System for thermoelectric energy generation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10003000-B2
Application number	US-201313940109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2013
Priority date	Aug 15, 2011
Publication date	Jun 19, 2018
Grant date	Jun 19, 2018

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for generating and delivering electricity and/or hot water for combined heat and power (CHP) using one or more fuels. In many embodiments, the system can be used to provide efficient electrical, heating and cooling utilities to a residential household or group of households. Embodiments of the system can be configured for specific heat flow, while minimizing losses and maximizing total system efficiency. Embodiments also provide for stackable energy generation modules allowing the system to be placed in or nearby a residence to provide power to the residence. Embodiments also provide a control system which can be configured to monitor household electrical usage and dynamically regulate the system to operate at maximum efficiency as well as sell power to an external grid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An energy generation system, comprising:
a plurality of energy generation modules configured to be mounted within a framework and structured to be stackable within the framework;
a thermal recuperator to pre-heat incoming combustible fuel for use with the plurality of energy generation modules; and
a central burning chamber for use with the plurality of energy generation modules, the central burning chamber being vertically oriented above with respect to a vertical axis of the plurality of energy generation modules.

2. The energy generation system of claim 1 , wherein each energy generation module of the plurality of energy generation modules is configured to generate as much as 1 KW of electrical power.

3. The energy generation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy generation modules are mounted in a rack.

4. The energy generation system of claim 1 , wherein each energy generation module of the plurality of energy generation modules further comprises a DC-to-AC converter electrically coupled to a thermoelectric generator to convert a direct current output from the thermoelectric generator to an alternating current.

5. The energy generation system of claim 4 , where the DC-to-AC converter is further configured to step up a voltage of an output signal from the thermoelectric generator to 120 or 220 VAC.

6. The energy generation system of claim 5 , wherein the central burning chamber further comprises a combustion chamber.

7. The energy generation system of claim 6 , wherein the combustion chamber is configured to combust natural gas.

8. The energy generation system of claim 6 , wherein the thermoelectric generator is placed in proximity to the combustion chamber.

9. The energy generation system of claim 6 , wherein the thermoelectric generator comprises a jacket of thermoelectric generators at least partially surrounding the combustion chamber.

10. The energy generation system of claim 6 , further comprising a fuel inlet to the combustion chamber.

11. The energy generation system of claim 10 , wherein the thermal recuperator thermally couples to the fuel inlet and to an exhaust outlet of the combustion chamber for each energy generation module of the plurality of energy generation modules, the thermal recuperator configured to recuperate heat from the exhaust outlet of the combustion chamber to cool an exhaust and heat fuel flowing through the fuel inlet to improve combustion efficiency for each energy generation module of the plurality of energy generation modules.

12. The energy generation system of claim 11 , wherein the fuel comprises oil, a petroleum based oil or a plant based oil.

13. The energy generation system of claim 6 , further comprising:
for each energy generation module of the plurality of energy generation modules, a thermal fluid reservoir thermally coupled to the combustion chamber for transferring heat from the combustion chamber to the thermoelectric generator, the thermal fluid reservoir comprising a heat transfer fluid.

14. The energy generation system of claim 13 , wherein the thermal fluid reservoir is directly coupled to the combustion chamber.

15. The energy generation system of claim 13 , wherein the thermal fluid reservoir is thermally coupled to the thermoelectric generator by at least one high temperature heat pipe.

16. The energy generation system of claim 15 , further comprising a heat spreader positioned between the at least one high temperature heat pipe and the thermoelectric generator to evenly spread heat from the least one high temperature heat pipe to the thermoelectric generator.

17. The energy generation system of claim 13 , wherein the thermal fluid reservoir is directly coupled to a face of the thermoelectric generator.

18. The energy generation system of claim 13 , further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to the thermoelectric generator for dissipating heat from the thermoelectric generator.

19. The energy generation system of claim 18 , wherein the combustion chamber, the thermal fluid reservoir, the thermoelectric generator and the heat sink are vertically stacked.

20. An energy generation system, comprising:
a plurality of energy generation modules configured to be mounted within a framework and structured to be stackable within the framework;
a thermal recuperator to pre-heat incoming combustible fuel for use with the plurality of energy generation modules;
a central burning chamber for use with the plurality of energy generation modules, the central burning chamber being vertically oriented with respect to a vertical axis above the plurality of energy generation modules; and
each energy generation module of the plurality of energy generation modules comprising:
a thermoelectric generator configured to convert thermal energy into electricity; and
a DC to AC converter coupled to the thermoelectric generator to produce an AC electrical output for residential use;
wherein the central burning chamber is thermally coupled to the thermoelectric generator, the central burning chamber having a fuel inlet and an exhaust outlet.

21. The energy generation system of claim 20 , wherein, for each energy generation module of the plurality of energy generation modules, the thermal recuperator cools an exhaust sufficiently to allow the energy generation system to be placed nearby a residence without a need for additional cooling of the exhaust to prevent heating of an exterior of the residence.

22. The energy generation system of claim 20 , wherein, for each energy generation module of the plurality of energy generation modules, the thermal recuperator cools an exhaust sufficiently to allow the energy generation system to be placed within a room of a residence without a need for additional cooling of the exhaust to prevent excessive heating of the room.

23. The energy generation system of claim 20 , each energy generation module for of the plurality of energy generation modules further comprising a CO2 recovery device coupled to the exhaust outlet to reduce CO2 emissions from the exhaust outlet.

24. The energy generation system of claim 20 , wherein the framework is structured to reduce thermal cross talk between the plurality of energy generation modules.

25. The energy generation system of claim 24 , wherein the framework includes an insulating material or an aerogel insulating material configured to reduce thermal cross talk between energy generation modules.

Assignees

• Incube Labs Llc

Inventors

• Imran Mir
• Harrison Matthew
• Nowak Brent
• Lee Cody

Classifications

• Y02T10/166

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F23M2900/13003

  Energy recovery by thermoelectric elements, e.g. by Peltier/Seebeck effect, arranged in the combustion plant · CPC title

• F28D15/02

  in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes {(heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257)} · CPC title

• H01L35/30 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L35/00

  Electricity · mapped topic