US 9,318,682 B2Granted

Modular thermoelectric units for heat recovery systems and methods thereof

AssigneeAlphabet Energy, Inc.

InventorsAdam Lorimer, Matthew L. Scullin, Sravan Kumar R. Sura, Christopher Hannemann

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Abstract

Apparatus and method for generating electricity. The apparatus includes one or more first components configured to extract heat from at least a first fluid flow at a first temperature to one or more devices configured to convert thermal energy to electric energy. The first fluid flow is in a first direction. Additionally, the apparatus includes one or more second components configured to transfer heat from the one or more devices to at least a second fluid flow at a second temperature. The second temperature is lower than the first temperature, and the second fluid flow is in a second direction. Each first part of the first fluid flow corresponds to a first shortest distance to the one or more devices, and the first shortest distance is less than half the square root of the total free flow area for a corresponding first cross-section of the first fluid flow.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A heat recovery system, the system comprising:

a thermoelectric apparatus;
a first duct coupled to the thermoelectric apparatus;
a second duct;
wherein the first duct and the second duct both are connected to a third duct and configured to receive by the first duct a first fluid flow at a first temperature from the third duct if the second duct does not receive the first fluid flow and to receive by the second duct the first fluid flow from the third duct if the first duct does not receive the first fluid flow;
wherein the thermoelectric apparatus is configured to:
receive at least a second fluid flow at a second temperature, the second fluid flow moving into the thermoelectric apparatus from one or more first perimeter parts of the thermoelectric apparatus in a first direction, the first direction being towards the second duct, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature;
discharge the second fluid flow into a fourth duct, the fourth duct being the second duct or being substantially parallel with the second duct;
receive at least a third fluid flow at the second temperature, the third fluid flow moving into the thermoelectric apparatus from one or more second perimeter parts of the thermoelectric apparatus in a second direction, the second direction being towards the second duct, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction;
and
discharge the third fluid flow into a fifth duct, the fifth duct being the second duct or being substantially parallel with the second duct.

7 more elements

A method for heat recovery, the method comprising:

receiving, by a first duct, a first fluid flow at a first temperature from a third duct connected to both the first duct and a second duct while excluding the first fluid flow from the second duct, the first duct being coupled to a thermoelectric apparatus, the second duct being configured so as to fluidically bypass the thermoelectric apparatus;
receiving, by the second duct, the first fluid flow from the third duct so as to directly exhaust the first fluid flow while excluding the first fluid flow from the first duct;
receiving, by the thermoelectric apparatus, at least a second fluid flow at a second temperature, the second fluid flow moving into the thermoelectric apparatus from one or more first perimeter parts of the thermoelectric apparatus in a first direction, the first direction being towards the second duct, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature;
discharging, by the thermoelectric apparatus, the second fluid flow into a fourth duct, the fourth duct being the second duct or being substantially parallel with the second duct;
receiving at least a third fluid flow at the second temperature, the third fluid flow moving into the thermoelectric apparatus from one or more second perimeter parts of the thermoelectric apparatus in a second direction, the second direction being towards the second duct, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction;
and
discharging the third fluid flow into a fifth duct, the fifth duct being the second duct or being substantially parallel with the second duct.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/749,470Filed 24 Jan 2013 · us provisional application
Priority: 25 Jan 2012
Published: US 2013/0186445 A125 Jul 2013
Granted: 19 Apr 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H10N 10/17
Operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects: characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device
F28F 9/0246
Header boxes; End plates: arrangements for connecting header boxes with flow lines
F28F 9/0253
Massive connectors, e.g. blocks; Plate-like connectors: with multiple channels, e.g. with combined inflow and outflow channels
H10N 10/01
Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects: manufacture or treatment