Energy harvesting using a thermoelectric material
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsNersesse Nersessian, Gregory P. Carman, Harry B. Radousky
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Abstract
A novel energy harvesting system and method utilizing a thermoelectric having a material exhibiting a large thermally induced strain (TIS) due to a phase transformation and a material exhibiting a stress induced electric field is introduced. A material that exhibits such a phase transformation exhibits a large increase in the coefficient of thermal expansion over an incremental temperature range (typically several degrees Kelvin). When such a material is arranged in a geometric configuration, such as, for a example, a laminate with a material that exhibits a stress induced electric field (e.g. a piezoelectric material) the thermally induced strain is converted to an electric field.
Claims28
An energy harvesting system, comprising:
- a cooling source capable of producing a predetermined temperature gradient;
- a heating source capable of producing a predetermined temperature gradient;
- a thermoelectric material, further comprising:
- one or more thermostrictive materials capable of producing a predetermined induced strain when subjected to a cycled contact with said cooling source and said heating source over a predetermined temperature range;
- one or more piezoelectric materials capable of producing an induced voltage resulting from said predetermined induced strain produced by said one or more thermostrictive materials;
- and
- wherein a predetermined power output is capable of being produced by said system at a frequency determined by said cycled predetermined temperature range.
An energy harvesting method, comprising:
- providing a cooling source capable of producing a predetermined temperature gradient;
- providing a heating source capable of producing a predetermined temperature gradient;
- providing a thermoelectric material, wherein said thermoelectric material further comprises:
- one or more thermostrictive materials capable of producing a predetermined induced strain when subjected to a cycled contact with said cooling source and said heating source over a predetermined temperature range;
- one or more piezoelectric materials capable of producing an induced voltage resulting from said predetermined induced strain produced by said one or more thermostrictive materials;
- and
- wherein a predetermined power output is capable of being produced at a frequency determined by said cycled predetermined temperature range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.