always kept hot.

If a connection to the electrical network is available, the cogenerator can be supplied with electricity thanks to the presence of the resistors 97, positioned inside the tank 85. Preferably it is possible to select the power delivered by the resistors between 1, 2 or 3 kW depending on the amount of current available. In addition, the gas/electric heating modes can also be selected simultaneously, making the most of the caloric power of the cogenerator and using the electric resistors in order to reduce gas consumption: in this way, in fact, priority is given to electric heating with gas heating ready to intervene in case of need.

By way of purely indicative example, a sizing suitable for motorhomes is possible according to which if operated with propane gas, the cogenerator is able to deliver a maximum power of 5.5 kW, and 6.4 kW if operated with butane). For example, 3 kW made available with electrical operation can be added to this data, which raise the maximum output to 8.5 kW (9.4 kW if operated with butane). According to some preferred embodiments, the heating liquid is distributed by means of a recirculation pump, powered at 12v, or by a second pump at 230v: if fitted, this is automatically preferred by the system (always and only in case of connection to the electric network). The heating liquid is then circulated through a network of convectors 99 and unit heaters capable of delivering, for example, a calorific power of 400W/m.

The circulation pump is controlled by a thermostatic probe which measures the temperature of the room to be heated: this, in turn, works according to what is set via a special control panel. Consequently, when the temperature detected by the probe falls below the desired value, the pump and the cogenerator are reactivated, heating the liquid again and making it circulate again inside the system until the desired temperature is reached.

A system of this type could in the long run generate air pockets inside the system: to prevent this from happening, the heater is equipped with an automatic bleeding: there are also numerous vent valves in the key points of the system to allow a quick elimination.

The diffusion of heat occurs by convection: the convectors 99, positioned laterally along the walls of the room to be heated, for example the motorhome, behind the furniture specially provided with ventilation, and, more and more often, on the floor, release heat by heating the air: once it is heated, it tends to rise along the walls pushing, in the middle of the vehicle and downwards, the cooler air. Upon meeting the unit heaters, it heats up again by repeating this cycle indefinitely.

The convectors exploit a mixture preferably comprising a mixture in approximately the following proportions: water (60%) and glycol (40%).

The heater can be started according to a summer mode for heating sanitary hot water only by means of a special selector 120. Other accessories and additional components:

The heater is combined with an LCD touch screen 140 control panel which is equipped with an electronic thermostat and provides numerous indications both on operation and on any maintenance, as well as, obviously, allowing complete programming of the system.

GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS In understanding the object of the present invention, the term "comprising" and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended as open-ended terms that specify the presence of declared characteristics, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other undeclared characteristics, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The above also applies to words, which have similar meanings, such as the terms "comprised", "have" and their derivatives. Furthermore, the terms "part", "section", "portion", "member" or "element" when used in the singular can have the double meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. As used herein to describe the above executive embodiment(s), the following directional terms "forward", "backward", "above", "under", "vertical", "horizontal", "below" and "transverse", as well as any other similar directional term, refers to the embodiment described in the operating position. Finally, terms of degree, such as "substantially", "about" and "approximately", as used herein, are intended as a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the final result is not significantly changed.

While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent from this description to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, position or orientation of the various components can be modified as needed and/or desired. The components shown directly connected or in contact with each other can have intermediate structures arranged between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. All the advantages of a particular embodiment do not necessarily have to be present at the same time. Any characteristic that is original compared to the prior art, alone or in combination with other characteristics, should also be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such characteristics. Therefore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustrative purposes only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.