# US 2025/0158542 A1 · ThermoElectric Recharging Using Waste-Heat For Demand Charge Reduction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0158542 A1 - Document ID: US20250158542A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/947,013 - Filed: 2024-11-14 - Published: 2025-05-15 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-14 - Assignees: Budderfly, Inc. - Applicants: Budderfly, Inc. - Inventors: David Gerald Cannon; Kenneth Buda; Ibhade Christopher Edewele Eigbobo; Jaan Leemet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250158542A1 ## CPC - H02N 11/002: {Generators} - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H05B 6/00: Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields - H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A system for recuperating waste heat for charging backup batteries and/or driving electrical loads is presented using thermoelectric generators to perform battery charging, particularly in quick serve restaurants (QSRs). Machine learning is applied to estimating the availability of power from thermoelectric generating based devices and for predicting and planning for the use of the available stored energy for peak energy usage periods thus reducing demand charges. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermoelectric electricity generation system comprising: a food service location comprising a cooking element; a ventilation system configured to receive heated exhaust gasses from an area adjacent the cooking element and expel the heated exhaust gasses; a plurality of thermoelectric devices in contact on a first side with the ventilation system at a location of the ventilation system which is heated by the heated exhaust gasses and a second side of the thermoelectric devices exposed to ambient air of the location; the plurality of thermoelectric devices electrically connected to an electrical load and the plurality of thermoelectric devices configured to generate electricity when there is a temperature differential between the first and second sides. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the load includes a battery. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the load includes a controller, the controller comprising a processor with software executing thereon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the food service location is a kitchen. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the food service location is a quick serve restaurant (QSR). ### Claim 9 A thermoelectric electricity generation system comprising: a food service location comprising a refrigeration element, the refrigeration element including a fan and a condenser which is configured to expel heated air to the location; a plurality of thermoelectric devices in contact on a first side with an exterior facing portion of an element adjacent the condenser which exterior facing potion is configured to be heated by the heated air from an interior facing portion of the element and a second side of the thermoelectric devices exposed to ambient air of the location which is cooler than the heated air; the plurality of thermoelectric devices electrically connected to an electrical load and the plurality of thermoelectric devices configured to generate electricity when there is a temperature differential between the first and second sides. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising a cooking element at the food service location; a ventilation system configured to receive heated exhaust gasses from an area adjacent the cooking element and expel the heated exhaust gasses; a second set of a plurality of thermoelectric devices in contact on a first side of the second set of the plurality of thermoelectric devices with the ventilation system at a location of the ventilation system which is heated by the heated exhaust gasses and a second side of the second set of a plurality of thermoelectric devices is exposed to ambient air of the location; the second set of the plurality of thermoelectric devices electrically connected to an electrical load and the plurality of thermoelectric devices configured to generate electricity when there is a temperature differential between the first and second sides of the second set of the plurality of thermoelectric devices. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising: a third set of a plurality of thermoelectric devices in contact on a first side of the third set of the plurality of thermoelectric devices with an exterior side of second element which second element is warmed from an interior side by heated air from a second condenser of an air conditioning or dehumidification system which second condenser is positioned to expel air outside the location and a second side of the third set of the plurality of thermoelectric devices is exposed to ambient air outside the location. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the load includes a battery. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the load includes a controller, the controller comprising a processor with software executing thereon. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the food service location is a kitchen. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the food service location is a quick serve restaurant (QSR). ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the load includes a controller and a battery, the controller comprising a processor with software executing thereon, the controller configured to control charging and discharging of the battery. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the controller is connected to one or more appliances at the location and is configured to discharge electrical energy stored in the battery to the one or more appliances. ### Claim 18 A thermoelectric electricity generation system comprising: a food service location comprising a refrigeration element, the refrigeration element including a fan and a condenser which is configured to expel heated air to the location; a plurality of thermoelectric devices in contact on a first side with an exterior facing portion of an element adjacent the condenser which exterior facing potion is configured to be heated by the heated air from an interior facing portion of the element and a second side of the thermoelectric devices exposed to ambient air of the location which is cooler than the heated air; the plurality of thermoelectric devices electrically connected to a controller and a battery and the plurality of thermoelectric devices configured to generate electricity when there is a temperature differential between the first and second sides; a cooking element at the food service location; a ventilation system configured to receive heated exhaust gasses from an area adjacent the cooking element and expel the heated exhaust gasses; a second set of a plurality of thermoelectric devices in contact on a first side of the second set of the plurality of thermoelectric devices with the ventilation system at a location of the ventilation system which is heated by the heated exhaust gasses and a second side of the second set of a plurality of thermoelectric devices is exposed to ambient air of the location; the second set of the plurality of thermoelectric devices electrically connected to the controller and the battery and configured to generate electricity when there is a temperature differential between the first and second sides the second set of the plurality of thermoelectric devices; the controller is connected to one or more appliances at the location and is configured to discharge electrical energy stored in the battery to the one or more appliances.