Energy recovery

An ablutionary or plumbing system comprising:

• a first pipe for carrying fluid having a first temperature;
• a second pipe for carrying fluid having a second temperature, the second temperature being different from the first temperature;
• and
• an apparatus operable to recover heat, the apparatus comprising:
• a first heat transfer element configured to be thermally coupled to the first pipe and comprising an elongate portion extending in a direction away from the first pipe and toward the second pipe;
• a second heat transfer element configured to be thermally coupled to the second pipe and comprising an elongate portion extending in a direction away from the second pipe and toward the first pipe, wherein the elongate portions of the first and second heat transfer elements at least partially overlap in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction that each of the elongate portions extend;
• and
• a thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device comprising one or more thermoelectric elements located between the elongate portions, the one or more thermoelectric elements being in thermal communication with the elongate portion of the first heat transfer element and the elongate portion of the second heat transfer element and being arranged to generate electricity from a temperature differential between the elongate portions of the first and second heat transfer elements;
• wherein each of the first heat transfer element and the second heat transfer element comprises a pipe contacting portion, and wherein the thermoelectric device is disposed between the first pipe and the second pipe,
• wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a first pair of sides defining a width of the thermoelectric device and a second pair of sides defining a height of the thermoelectric device,
• wherein the width is greater than the height, and
• wherein each of the elongate portions abut one of the sides of the first pair of sides.

A method of converting waste heat in an ablutionary or plumbing system into electricity, the method comprising:

• providing an apparatus operable to recover heat, the apparatus comprising:
• a first heat transfer element configured to be thermally coupled to a first pipe and comprising an elongate portion extending in a direction away from the first pipe and toward a second pipe;
• a second heat transfer element configured to be thermally coupled to the second pipe and comprising an elongate portion extending in a direction away from the second pipe and toward the first pipe, wherein the elongate portions of the first and second heat transfer elements at least partially overlap in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction that each of the elongate portions extend;
• and
• a thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device comprising one or more thermoelectric elements located between the elongate portions, the one or more thermoelectric elements being in thermal communication with the elongate portion of the first heat transfer element and the elongate portion of the second heat transfer element and being arranged to generate electricity from a temperature differential between the elongate portions of the first and second heat transfer elements;
• wherein each of the first heat transfer element and the second heat transfer element comprises a pipe contacting portion, and wherein the one or more thermoelectric elements are disposed between the first pipe and the second pipe;
• thermally coupling the first heat transfer element to the first pipe;
• thermally coupling the second heat transfer element to the second pipe;
• and
• when a temperature difference exists between the elongate portion of the first heat transfer element and the elongate portion of the second heat transfer element, generating electricity using the thermoelectric device,
• wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a first pair of sides defining a width of the thermoelectric device and a second pair of sides defining a height of the thermoelectric device,
• wherein the width is greater than the height, and
• wherein each of the elongate portions abut one of the sides of the first pair of sides.