US4292579A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thermoelectric generator
Assignee: CONSTANT ARGEREY 1603 DANBURY DRIVE CLAREMONT CA 91711
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Filing: 1978-10-23
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Granted: 1981-09-29
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Expires: 1998-10-23
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for a thermoelectric generator which converts heat directly from a heat source into electrical energy. This is done by applying an external electromotive force (emf) across a heated semiconductor to produce the drifting of electrons and thereby producing a current in the semiconductor which can be used in a load. Operation is possible at maximum power, maximum efficiency near unity, or at high combined power and efficiency. When used separately or in combination with a concentrating lens or combination of a heat absorber and heat exchanger there is provided a system for converting the sun's energy to electricity. When used in combination with a heat absorber and heat exchanger there is provided a system for converting fossil, nuclear, and geothermal heat energy to electricity.
Inventors
- 👤 James N. Constant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:17
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N11/00; H02N11/002; H10; H10N; H10N10/00; H10N10/10; H10N10/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
In a thermoelectric generator for converting heat directly from a heat source into electrical energy, the combinatin of: at least one active cell comprising a semiconductor means sandwiched between a pair of metal electrodes; means including a heat source for heating at least portions of said cell; means including one of a voltage or current source for applying an external electromotive force (emf) to said semiconductor means, said emf producing the drifting of charges and thereby producing a current in said semiconductor means, said drifting of charges being along a path one of smaller or greater than the mean free path of charges, said source being substantially decoupled from said current in said semiconductor means; and means for connecting an external load across said metal electrodes for receiving the current generated by said semiconductor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a thermoelectric generator for converting heat directly from a heat source into electrical energy, the combinatin of: at least one active cell comprising a semiconductor means sandwiched between a pair of metal electrodes; means including a heat source for heating at least portions of said cell; means including one of a voltage or current source for applying an external electromotive force (emf) to said semiconductor means, said emf producing the drifting of charges and thereby producing a current in said semiconductor means, said drifting of charges being along a path one of smaller or greater than the mean free path of charges, said source being substantially decoupled from said current in said semiconductor means; and means for connecting an external load across said metal electrodes for receiving the current generated by said semiconductor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A thermoelectric unit according to claim 1 in which said semiconductor means includes a resistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermoelectric unit according to claim 1 in which said semiconductor means includes a combination of p- and n- type semiconductors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 in which said semiconductor means combines at least one thin film semiconductor in combination with at least one thin film metal, with semiconductor and metal thin films successively deposited by evaporation in vacuum upon the surface of at least one of said metal electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 including a plurality of said cells electrically connected in series.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 including a plurality of said cells electrically connected in parallel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1, including an energy absorber having an energy source as input and providing a heat exchange fluid as output, with said absorber connected as input to a heat exchanger for providing said heat source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 in which the heat source receives its heat from the sun.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 wherein said heat source provides its heat to the cell through a heat reservoir surrounding said portions of said cell being heated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 wherein said heat source is a pin fin heat exchanger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 including a cooler for cooling a portion of said cell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 including means for applying a temperature difference between selected ones of elements of said cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 including cooling means for operating selected ones of elements of said cell at superconducting temperatures.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 in which said source is provided by a battery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 in which said source is provided by a device whose principle of operation employs the Peltier, Seebeck or Thompson effects.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 including means for adjusting said source as a function of the temperature of heat source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 wherein said emf is applied to said semiconductor means through a grid in said semiconductor means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thermoelectric generator unit according to claim 1 wherein said source also supplies power to the load.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for converting heat directly from a heat source into electrical energy, comprising the steps of: forming at least one active cell by sandwiching a semiconductor means between a pair of metal electrodes; heating at least a portion of the cell to a temperature T H ; applying an external electromotive force (emf) to the semiconductor means using one of a voltage or current source, producing the drifting of charges and thereby producing a current in said semiconductor means, said drifting of charges being along a path one of smaller or greater than the mean free path of charges, substantially decoupling said source from the current in said semiconductor means; and shunting an external load across the metal electrodes for receiving the current generated by the semiconductor means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for converting heat directly from a heat source into electrical energy, comprising the steps of: forming at least one active cell by sandwiching a semiconductor means between a pair of metal electrodes; heating at least a portion of the cell to a temperature T H ; applying an external electromotive force (emf) to the semiconductor means using one of a voltage or current source, producing the drifting of charges and thereby producing a current in said semiconductor means, said drifting of charges being along a path one of smaller or greater than the mean free path of charges, substantially decoupling said source from the current in said semiconductor means; and shunting an external load across the metal electrodes for receiving the current generated by the semiconductor means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of forming the semiconductor means as at least one thin film semiconductor in combination with at least one thin film metal by successively depositing thin films by evaporation in vacuum upon the surface of one or both of said metal electrodes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of providing a plurality of said cells connected in series.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of providing a plurality of said cells connected in parallel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 including the steps of: converting energy to heat an exchange fluid; and heating the cell with the heated exchange fluid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of receiving heat energy in said heat source from the sun.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of providing heat to the cell from the heat source through a heat reservoir.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19 including the step or providing radiated heat to the cell from the heat source.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of providing convected heat to the cell from the heat source.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of providing conducted heat to the cell from the heat source.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of cooling a portion of the cell to a temperature T c .
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of providing a temperature difference ΔT between selected ones of elements of the cell.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of operating selected ones of elements of the cell at superconducting temperatures.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of providing emf from a source as a device whose principle of operation employs the Peltier, Seebeck or Thompson effects.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of providing emf from a battery.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of adjusting the source as a function of the temperature T H of the heat source.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of applying the emf to the semiconductor means through a grid in the semiconductor means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of supplying power from the source to the load.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-09-28 | 1985-03-30 | 1985-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-28 | 1989-03-30 | 1989-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-28 | 1993-03-30 | 1993-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |