Back to results
US 9,755,129 B2Granted
Integral thermoelectric generator for wireless devices
AssigneeRosemount Inc.
InventorsDavid Matthew Strei, Kelly Michael Orth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrical power is produced by a first process component, a first heat pipe formed in part by a first cavity within the first process component, and a thermoelectric generator assembly. The thermoelectric generator assembly is thermally coupled on one side to a heat sink and on the other side to the first heat pipe. The first process component is in direct contact with a first process fluid and the first cavity is proximate the first process fluid. The thermoelectric generator assembly produces electrical power.
Claims16
An apparatus comprising:
- a first process component having a transducer and configured to penetrate or replace a section of a vessel wall so as to directly contact a first process fluid, the first process component having a barrier wall configured to physically isolate the transducer from the first process fluid, the first process component having a first cavity located within the barrier wall of the first process component that contacts the first process fluid so that heat from the first process fluid is transferred through a portion of the barrier wall to the first cavity;
- a first heat pipe formed in part by the first cavity, the first heat pipe comprising a sealed cavity containing a first working fluid;
- and
- a thermoelectric generator assembly;
- wherein the first heat pipe has a first end located within the barrier wall and positioned to transfer heat from the first process fluid to the first working fluid and has a second end thermally coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric generator assembly to transfer heat from the first working fluid to the first side of the thermoelectric generator assembly;
- wherein a heat sink is thermally coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric generator assembly;
- and wherein the thermoelectric generator assembly produces electrical power.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a wireless field device network;
- a wireless device in wireless communication with the wireless field device network;
- and
- a first process component having a transducer and configured to penetrate or replace a section of a vessel wall so as to directly contact a first process fluid, the first process component having a barrier wall configured to physically isolate the transducer from the first process fluid, the first process component having a first cavity located within the barrier wall of the first process component that contacts the first process fluid so that heat from the first process fluid is transferred through a portion of the barrier wall to the first cavity;
- a first heat pipe formed in part by the first cavity, the first heat pipe comprising a sealed cavity containing a first working fluid;
- and
- a thermoelectric generator assembly, wherein the first heat pipe has a first end located within the barrier wall and positioned to transfer heat from the first process fluid to the first working fluid and has a second end thermally coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric generator assembly to transfer heat from the first working fluid to the first side of the thermoelectric generator assembly, and wherein a heat sink is thermally coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric generator assembly;
- wherein the thermoelectric generator assembly provides electrical power to the wireless device.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.