US 2002/0117198 A1 · Thermoelectric generator for a vehicle

Abstract

A thermoelectric generator includes a thermal generator to which thermal energy is provided from a heat source. In order to keep the output voltage of the thermal generator in a range suitable for charging a battery or for directly feeding into the vehicle's electrical system, the rate of heat production of the heat source and/or the cooling power of a cooling device for the thermal generator is controlled by a regulator. For this purpose, the regulator is connected to a temperature sensor which is mounted on the thermal generator. The regulator can be more cost-effectively configured than a D.C. converter between the output side of the thermal generator and the battery so that this converter can be dispensed with.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A thermoelectric generator for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a thermal generator thermally coupled to a heat source of the motor vehicle;
and
a regulator for controlling a desired output voltage of the thermal generator,
said regulator being constructed and arranged so as to maintain temperature conditions at said thermal generator within in a temperature range corresponding to the desired output voltage.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/683,568Filed 18 Jan 2002

Priority

EP 01101915.521 Jan 2001

Published

29 Aug 2002

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B60L 50/15
Using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines: with additional electric power supply
B60L 50/60
Using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells: using power supplied by batteries
B60L 2210/10
Converter types: dC to DC converters
Y02T 10/70
Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect: energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Thermoelectric generator for a vehicle

Life of this patent

Thermoelectric generator for a vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8