Apparatus and method for pyroelectric power conversion
Abstract
Apparatus and method for converting heat to electrical energy by the use of one or more capacitors having temperature dependent capacitance. The capacitor is cycled between relatively high and relatively low temperatures by successive thermal contact with relatively high and relatively low temperature portions of a heat transfer medium having a temperature gradient therein. Upon heating of the capacitor, the capacitance thereof is reduced, so that a charge therein is caused to expand into associated external circuitry in which it is available to do electrical work. The capacitor is then cooled and recharged and the cycle is repeated. The electrical output of the capacitor results from the regenerative delivery of heat to and removal of heat from the capacitor by the heat transfer medium, and efficient conversion of heat to electric energy is thereby effected.
- Inventors:
-
- Olivenhain, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Power Conversion Technology
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864836
- Patent Number(s):
- 4425540
- Assignee:
- Power Conversion Technology, Inc. (San Diego, CA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-78ER01736
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- apparatus; method; pyroelectric; power; conversion; converting; heat; electrical; energy; capacitors; temperature; dependent; capacitance; capacitor; cycled; relatively; temperatures; successive; thermal; contact; portions; transfer; medium; gradient; therein; heating; reduced; charge; caused; expand; associated; external; circuitry; available; cooled; recharged; cycle; repeated; output; results; regenerative; delivery; removal; efficient; electric; effected; external circuit; temperature dependent; power conversion; electric power; temperature gradient; electrical energy; heat transfer; electrical output; thermal contact; transfer medium; electric energy; efficient conversion; converting heat; external circuitry; conversion apparatus; /322/310/
Citation Formats
Olsen, Randall B. Apparatus and method for pyroelectric power conversion. United States: N. p., 1984.
Web.
Olsen, Randall B. Apparatus and method for pyroelectric power conversion. United States.
Olsen, Randall B. Sun .
"Apparatus and method for pyroelectric power conversion". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864836.
@article{osti_864836,
title = {Apparatus and method for pyroelectric power conversion},
author = {Olsen, Randall B},
abstractNote = {Apparatus and method for converting heat to electrical energy by the use of one or more capacitors having temperature dependent capacitance. The capacitor is cycled between relatively high and relatively low temperatures by successive thermal contact with relatively high and relatively low temperature portions of a heat transfer medium having a temperature gradient therein. Upon heating of the capacitor, the capacitance thereof is reduced, so that a charge therein is caused to expand into associated external circuitry in which it is available to do electrical work. The capacitor is then cooled and recharged and the cycle is repeated. The electrical output of the capacitor results from the regenerative delivery of heat to and removal of heat from the capacitor by the heat transfer medium, and efficient conversion of heat to electric energy is thereby effected.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984}
}