IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,674,530
Granted Patent B2
US 8,674,530 · App. 13/332,237 · Granted Mar 18, 2014

Passively cooled lightweight thermoelectric generator system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,674,530
App. No.
13/332,237
Granted
Mar 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable device for generating electrical power comprises a vessel and a thermoelectric generator module. A gasket having an opening is included, along with a bottom plate that comprises a material having a higher a higher thermal conductivity than a material comprising the gasket. A thermal interface enhancer is adjacent one of the top side of the module and the bottom side of the module. A thermal interface inhibitor is also included. The bottom plate is secured to the bottom portion of the vessel with a fastener such that an area is formed between them. The gasket is secured to the bottom plate within the area, and the spacer is configured around the fastener. The thermal interface inhibitor is configured to aid in the maintenance of a temperature differential between the vessel and the bottom plate when the bottom plate is heated.

Claims (65)

1. A portable device for generating electrical power, the device comprising:

a vessel configured to retain a phase change material, the vessel having a bottom portion and a side wall;

a thermoelectric generator module, the module having a top side and a bottom side;

a gasket having an opening;

a bottom plate, the bottom plate comprising a material having a higher thermal conductivity than a material comprising the gasket;

a DC to DC voltage regulator;

a temperature resistant wire having a first end and a second end, the wire being at least partially enclosed within a temperature resistant conduit, the first end being coupled to the thermoelectric generator module;

a first and a second thermal interface enhancer, the first enhancer being adjacent the top side of the module, the second enhancer being adjacent the bottom side of the module;

a thermal interface inhibitor, the thermal interface inhibitor comprising a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the material of the bottom plate; and

a hollow spacer, a height of the spacer being not less than a height of the module;

wherein the bottom plate is secured to the bottom portion of the vessel with a fastener such that an area is formed therebetween, the gasket being secured to the bottom plate within the area, the spacer being configured around the fastener, the thermoelectric generator module being enclosed within the opening of the gasket, the module being positioned such that the module top side is relatively near to the bottom portion of the vessel and the module bottom side is relatively distant to the bottom portion of the vessel;

wherein the thermal interface inhibitor is secured adjacent the bottom portion above the spacer, the thermal interface inhibitor configured to aid in the maintenance of a temperature differential between the vessel and the bottom plate when the bottom plate is heated;

wherein the first thermal interface enhancer is configured to improve thermal linkage between the bottom portion of the vessel and the top side of the module, and the second thermal interface enhancer is configured to improve thermal linkage between the bottom plate and the bottom side of the module.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the wire is secured to the sidewall of the vessel; and

the phase change material is water.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate comprises aluminum.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second thermal interface enhancers comprises aluminum oxide and grease.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second thermal interface enhancers comprises aluminum and polyalphaolefin grease.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the spacer comprises at least one of silicone and glass.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the gasket comprises a cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane silicone rubber and fiberglass composite.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal interface inhibitor has a thermal conductivity less than 1 W/mK.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the wire is secured to the sidewall of the vessel by a holder;

the bottom plate comprises aluminum;

at least one of the first and second thermal interface enhancers comprises aluminum and polyalphaolefin grease; and

the thermal interface inhibitor comprises a cross-linked silicone polymer fiberglass composite.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the DC to DC voltage regulator comprises a pulse width modulation DC to DC voltage conversion circuit.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein:

the DC to DC voltage regulator is enclosed within a case; and

the case is at least partially filled with epoxy.

12. A system for generating electrical power, the system comprising:

a vessel configured to retain a phase change material, the vessel having a bottom portion and a side wall;

a thermoelectric generator module, the module having a top side and a bottom side;

a bottom plate spaced apart from the vessel wherein an area is formed therebetween;

an interchangeable DC to DC voltage regulator;

a temperature resistant wire, the wire being coupled to the thermoelectric generator module;

a first and a second thermal interface enhancer, the first enhancer being adjacent the top side of the module, the second enhancer being adjacent the bottom side of the module, at least one of the first and second enhancers comprising polyalphaolefin grease; and

a thermal interface inhibitor, the thermal interface inhibitor comprising a material having a lower thermal conductivity than a material of the bottom plate;

wherein the first thermal interface enhancer is configured to decrease a thermal impedance between the bottom portion of the vessel and the top side of the module, and the second thermal interface enhancer is configured to decrease a thermal impedance between the bottom plate and the bottom side of the module;

wherein the thermal interface inhibitor is configured to aid in the maintenance of a localized temperature differential between the vessel and the bottom plate when the bottom plate is heated.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein:

a gasket having an opening is secured to the bottom plate within the area; and

the thermoelectric generator module is enclosed within the opening.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a hollow spacer, a height of the spacer being greater than a height of the module.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the wire is secured to the sidewall of the vessel with a strap.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein:

the vessel comprises aluminum;

the gasket comprises a cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane silicone rubber and fiberglass composite; and

the thermal interface inhibitor has a thermal conductivity less than 1 W/mK.

17. A portable device for generating electrical power, the device comprising:

a vessel comprising aluminum, the vessel configured to retain a phase change material, the vessel having a bottom portion and a side wall;

a thermoelectric generator module, the module having a top side and a bottom side;

a gasket having an opening;

a bottom plate, the bottom plate comprising a material having a higher thermal conductivity than a material of the gasket;

a temperature resistant wire having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the thermoelectric generator module;

a thermal interface enhancer, the enhancer being adjacent one of the top side of the module and the bottom side of the module; and

a hollow spacer, a height of the spacer being not less than a height of the module;

wherein the bottom plate is secured to the bottom portion of the vessel with a fastener such that an area is formed therebetween, the gasket being secured to the bottom plate within the area, the spacer being configured around the fastener, the thermoelectric generator module being enclosed within the opening of the gasket, the module being positioned such that the module top side is relatively near to the bottom portion of the vessel and the module bottom side is relatively distant to the bottom portion of the vessel.

18. The device of claim 17 , further comprising:

a DC to DC voltage regulator; and

a thermal interface inhibitor;

wherein the thermal interface inhibitor is configured to aid in the maintenance of a temperature differential between the vessel and the bottom plate when the bottom plate is heated.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the thermal interface inhibitor is located above the spacer.

20. The device of claim 19 , further comprising an additional thermal interface enhancer.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
To: 22 THRASIO TWENTY TWO, INC.; DARK ORANGE DESIGN, INC.; 7 THRASIO SEVEN, INC.
Reel/Frame 072537/0031 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2024
From: 12 THRASIO TWELVE, INC.; 17 THRASIO SEVENTEEN, INC.; 19 THRASIO NINETEEN, INC.; 22 THRASIO TWENTY TWO, INC.; 7 THRASIO SEVEN, INC.; APRICOT IDEAS, INC.; CALIFORNIA POPPY PROJECTS, INC.; CARAMEL CREATIONS, INC.; CHILI FLAKES, INC.; COMET CREATIONS, INC.; DARK ORANGE DESIGN INC.; EMBERGLOW IDEAS, INC.; FAINT ORANGE HORIZON, INC.; GINGER CAT CREATIONS, INC.; GOLDEN GATE SOLUTIONS, INC.; IDEAL MONARCH INC.; IDEASTREAM CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC; KHAKI TRIPS INC.; KOI CREATIONS, INC.; LIONFISH LOGISTICS, INC.; MAPLE MOVEMENTS, INC.; OCHRE ORGANIZATION, INC.; ORANGE CRUSH ORGANIZATION, INC.; ORANGE HOPE, INC.; ORANGE MARGARITA, INC.; ORANGE PEEL PROJECTS, INC.; ORANGE UMBRELLA CREATIONS, INC.; ORANGUTAN ORGANIZATION, INC.; OYSTER OASIS, INC.; PENNY ROSE SOLUTIONS, INC.; SUNNY OPERATIONS, INC.; SWEET NECTAR ENTERPRISE, INC.; TANGELO TENDENCIES, INC.; TANGERINE IDEAS, INC.; TOPAZ TRADITIONS, INC.; WILLIAMS EVANS RETAIL LTD.; AMBER IDEAS, INC.; PENTHE COMPANY
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 071380/0275 →
RELEASE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN IP RECORDED AT R/F 054866/0713 Recorded Jun 29, 2024
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: 12 THRASIO TWELVE, INC.; 17 THRASIO SEVENTEEN, INC.; 7 THRASIO SEVEN, INC.; APRICOT IDEAS, INC.; CALIFORNIA POPPY PROJECTS, INC.; DARK ORANGE DESIGN, INC.; EMBERGLOW IDEAS, INC.; IDEAL MONARCH, INC.; KOI CREATIONS, INC.; LIONFISH LOGISTICS, INC.; ORANGE CRUSH ORGANIZATION, INC.; ORANGUTAN ORGANIZATION, INC.; TANGERINE IDEAS INC.; MAPLE MOVEMENTS, INC.; AMBER IDEAS, INC.; PENTHE COMPANY; HABANERO PEPPER PROJECTS, INC.; ORANGE PEEL PROJECTS, INC.; COMET CREATIONS, INC.; OCHRE ORGANIZATION, INC.; KOI CREATIONS, INC.; 19 THRASIO NINETEEN, INC.
Reel/Frame 068663/0523 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2024
From: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
To: THRASIO, LLC; 1 THRASIO ONE, INC.; 10 THRASIO TEN, INC.; 11 THRASIO ELEVEN, INC.; 12 THRASIO TWELVE, INC.; 14 THRASIO FOURTEEN, INC.; 15 THRASIO FIFTEEN, INC.; 16 THRASIO SIXTEEN, INC.; 17 THRASIO SEVENTEEN, INC.; 18 THRASIO EIGHTEEN, INC.; 19 THRASIO NINETEEN, INC.; 2 B BOUNTIFUL, INC.; 20 THRASIO TWENTY, INC.; 21 THRASIO TWENTY ONE, INC.; 22 THRASIO TWENTY TWO, INC.; 23 THRASIO TWENTY THREE, INC.; 24 THRASIO TWENTY FOUR, INC.; 25 THRASIO TWENTY FIVE, INC.; 3 THRASIO THREE, INC.; 5 THRASIO FIVE, INC.; 6 THRASIO SIX, INC.; 7 THRASIO SEVEN, INC.; 8 THRASIO EIGHT, INC.; 9 THRASIO NINE, INC.; ALLOY IDEAS, INC.; AMBER IDEAS, INC.; AMBER OASIS, INC.; APRICOT IDEAS, INC.; APRICOT IDEAS, INC.; ASH DEVELOPMENTS, LLC; ASSASSIN BUG INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTUMN IDEAS, INC.; BITTERSWEET BILLOWS, INC.; BRONZE PROJECTS, INC.; BURNING NEON, INC.; BURNT SUMMER CITRUS, INC.; BUTTERCUP CREATIONS, INC.; BUTTERSCOTCH BEGINNINGS, INC.; CAFE CASA, INC.; CALIFORNIA POPPY PROJECTS, INC.; CANDLELIT CREATIONS, INC.; CARAMEL CREATIONS, INC.; CARNATION CREATIONS, INC.; CARROT SOLUTIONS, INC.; CAYENNE SOLUTIONS, INC.; CHAMPAGNE PROJECTS, INC.; CHEDDAR CREATIONS, INC.; CHILI FLAKES, INC.; CHRYSANTHEMUM CREATIONS, INC.; CINNABAR CREATIONS, INC.; CITRINE SOLUTIONS, INC.; CLASSY MANGO, INC.; CLASSY TANGERINE, INC.; CLEMENTINE CREATIONS, INC.; COMET CREATIONS INC.; CORAL CHROME, INC.; CORN SNAKE SURPRISES, INC.; CRAWFISH CREATIONS, INC.; DAFFODIL DESIGN, INC.; DARK ORANGE DESIGN, INC.; DAYBREAK DEVELOPMENTS, INC.; DAYLILY DREAMS, INC.; DMD GROUP, INC.; ECOM HEIGHTS LLC; EMBERGLOW IDEAS, INC.; FAINT ORANGE HORIZON, INC.; FALL FOUNDATIONS, INC.; FAWN FOUNDATIONS, INC.; FOXY CREATIONS, INC.; FROSTY DREAM, INC.; FYER TROPICS, INC.; GINGER CAT CREATIONS, INC.; GINGER CREATIONS, INC.; GINGERSNAP SOLUTIONS, INC.; GOLDEN GATE SOLUTIONS, INC.; GOLDEN KIWIFRUIT ENTERPRISES, INC.; HABANERO PEPPER PROJECTS, INC.; HARLEY ORANGE, INC.; HARVEST CHARM, INC.; HONEY SUNSET, INC.; IDEAL MONARCH, INC.; IDEASTREAM CONSUMER PRODUCTS, LLC; JASPER GESTURE, INC.; JUPITER GESTURE, INC.; KHAKI TRIPS, INC.; KOI CREATIONS, INC.; LACE DECISIONS, INC.; LARANJA LOGISTICS, INC.; LATTE LOGISTICS, INC.; LEMUR LOGISTICS, INC.; LEVITA HOLDINGS, LLC; LIONFISH LOGISTICS, INC.; LOBSTER LOGISTICS, INC.; MAGENTA PEEL SOLUTIONS, INC.; MAHOGANY MOVEMENTS, INC.; MALT DECISIONS, INC.; MANGO MOVEMENTS, INC.; MANGO WONDER, INC.; MAPLE MOVEMENTS, INC.; MARMALADE MOVEMENTS, INC.; MELON MOVEMENTS, INC.; METEOR MOVEMENTS, INC.; MIMOSA MOVEMENTS, INC.; OCHRE ORGANIZATION, INC.; OLD RUST ORGANIZATION, INC.; ORANGE CRUSH ORGANIZATION, INC.; ORANGE HOPE, INC.; ORANGE MARGARITA, INC.; ORANGE ORGANIZATION, INC.; ORANGE PEACH PROJECTS, INC.; ORANGE PEEL PROJECTS, INC.; ORANGE UMBRELLA CREATIONS, INC.; ORANGUTAN ORGANIZATION, INC.; ORANSSI ORGANIZATION, INC.; OYSTER OASIS, INC.; PANTONE PROJECTS, INC.; PAPAYA PROJECTS, INC.; PEACH PROJECTS, INC.; PENNY ROSE SOLUTIONS, INC.; PENTHE COMPANY; PERSIAN PROJECTS, INC.; PERSIMMON PROJECTS, INC.; PIZZA PROJECTS, INC.; PORTOCALE PROJECTS, INC.; PRIMROSE PROJECTS, INC.; RADIANT ORANGE, INC.; ROSE BUD CREATIONS, INC.; ROSEWOOD WISH, INC.; SAFEREST HOLDINGS, LLC; SALMON SOLUTIONS, INC.; SANDPAPER SOLUTIONS, INC.; SANDSNAKE VENTURES, INC.; SAPPHIRE MONKEY, INC.; SCARLET SOLUTIONS, INC.; SCOTCH SOLUTIONS, INC.; SEASHELL SOLUTIONS, INC.; SHERBERT SOLUTIONS, INC.; SHORTBREAD SOLUTIONS, INC.; SOFT SPICE, INC.
Reel/Frame 068903/0293 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 29, 2020
From: 12 THRASIO TWELVE, INC.; 17 THRASIO SEVENTEEN, INC.; 7 THRASIO SEVEN, INC.; APRICOT IDEAS, INC; CALIFORNIA POPPY PROJECTS, INC.; DARK ORANGE DESIGN, INC.; EMBERGLOW IDEAS, INC.; IDEAL MONARCH, INC.; KOI CREATIONS, INC.; LIONFISH LOGISTICS, INC.; ORANGE CRUSH ORGANIZATION, INC.; ORANGUTAN ORGANIZATION, INC.; TANGERINE IDEAS, INC.; MAPLE MOVEMENTS, INC.; AMBER IDEAS, INC.; PENTHE COMPANY; HABANERO PEPPER PROJECTS, INC.; ORANGE PEEL PROJECTS, INC.; COMET CREATIONS INC.; OCHRE ORGANIZATION INC.; 19 THRASIO NINETEEN, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054866/0713 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2020
From: POWER PRACTICAL, INC.
To: DARK ORANGE DESIGN, INC.
Reel/Frame 052381/0171 →
CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 8, 2016
From: POWER PRACTICAL
To: JM ACQUISITIONS INC
Reel/Frame 039359/0191 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2013
From: ALTEN, LLC; TOLEDO, DAVID PAUL, MR; SLUSSER, PAUL KIMBALL, MR
To: POWER PRACTICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 030043/0166 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2011
From: TOLEDO, DAVID; SLUSSER, PAUL
To: ALTEN, LLC
Reel/Frame 027422/0277 →