Thermoelectric converter and method

Abstract

The invention comprises the conversion of thermal power into electrical energy. Two dissimilar metals, such as aluminum and brass, are separated by a heat conductive and electrical conductive material. Water makes a good separator. When a fluid is used, it is heated and caused to flow between the dissimilar metals. The metals may be in the form of rectangular plates and they act as electrodes from which the electrical power is tapped by suitable lines. In the above case the fluid is heated and passed between the metals, the internal temperature being greater than the outside of the metal plates. If desired, the outside of the metal plates may be additionally cooled. In a variation, the heat may be applied to the outside of one metal and passed through the metal, the separator, in this case preferably solid, and through the other metal. Again the other metal plate may be independently cooled. The heat can be applied in any conventional manner and solar heat can readily be used. In circulating the hot fluid, a portion of the power generated may be used to power a circulating pump. Any variation of the above basic design will produce usable electrical energy. If desired, the metal plates may be placed in series to increase the output power, but they must still be spaced. A typical series may have brass-separator-aluminum-separator-brass-separator-aluminum. The separator may be hot water or any other heat and electrical conductor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.