Generation module for deep geothermal energy and assembly method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12408552-B1
Application number	US-202519014631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 9, 2025
Priority date	May 22, 2024
Publication date	Sep 2, 2025
Grant date	Sep 2, 2025

Abstract

A detachable geothermal in-situ thermovoltaic power generation module and an assembly method thereof are provided, including a heat pipe, with a cross section set as a regular polygon structure; a plurality of thermovoltaic power generation units sleeved on the heat pipe at intervals and arranged in series; each of the thermovoltaic power generation modules includes a housing, arranged at one side of the heat pipe, and a side of the housing facing the heat pipe is an open end; an electric heating block, arranged at one side of an inner cavity of the housing far from the open end; a framework, connected with an outer wall of the open end of the housing; the thermovoltaic power generation sheets are located between the framework and the electric heating block; the two hoops are respectively connected with the two ends of the housing, the hoops are sleeved on the heat pipe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A detachable geothermal in-situ thermovoltaic power generation module, comprising:
a heat pipe, with a cross section set as a regular polygon structure;
a plurality of thermovoltaic power generation units, sleeved on the heat pipe at intervals and arranged in series;
wherein each of the thermovoltaic power generation units comprises a plurality of thermovoltaic power generation modules, and a number of the plurality of thermovoltaic power generation units corresponds to a number of sides of the heat pipe;
each of the thermovoltaic power generation modules comprises:
a housing, arranged at one side of the heat pipe, and a side of the housing facing the heat pipe is an open end;
an electric heating block, arranged at one side of an inner cavity of the housing far from the open end and used as a local heat source;
a framework, connected with an outer wall of the open end of the housing;
thermovoltaic power generation sheets, arranged at one side of the inner cavity of the housing close to the open end, and the thermovoltaic power generation sheets are located between the framework and the electric heating block; and
two hoops, respectively connected with two ends of the housing, and the hoops are sleeved on the heat pipe, and cross sections of the hoops are arranged in regular polygon structures and corresponding to an outer wall of the heat pipe, wherein a relative distance between the two hoops is adjusted according to a length of the housing;
wherein each of the hoops comprises:
two half-hoops, combined to form the hoop, two ends of each of the half-hoops are respectively provided with matched clamping grooves and clamping blocks, the clamping grooves and the clamping blocks are tenoned, and holes used for connecting by bolts are formed on the clamping grooves and the clamping blocks; and
wherein a groove is formed in a middle of any side of each of the half-hoops, and both ends of an outer wall of each of the half-hoops located at both sides of the groove are respectively provided with threaded holes.

2. The detachable geothermal in-situ thermovoltaic power generation module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the open end of the housing protrudes outwards relative to the two ends of the housing, and the two ends of the housing are respectively provided with connecting holes adapted to the threaded holes; and the connecting holes and the threaded holes are connected by bolts.

3. The detachable geothermal in-situ thermovoltaic power generation module according to claim 2 , wherein:
outer walls of the two ends of the housing are respectively provided with outlet holes for wires of the electric heating block to extend out, and the wires of the electric heating block pass through the groove.

4. The detachable geothermal in-situ thermovoltaic power generation module according to claim 3 , wherein:
a side wall of the housing is provided with a plurality of small holes, used for a thermocouple to extend between the thermovoltaic power generation sheets and the electric heating block through the small holes.

5. The detachable geothermal in-situ thermovoltaic power generation module according to claim 4 , wherein:
the thermocouple electrically connects collected temperature signals with a temperature collecting control system.

6. The detachable geothermal in-situ thermovoltaic power generation module according to claim 5 , wherein:
two sides of the framework are respectively provided with a plurality of limiting holes, and the framework and the outer wall of the open end are connected by bolts through the limiting holes.

7. The detachable geothermal in-situ thermovoltaic power generation module according to claim 6 , wherein:
a gap is left between the electric heating block and an inner wall of the housing for adding thermal insulation materials to reduce a heat loss of the electric heating block.

8. The detachable geothermal in-situ thermovoltaic power generation module according to claim 7 , wherein both sides of the thermovoltaic power generation sheets are respectively provided with heat-conducting silica gel sheets.

9. An assembly method of a detachable geothermal in-situ thermovoltaic power generation module, according to the detachable geothermal in-situ thermovoltaic power generation module of claim 8 , comprising following steps:
installing the heat-conducting silica gel sheets on the both sides of the thermovoltaic power generation sheets;
filling a bottom of the inner cavity of the housing with the thermal insulation materials;
sequentially placing the electric heating block and the thermovoltaic power generation sheets in the housing from the bottom of the inner cavity of the housing towards the open end, synchronously completing an installation of the thermocouple by connecting the framework and the housing, and completing an assembly of the thermovoltaic power generation modules;
installing several hoops on the heat pipe, and adjusting a distance between two adjacent hoops according to the length of the housing; and
generating heat by the electric heating block after being electrified, electrically connecting the collected temperature signals with the temperature collecting control system by the thermocouple, and realizing accurate and stable temperature control of hot and cold ends of the thermovoltaic power generation modules by using a PID temperature controller and a variable silicon voltage regulating module.

Assignees

• Univ Shenzhen

Inventors

• Wang Jun
• Xie Heping
• Long xiting
• Li Cunbao
• Liu Zhichao
• Sun Licheng
• Liao Jiaxi
• Deng Zhou

Classifications

• H10N10/13

  characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction · CPC title

• F03G4/037

  having other power cycles, e.g. Stirling, transcritical or supercritical cycles; combined with other power sources, e.g. wind, gas or nuclear · CPC title

• H10N10/17 Primary

  characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device · CPC title

• F28D15/0233

  the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular (F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence) · CPC title

• F25B49/00

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title