Apparatus and method for generating electrical energy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10811586-B2
Application number	US-201716077228-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2017
Priority date	Feb 12, 2016
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus for generating electrical energy comprises an oscillating heat pipe for transferring heat between a heat source and a heat sink, and a pyroelectric generator for generating electricity from thermal fluctuations generated by the oscillating heat pipe as the oscillating heat pipe transfers heat between the heat source and the heat sink.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for generating electrical energy, the apparatus comprising:
an oscillating heat pipe for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat sink, wherein the oscillating heat pipe comprises:
a plurality of channel sections arranged between the heat source and the heat sink, wherein the plurality of channel sections are interconnected to form a common fluid carrying channel, and wherein each outer channel section has a first end connected to a respective first end of its neighboring channel section, and a second end connected to a respective second end of the other outer channel section, and wherein each inner channel section has a first end connected to a respective first end of a neighboring channel section in a first orthogonal direction, and a second end connected to a respective second end of a neighboring channel section in a second orthogonal direction;
wherein each first end is located towards a heat source side of the oscillating heat pipe, and where each second end is located towards a heat sink side of the oscillating heat pipe; and
a plurality of fluid portions which, during use, move between the heat source and the heat sink within the plurality of channel sections of the oscillating heat pipe while transferring heat from the heat source to the heat sink; and

a pyroelectric generator for generating electricity from thermal fluctuations generated by the oscillating heat pipe as the oscillating heat pipe transfers heat from the heat source to the heat sink.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channel sections are arranged substantially in parallel to one another in a generally orthogonal direction between the heat source and the heat sink.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of channel sections are arranged in a common plane.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pyroelectric generator is configured to generate electricity from temperature fluctuations generated by the fluid portions as they move within the plurality of channel sections of the oscillating heat pipe.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pyroelectric generator comprises a plurality of pyroelectric elements.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pyroelectric generator comprises a plurality of pyroelectric elements, and wherein the plurality of pyroelectric elements are coupled to the plurality of channel sections of the oscillating heat pipe.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the plurality of pyroelectric elements are arranged along respective lengths of the plurality of channel sections.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein a plurality of pyroelectric elements are arranged towards a heat source side of the plurality of channel sections.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the plurality of channel sections are configured as grooves in a layer of the oscillating heat pipe.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the pyroelectric elements are arranged in the grooves.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the pyroelectric elements are coupled to the plurality of channel sections of the oscillating heat pipe using a heat conducting material.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the oscillating heat pipe and pyroelectric generator are formed as a solid state or monolithic device.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the solid state or monolithic device comprises the oscillating heat pipe in a first layer and the pyroelectric generator in a second layer.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one channel section of the plurality of channel sections comprises a valve configured to control one of a fluid flow, a speed of fluid flow, or a direction of fluid flow.

15. A method for generating electrical energy, the method comprising:
transferring heat from a heat source to a heat sink using an oscillating heat pipe, wherein the oscillating heat pipe comprises:
a plurality of channel sections arranged between the heat source and the heat sink such that the plurality of channel sections are interconnected to form a common fluid carrying channel, wherein each outer channel section has a first end connected to a respective first end of its neighboring channel section, and a second end connected to a respective second end of the other outer channel section, and wherein each inner channel section has a first end connected to a respective first end of a neighboring channel section in a first orthogonal direction and a second end connected to a respective second end of a neighboring channel section in a second orthogonal direction, and wherein each first end is located on a heat source side of the oscillating heat pipe, and each second end is located on a heat sink side of the oscillating heat pipe, and
a plurality of fluid portions which, during use, move between the heat source and the heat sink within the plurality of channel sections of the oscillating heat pipe while transferring heat from the heat source to the heat sink; and

generating electricity using a pyroelectric generator from thermal fluctuations generated by the oscillating heat pipe as the oscillating heat pipe transfers heat from the heat source to the heat sink.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 , comprising arranging the plurality of channel sections substantially in parallel to one another in a generally orthogonal direction between the heat source and the heat sink.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the plurality of channel sections are arranged in a common plane.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15 , comprising generating electrical energy using the pyroelectric generator, from temperature fluctuations generated by the fluid portions as they move within the plurality of channel sections of the oscillating heat pipe.

19. A method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the pyroelectric generator comprises a plurality of pyroelectric elements.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the plurality of pyroelectric elements are coupled to the plurality of channel sections of the oscillating heat pipe.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 , comprising arranging the plurality of pyroelectric elements along respective lengths of the plurality of channel sections.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising arranging the plurality of pyroelectric elements towards a heat source side of the plurality of channel sections.

23. A method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the plurality of channel sections are configured as grooves in a layer of the oscillating heat pipe.

24. A method as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising controlling, via a valve in at least one channel section of the plurality of channel sections, a speed or direction of fluid flow.

Assignees

• Univ Bath

Inventors

• Zabek Daniel
• Bowen Christopher R
• Ayel Vincent
• Bertin Yves
• Romestant Cyril

Classifications

• F28D15/0266 Primary

  with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers (F28D15/043 takes precedence) · 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

• F28F13/10

  by imparting a pulsating motion to the flow, e.g. by sonic vibration · CPC title

• H01L37/02 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H10N15/10 Primary

  Thermoelectric devices using thermal change of the dielectric constant, e.g. working above and below the Curie point · CPC title