Thermoelectric power generation method and apparatus

A power generation system, comprising:

• a ducting network operable to carry a relatively hot or cold fluid;
• a thermoelectric power generation unit inserted into the ducting network so that the fluid flows through the thermoelectric power generation unit, the thermoelectric power generation unit being operable to generate power when the ducting network carries the relatively hot or cold fluid, the thermoelectric power generation unit comprising:
• a plurality of walls arranged to form an enclosure with an open interior space, each wall having an inner surface facing toward the open interior space and an outer surface facing away from the open interior space;
• a first heat sink attached to the inner surface of a first one of the walls so that the first heat sink protrudes into the open interior space of the enclosure;
• a second heat sink positioned at the outer surface of the first wall so that the second heat sink protrudes outward from the enclosure and opposes the first heat sink;
• a thermoelectric module interposed between the first and second heat sinks adjacent the first wall, the thermoelectric module including a plurality of p-type and n-type semiconductor elements electrically connected in series and thermally connected in parallel between first and second substrates;
• an inlet in the enclosure that leads into the open interior space and which is connected to a first duct of the ducting network;
• an outlet in the enclosure that leads from the open interior space and which is connected to a second duct of the ducting network;
• a power storage unit operable to store energy at least partially based on the power generated by the thermoelectric power generation unit;
• and
• a power distribution network operable to carry the power generated by the thermoelectric power generation unit to the power storage unit.

A method of generating power, the method comprising:

• providing a thermoelectric power generation unit including a plurality of walls arranged to form an enclosure with an open interior space, each wall having an inner surface facing toward the open interior space and an outer surface facing away from the open interior space, a first heat sink attached to the inner surface of a first one of the walls so that the first heat sink protrudes into the open interior space of the enclosure, a second heat sink positioned at the outer surface of the first wall so that the second heat sink protrudes outward from the enclosure and opposes the first heat sink, a thermoelectric module interposed between the first and second heat sinks adjacent the first wall, the thermoelectric module including a plurality of p-type and n-type semiconductor elements electrically connected in series and thermally connected in parallel between first and second substrates, an inlet in the enclosure that leads into the open interior space, and an outlet in the enclosure that leads from the open interior space;
• attaching the inlet to a first duct of a ducting network operable to carry a relatively hot or cold fluid;
• attaching the outlet to a second duct of the ducting network so that the fluid flows through the thermoelectric power generation unit;
• generating power by the thermoelectric power generation unit when the ducting network carries the relatively hot or cold fluid;
• and
• storing energy at least partially based on the power generated by the thermoelectric power generation unit.