Thermoelectric systems incorporating rectangular heat pipes

Patent · Tue May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6338429

Chao, S L; Vining, R A

The present invention provides a low cost, compact, efficient thermoelectric system which has no moving parts for converting waste heat into electrical energy. The system includes a plurality of heat pipes having at least one substantially planar sidewall and integral heat collecting fins. The planar sidewalls on the heat pipes enable broad surface thermal contact with thermoelectric devices. The heat pipes and integral heat collecting fins provide for the efficient collection and transmission of waste heat to the side of the thermoelectric devices contacting the heat pipes at a location outside of the flow of waste heat. The other side of each thermoelectric device is either water or air cooled to establish a temperature differential thereacross for the generation of electrical energy. The heat pipes are preferably generally rectangular in cross section to provide opposed substantially planar surfaces for making efficient, low heat loss, broad surface thermal contact with the thermoelectric devices.

• Assignee: ECD-ANR Energy Conversion Company
• Patent Number(s): US 4448028
• OSTI ID: 6338429
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300303* -- Thermoelectric Generators-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320304 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Waste Heat Recovery & Utilization
CONTROL
COOLING
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY
ENERGY RECOVERY
EQUIPMENT
FINS
HEAT
HEAT PIPES
HEAT RECOVERY
HEAT RECOVERY EQUIPMENT
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
POWER GENERATION
RECOVERY
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
WALLS
WASTE HEAT
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WASTES