CA2601830A1 - Thermoelectric generator - Google Patents
Thermoelectric generator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2601830A1 CA2601830A1 CA 2601830 CA2601830A CA2601830A1 CA 2601830 A1 CA2601830 A1 CA 2601830A1 CA 2601830 CA2601830 CA 2601830 CA 2601830 A CA2601830 A CA 2601830A CA 2601830 A1 CA2601830 A1 CA 2601830A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cathode
- anode
- made out
- thermoelectric generator
- electron
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J45/00—Discharge tubes functioning as thermionic generators
Landscapes
- Electron Sources, Ion Sources (AREA)
Abstract
The invention provides an improved thermoelectric generator. It consists of an air-tight vessel containing a vacuum with a cathode made out of an electron emissive material and anode which is made out of an electron absorbing material. A high voltage potential is supplied between the cathode and anode. When a cathode is heated by an external heat source, electrons are generated and directed towards the anode, creating an electrical current.
Description
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR
This invention belongs to the technical field of thermoelectric generation where low-quality energy such as fire is transformed into a high-quality energy such as electrical current.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are known numerous types of thermoelectric generators based on a so-called Seebeck effect when the junction of two different metals is subjected to heating. The main disadvantage of this method is low efficiency (not exceeding 5%). Another disadvantage is a very low voltage generated by each thermocouple and also a very low current which requires connecting many units in series and parallel to make it usable, which makes is expensive and bulky.
There is a known Alpha Fusion Valve (www.nuenergry.org) which addresses the above disadvantages by utilizing cathode made out of n-type semiconductor wafer or a lead salt as a generator of electrons for producing electrical current. When this type of cathode is subjected to bombardment by alpha particles, it starts to emit electrons due to a nuclear fusion reaction and also heating of the surface of the cathode. An anode is made out of electron absorbing material. To facilitate transfer of electrons between a cathode and anode, the device contains a vacuum where there is a high voltage potential a between cathode and anode. Disadvantage of Alpha Fusion Valve is the fact that alpha particle emission material is not readily available and sometimes it is not desirable.
This invention belongs to the technical field of thermoelectric generation where low-quality energy such as fire is transformed into a high-quality energy such as electrical current.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are known numerous types of thermoelectric generators based on a so-called Seebeck effect when the junction of two different metals is subjected to heating. The main disadvantage of this method is low efficiency (not exceeding 5%). Another disadvantage is a very low voltage generated by each thermocouple and also a very low current which requires connecting many units in series and parallel to make it usable, which makes is expensive and bulky.
There is a known Alpha Fusion Valve (www.nuenergry.org) which addresses the above disadvantages by utilizing cathode made out of n-type semiconductor wafer or a lead salt as a generator of electrons for producing electrical current. When this type of cathode is subjected to bombardment by alpha particles, it starts to emit electrons due to a nuclear fusion reaction and also heating of the surface of the cathode. An anode is made out of electron absorbing material. To facilitate transfer of electrons between a cathode and anode, the device contains a vacuum where there is a high voltage potential a between cathode and anode. Disadvantage of Alpha Fusion Valve is the fact that alpha particle emission material is not readily available and sometimes it is not desirable.
-2,-SUIVIMARY OF THE INVENTION
The proposed invention addresses these disadvantages by proposing to heat the cathode by an external heat source. The heated cathode will generate electrons proportionally to its temperature.
Fig.l illustrates the main parts of the proposed thermoelectric generator, where:
1- The body of the device made out of metal;
2 - thermoconductive but electrically insulating spacer;
The proposed invention addresses these disadvantages by proposing to heat the cathode by an external heat source. The heated cathode will generate electrons proportionally to its temperature.
Fig.l illustrates the main parts of the proposed thermoelectric generator, where:
1- The body of the device made out of metal;
2 - thermoconductive but electrically insulating spacer;
3 - electron-emitting cathode;
4 - electron-collecting anode;
- cover;
6 - positive electrode (connected to anode);
7 - negative electrode (connected to cathode).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Proposed device operates in a following way:
A high voltage potential is being supplied to the positive 6 and negative 7 electrodes of the device. A vacuum is created inside of the device. An anode is connected to the positive electrode and the cathode is connected to the negative electrode. The cathode is situated within the body of the device and is isolated from it by the heat-conductive, electrically-insulating spacer so there is no electrical contact between the cathode and the body.
While the bottom part of cover 1 is heated, possibly by an open flame, heat is being transferred through the heat-conductive spacer 2 to the electron-emitting cathode 3 and this causes it to emit electrons at the increasing rate. Electrons are being attracted to the positively charged cathode 4. This flow of electrons creates an electrical current. Cover 5 serves to seal the device. It is made out of electrically insulating material.
Outputted current can be utilized to power an electrical load after being converted through the transformer.
Body of the device can be made out of eletrical insulator, such as soapstone.
In this case insulating spacer 2 is not needed. This device can be used for example for powering laptops and lights while in the wilderness trip by heating it with the log fire.
- cover;
6 - positive electrode (connected to anode);
7 - negative electrode (connected to cathode).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Proposed device operates in a following way:
A high voltage potential is being supplied to the positive 6 and negative 7 electrodes of the device. A vacuum is created inside of the device. An anode is connected to the positive electrode and the cathode is connected to the negative electrode. The cathode is situated within the body of the device and is isolated from it by the heat-conductive, electrically-insulating spacer so there is no electrical contact between the cathode and the body.
While the bottom part of cover 1 is heated, possibly by an open flame, heat is being transferred through the heat-conductive spacer 2 to the electron-emitting cathode 3 and this causes it to emit electrons at the increasing rate. Electrons are being attracted to the positively charged cathode 4. This flow of electrons creates an electrical current. Cover 5 serves to seal the device. It is made out of electrically insulating material.
Outputted current can be utilized to power an electrical load after being converted through the transformer.
Body of the device can be made out of eletrical insulator, such as soapstone.
In this case insulating spacer 2 is not needed. This device can be used for example for powering laptops and lights while in the wilderness trip by heating it with the log fire.
Claims (2)
1. A thermoelectric generator consisting of a vessel containing a vacuum where the cathode is made out of an electron emitting material, an anode that is made out of an electron absorbing material, with a high-voltage potential applied between said cathode and anode, where a cathode is located in close proximity to the body so it can readily absorb heat from an external heat source.
2. Same as 1 where the cathode is insulated from the vessel's body by a heat-conductive, electrically-insulating spacer.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2601830 CA2601830A1 (en) | 2007-09-24 | 2007-09-24 | Thermoelectric generator |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2601830 CA2601830A1 (en) | 2007-09-24 | 2007-09-24 | Thermoelectric generator |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2601830A1 true CA2601830A1 (en) | 2009-03-24 |
Family
ID=40475103
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2601830 Abandoned CA2601830A1 (en) | 2007-09-24 | 2007-09-24 | Thermoelectric generator |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2601830A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN113375857A (en) * | 2021-06-09 | 2021-09-10 | 江苏创芯海微科技有限公司 | Self-verifying vacuum degree sensor |
-
2007
- 2007-09-24 CA CA 2601830 patent/CA2601830A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN113375857A (en) * | 2021-06-09 | 2021-09-10 | 江苏创芯海微科技有限公司 | Self-verifying vacuum degree sensor |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |