Power distribution by a working fluid contained in a conduit

A method for conveying power from a heat source (20), the method comprising:

• generating thermal energy (22) by the heat source (20), wherein the heat source (20) is in thermal communication with a conduit (50), and wherein a barrier(12) defines an enclosure (14) that is a closed volume of space and the barrier(12) is a hermetically sealed chamber;
• conducting the thermal energy (22) by the conduit (50), wherein the thermal energy (22) generated by the heat source (20) is directly transferred to only a portion (88) of the conduit (50), and the conduit (50) is either mounted upon or extends within at least a portion of a barrier(12) and extends around an entire periphery of the enclosure (14) and defines a passageway (54) that contains a primary working fluid (53);
• transferring the thermal energy (22) generated by the heat source (20) to the primary working fluid (53);
• transferring the thermal energy (22) from the primary working fluid (53) to a hot side (32) of a thermoelectric generator (26), wherein the thermoelectric generator (26) is in thermal communication with the conduit (50) and includes the hot side (32) and a cold side (34);
• and
• heating the hot side (32) of the thermoelectric generator (26) to a temperature greater than the cold side (34) of the thermoelectric generator (26) to create electric current.