Thermoelectric generator for use in a heater and method of installation
AssigneeJohn C. Young
InventorsDer-Jeou Chou, John C. Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermoelectric generating assembly for replacement of a heat exchanger mounted in a fuel-burning heater having electricity-consuming components includes a thermoelectric generator for supplying the electrical power requirements of the heater components and an adaptor portion for mounting the thermoelectric generator within the heater. The assembly possesses a size and shape which approximates that of the heat exchanger to be replaced and can be mounted within the heater in a manner like that in which the heat exchanger is mounted within the heater prior to removal. The method includes the steps involved in replacing the heat exchanger with the thermoelectric generating assembly.
Claims17
A thermoelectric generating assembly for use in a fuel-burning heater designed to utilize a heat exchanger of a predetermined size and shape and wherein the fuel-burning heater includes a burner assembly for generating heat and components which require electrical power for heater operation such as means for moving a heat exchange medium through the heater so that the heat exchange medium is heated by the heat generated by the burner assembly through the heat exchanger, said assembly comprising a body including:
- a thermoelectric generator;
- and
- means for mounting the thermoelectric generator in such a relationship to the burner assembly and to the heat exchange medium routed through the heater so that the thermoelectric generator generates electricity for supplying at least a portion of the electrical power requirements of said heater components,
- said assembly body possessing a size and shape which approximates that of the heat exchanger with which the fuel-burning heater is designed to be utilized and
- said mounting means is compatible with means utilized for mounting the heat exchanger with which the fuel-burning heater is designed to be utilized within the heater so that said assembly can be mounted within the heater in place of the heat exchanger with which the heater is designed to be utilized.
A thermoelectric generating assembly for use in a fuel-burning heater designed to utilize a heat exchanger and wherein the fuel-burning heater includes a casing, a burner assembly positioned within the casing for generating heat and electrically-powered means including means for moving a heat exchange medium through the casing and wherein the heat exchanger with which the fuel-burning heater is designed to be utilized is adapted to be mounted in a prescribed position within the casing by heat exchanger mounting means so that the heat exchanger is heated by the heat generated by the burner assembly and rejects heat to the heat exchanger medium moving through the casing, said thermoelectric generating assembly comprising a body including:
- a thermoelectric generator having first and second sides and adapted to generate electricity when said first side receives heat from a heat source and said second side rejects heat to a head sink;
- and
- means for mounting said thermoelectric generator within said heater in the prescribed position where the heat exchanger with which the heater is designed to be utilized is adapted to be mounted so that said first side of said thermoelectric generator receives heat generated by the burner assembly and said second side rejects heat to the heat exchange medium moving through the casing so that electricity is generated by the thermoelectric generator for supplying at least a portion of the electrical power requirements for the electrically-powered means of the heater;
- said mounting means including a portion of like construction to that of the heat exchanger mounting means so that said assembly can be mounted within the heater casing in a manner like that in which the heat exchanger with which the heater is adapted to be utilized is adapted to be mounted within the heater casing.
A method for replacing a heat exchanger with a thermoelectric generating assembly wherein the heat exchanger is mounted within a fuel-burning heater having a burner assembly for generating heat and at least one component which requires electrical power for heater operation such as means for moving a heat exchange medium through the heater so that the heat exchange medium is heated by the heat generated by the burner assembly through the heat exchanger, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a thermoelectric generating assembly comprising a body including a thermoelectric generator and means for mounting the thermoelectric generator in such a relationship to the burner assembly and the heat exchange medium routed through the heater so that the thermoelectric generator generates electricity, said assembly body possessing a size and shape which approximates that of the heat exchanger to be replaced and said mounting means are compatible with means utilized for mounting the heat exchanger within the heater so that upon removing the heat exchanger from the heater, said assembly can be mounted within the heater in a manner like that in which the heat exchanger is mounted within the heater prior to removal;
- removing the heat exchanger from the heater;
- positioning the thermoelectric generator assembly within the heater in the place from which the heat exchanger was removed and mounting said assembly within the heater in a manner in which the heat exchanger was mounted within the heater prior to removal;
- and
- operatively connecting the thermoelectric generator to the electrical power-consuming component of the heater so that the electricity generated by the thermoelectric generator during heater operation provides at least a portion of the electrical power requirements of said component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.