System for thermoelectric energy generation
View Patent ↗A system includes a first plate and a second plate. The first plate is arranged to be thermally coupled to a first surface and the second plate is arranged to be thermally coupled to an environment. The environment has a temperature that is different than the first surface. The system also includes a thermoelectric device that includes a plurality of thermoelectric elements. The thermoelectric device includes a third plate coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric elements and thermally coupled to the first plate. The thermoelectric device also includes a fourth plate coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric elements and thermally coupled to the second plate. The system also includes a dielectric fluid arranged between the first plate and the second plate. The thermoelectric elements are submersed in the dielectric fluid.
1. A system comprising:
a first plate, the first plate arranged to be thermally coupled to a first surface;
a second plate, the second plate arranged to be thermally coupled to an environment, the environment comprising a temperature that is different than the first surface;
a thermoelectric device, comprising:
a plurality of thermoelectric elements;
a third plate coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric elements and thermally coupled to the first plate;
a fourth plate coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric elements and thermally coupled to the second plate; and
dielectric fluid arranged between the first plate and the second plate, the thermoelectric elements submersed in the dielectric fluid, wherein the dielectric fluid comprises non-compressible filler.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first gasket situated within a groove of the first plate and a second gasket situated within a groove of the second plate.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wall situated between the first plate and the second plate, the wall situated around the thermoelectric device, the wall comprising thermally insulative material.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of baffles situated in a plurality of spaces between thermoelectric elements of the plurality of thermoelectric elements.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second plate comprises a cavity configured to house an electronic component.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fin situated on the second plate.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a diaphragm situated in the second plate.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first surface is a surface of a pipe; and
the environment is a sea water environment having over 20 psi of pressure.
9. A method comprising:
thermally coupling a first plate to a first surface;
thermally coupling a second plate to an environment, the environment comprising a temperature that is different than the first surface; and
generating electricity using a thermoelectric device based on a temperature gradient between the first plate and the second plate, the thermoelectric device comprising:
a plurality of thermoelectric elements submersed in a dielectric fluid, wherein the dielectric fluid comprises non-compressible filler;
a third plate coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric elements and thermally coupled to the first plate; and
a fourth plate coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric elements and thermally coupled to the second plate.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the first plate comprises a first gasket; and
the second plate comprises a second gasket.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein a wall comprising thermally insulative material is situated between the first plate and the second plate, the wall situated around the thermoelectric device.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein a plurality of spaces between thermoelectric elements of the plurality of thermoelectric elements comprise a plurality of baffles.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing electrical power to an electronic component housed in a cavity of the second plate.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein a fin is situated on the second plate.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein a diaphragm is situated in the second plate.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the first surface is a surface of a pipe; and
the environment is a sea water environment having over 20 psi of pressure.
17. A system comprising:
a first plate, the first plate arranged to be thermally coupled to a pipe;
a second plate, the second plate arranged to be thermally coupled to a sea water environment having over 20 psi of pressure, the temperature of the sea water environment being over 10 degrees Fahrenheit different than the first surface;
a thermoelectric device, comprising:
a plurality of thermoelectric elements;
a third plate coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric elements and thermally coupled to the first plate;
a fourth plate coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric elements and thermally coupled to the second plate;
dielectric fluid arranged between the first plate and the second plate, the thermoelectric elements submersed in the dielectric fluid, the dielectric fluid comprising non-compressible powder; and
a wall situated between the first plate and the second plate, the wall situated around the thermoelectric device, the wall comprising thermally insulative material.
18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising insulation coupled to the first plate and the second plate.