Long-life thermoelectric generator
AssigneeCompagnie Industrielle des Telecommunications Cit-Alcatel
InventorMichel Alais
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Thermoelectric long-lasting microgenerator which may be implanted in the human body, using a cylinder containing a radioactive isotope as a heat source and the human body as a cold source. The connection between the heat source and the thermoelectric element is effected by means of a supple substance which is a poor conductor of electricity. The rest of the heat source is surrounded by a volume affording a very high impedance to the propagation of heat.
Claims21
A very long-lasting thermoelectric microgenerator comprising an outer casing acting as a cold source;
- a heat source disposed inside said outer casing and including a fluid-tight heat conducting metallic casing containing, in the vicinity of one of its walls, a radioactive source;
- a high output thermoelectric generator within said outer casing;
- said thermoelectric generator consisting of a plurality of P and N semiconductor elements connected in series;
- first means for mechanically and thermally connecting said thermoelectric generator to the heat source;
- second means for mechanically and thermally connecting said thermoelectric generator to the cold source;
- and
- a highly insulating medium filling in the rest of the space confined by the outer casing;
- said first and second means each comprising a layer of resilient resin, being electrically insulating and having a low heat resistance in relation to the resistance of said highly insulating medium confined by the external casing;
- and said highly insulating medium being a resilient microporous mineral substance which is a poor heat conductor, degassed vigorously, set in a rarefied heavy gas atmosphere.
A very long-lasting thermoelectric microgenerator comprising an outer casing acting as a cold source;
- a heat source disposed inside said outer casing and including a fluid-tight heat conducting metallic casing containing, in the vicinity of one of its walls, a radioactive source;
- a high output thermoelectric generator within said outer casing mechanically connected to the heat source and to the cold source;
- a highly insulating medium filling in the rest of the space confined by the outer casing;
- said highly insulating medium being resilient microporous mineral substance which is a poor heat conductor, degassed vigorously, set in a rarefied heavy gas atmosphere.
A very long-lasting thermoelectric microgenerator comprising an outer casing acting as a cold source;
- a heat source disposed inside said outer casing and including a fluid-tight heat conducting casing containing, in the vicinity of one of its walls, a radioactive source;
- said conducting casing having an outer layer of Platinum;
- a high output thermoelectric generator within said outer casing mechanically connected to the heat source and to the cold source;
- said thermoelectric generator consisting of a plurality of P and N semiconductor elements connected in series and comprising a solid bismuth telluride solution;
- a highly insulating medium filling in the rest of the space confined by the outer casing;
- said outer layer of Platinum being completely covered with a very thin layer of boron nitride.
A very long-lasting thermoelectric microgenerator comprising an outer casing acting as a cold source;
- a heat source disposed inside said outer casing and including a fluid-tight heat conducting casing containing, in the vicinity of one of its walls, a radioactive source;
- said conductive casing having an outer layer of Platinum;
- a high output thermoelectric generator within said outer casing mechanically connected to the heat source and to the cold source;
- said thermoelectric generator consisting of a plurality of P and N semiconductor elements connected in series and comprising a solid bismuth telluride solution;
- a highly insulating medium filling in the rest of the space confined by the outer casing;
- said outer layer of Platinum being completely covered with a very thin layer of alumina.
A very long-lasting thermoelectric microgenerator comprising an outer casing acting as a cold source;
- a heat source disposed inside said outer casing and including a fluid-tight heat conducting casing containing, in the vicinity of one of its walls, a radioactive source;
- said conducting casing having an outer layer of Platinum;
- a high output thermoelectric generator within said outer casing mechanically connected to the heat source and to the cold source;
- said thermoelectric generator consisting of a plurality of P and N semiconductor elements connected in series and comprising a solid bismuth telluride solution;
- a highly insulating medium filling in the rest of the space confined by the outer casing;
- said outer layer of Platinum being completely covered with a very thin layer of zirconium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.