Thermoelectric generator for use with integrated functionality
AssigneeGentherm Incorporated
InventorsVladimir Jovovic, Douglas T. Crane, Dmitri Kossakovski
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Abstract
A thermoelectric system includes at least one thermoelectric generator which includes at least one cold-side heat exchanger, at least one hot-side heat exchanger, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the at least one cold-side heat exchanger and in thermal communication with the at least one hot-side heat exchanger. The system further includes a combustible fluid, wherein the at least one cold-side heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat to the combustible fluid.
Claims27
A thermoelectric system comprising:
- at least one thermoelectric generator comprising:
- at least one cold-side heat exchanger;
- at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- and
- a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the at least one cold-side heat exchanger and in thermal communication with the at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- and
- a combustible fluid, wherein the at least one cold-side heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat to the combustible fluid.
A system comprising:
- an engine;
- and
- at least one thermoelectric generator comprising:
- at least one cold-side heat exchanger;
- at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- and
- a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the at least one cold-side heat exchanger and in thermal communication with the at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- and
- an engine lubricant, wherein the at least one cold-side heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat to the engine lubricant.
A method of heating a combustible fluid, the method comprising:
- generating electricity by providing heat to at least one thermoelectric generator comprising:
- at least one cold-side heat exchanger;
- at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- and
- a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the at least one cold-side heat exchanger and in thermal communication with the at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- and
- transferring heat from the at least one cold-side heat exchanger to the combustible fluid.
A method of heating an engine lubricant, the method comprising:
- generating electricity by providing heat to at least one thermoelectric generator comprising:
- at least one cold-side heat exchanger;
- at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- and
- a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the at least one cold-side heat exchanger and in thermal communication with the at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- and
- transferring heat from the at least one cold-side heat exchanger to an engine lubricant.
A thermoelectric system comprising:
- at least one thermoelectric generator comprising:
- at least one cold-side heat exchanger;
- at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- and
- a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the at least one cold-side heat exchanger and in thermal communication with the at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- a combustible fluid, wherein the at least one cold-side heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat to a portion of the combustible fluid;
- and
- a burner configured to combust the portion of the combustible fluid and to provide heat to the at least one hot-side heat exchanger.
A method of generating electricity by combusting a combustible fluid, the method comprising:
- generating electricity using at least one thermoelectric generator comprising:
- at least one cold-side heat exchanger;
- at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- and
- a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the at least one cold-side heat exchanger and in thermal communication with the at least one hot-side heat exchanger;
- transferring heat from the at least one cold-side heat exchanger to the combustible fluid to preheat the combustible fluid;
- and
- combusting the preheated combustible fluid to provide heat to the at least one hot-side heat exchanger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.