IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0481750
(2009-06-10)
|
등록번호 |
US-8614390
(2013-12-24)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Watts Thermoelectric, LLC
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
7 |
초록
▼
Apparatus and methods for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load. The apparatus includes a thermoelectric generator that generates electric power when subjected to a temperature differential, at least one configurable componen
Apparatus and methods for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load. The apparatus includes a thermoelectric generator that generates electric power when subjected to a temperature differential, at least one configurable component that affects at least one aspect of the power generated by the thermoelectric generator, a monitor that senses at least one aspect of the power generated by the thermoelectric generator and provides at least one signal characterizing the power generated by the thermoelectric generator, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the at least one signal and configure the at least one configurable component based on the at least one signal in accordance with the requirements of a load to which power is supplied by the thermoelectric generator. The configurable component may be a matrix switch that can reconfigure the interconnections between banks included in the thermoelectric generator.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load, the apparatus comprising: a monitor that measures a characteristic of power being supplied to a load by a thermoelectric generator, wherein the thermoelectric generat
1. An apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load, the apparatus comprising: a monitor that measures a characteristic of power being supplied to a load by a thermoelectric generator, wherein the thermoelectric generator generates electric power when subjected to a temperature differential, the thermoelectric generator including thermoelectric modules arranged in a plurality of banks, each bank comprising a plurality of thermoelectric modules;a controller that receives a signal from the monitor, the signal communicating the measurement of the power characteristic, the controller also including a specification of a predetermined desired range for the power characteristic;a bank-level matrix switch and a plurality of module-level matrix switches, wherein a module-level matrix switch exists for each bank of thermoelectric modules;wherein each matrix switch has a plurality of input terminals, the plurality of input terminals of the module-level matrix switch electrically connected to the thermoelectric modules within a bank, thereby creating electrical interconnections between the thermoelectric modules within a bank, and wherein the plurality of the input terminals of the bank-level matrix switch are electrically connected to the plurality of banks, thereby creating electrical interconnections between the banks;wherein each of the module-level matrix switches comprises an output terminal for routing power to the bank-level matrix switch, wherein the bank-level matrix switch comprises an output terminal for routing power to the load;wherein each of the module-level matrix switches has the capability, as a configurable component under control of the controller, to configure the electrical interconnection of the thermoelectric modules in a respective bank of thermoelectric modules,wherein the bank-level matrix switch has the capability, as a configurable component under control of the controller, to configure the electrical interconnection of the banks,wherein the controller is configured to automatically compare the measurement of the power characteristic with the predetermined range and to cause the module-level matrix switches and the bank-level matrix switch to dynamically reconfigure the electrical interconnections to keep the power characteristic within the predetermined range. 2. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises: a microprocessor; and a memory holding instructions executable by the microprocessor, wherein the controller receives the signal from the monitor and configures the configurable components based on the signal from the monitor in accordance with the requirements of the load. 3. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature differential is provided by a supply of heated fluid and a sink colder than the heated fluid, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a valve that, under control of the controller, adjusts a flow rate of the heated fluid. 4. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature differential is provided by a supply of heated fluid and a sink colder than the heated fluid, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a valve that, under control of the controller, adjusts the temperature of the heated fluid. 5. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature differential is provided by a heated source and a supply of fluid that is colder than the heated source, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a valve that, under control of the controller, adjusts a flow rate of the supply of fluid. 6. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature differential is provided by a heated source and a supply of fluid that is colder than the heated source, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a valve that, under control of the controller, adjusts the temperature of the supply of fluid. 7. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature differential is provided by a supply of heated fluid and a sink colder than the heated fluid, and wherein the supply of heated fluid is heated by a solar collector, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a solar collector adjusting mechanism that adjusts the ability of the solar collector to impart heat to the heated fluid. 8. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 7, wherein the solar collector is a flat panel solar collector, and wherein the solar collector adjusting mechanism adjusts the position of a shade over the flat panel solar collector. 9. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 7, wherein the solar collector is a concentrating solar collector, and wherein the solar collector adjusting mechanism adjusts the aiming or focus of the concentrating solar collector. 10. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein a second signal indicates the amount of power the thermoelectric generator is producing. 11. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein a second signal indicates that the thermoelectric generator is unable to produce power in accordance with the requirements of the load. 12. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein the bank-level matrix switch has the capability to configure the electrical interconnection of the banks by disconnecting at least one bank. 13. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein the bank-level matrix switch has the capability to configure the electrical interconnection of the banks by placing at least one bank in series with at least one other bank. 14. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein the bank-level matrix switch has the capability to configure the electrical interconnection of the banks by placing at least one bank in parallel with at least one other bank. 15. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein the bank-level matrix switch has the capability to configure the electrical interconnection of the banks by placing banks in a combination of series and parallel connections. 16. The apparatus for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 1, wherein the power characteristic is voltage. 17. A method of automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load, the method comprising: measuring, using a monitor, a characteristic of power being supplied to the load by a thermoelectric generator, wherein the thermoelectric generator generates electric power when subjected to a temperature differential; and wherein the thermoelectric generator includes thermoelectric modules arranged in a plurality of banks, each bank comprising a plurality of thermoelectric modules;receiving, by a controller, a signal from the monitor, the signal communicating the measurement of the power characteristic,comparing the measurement of the power characteristic with a predetermined desired range for the power characteristic;based on the comparison, automatically dynamically reconfiguring, under control of the controller, electrical interconnections of thermoelectric modules within at least one bank and electrical interconnections of the banks, to keep the power characteristic within the predetermined range. 18. The method of automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 17, wherein the temperature differential is provided by a heated fluid and a sink colder than the heated fluid, and the method further comprising adjusting a valve that adjusts a rate of flow of the heated fluid. 19. The method of automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 17, wherein the temperature differential is provided by a heated fluid and a sink colder than the heated fluid, and the method further comprising adjusting a valve that adjusts the temperature of the heated fluid. 20. The method of automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load as recited in claim 17, wherein the temperature differential is provided by a supply of heated fluid and a sink colder than the heated fluid, and wherein the supply of heated fluid is heated by a solar collector, and the method further comprising adjusting the ability of the solar collector to impart heat to the heated fluid. 21. A method of converting thermal energy stored in a reservoir of heated fluid to electrical energy, the method comprising: passing heated fluid from the reservoir to a hot side of a thermoelectric generator;cooling a cold side of the thermoelectric generator; wherein the thermoelectric generator generates electric power when subjected to a temperature differential;measuring, using a monitor, a characteristic of power being supplied to a load by the thermoelectric generator; and wherein the thermoelectric generator includes thermoelectric modules arranged in a plurality of banks, each bank comprising a plurality of thermoelectric modules;receiving by a controller a signal from the monitor, the signal communicating the measurement of the power characteristic,comparing the measurement of the power characteristic with a predetermined desired range for the power characteristic;based on the comparison, automatically dynamically reconfiguring, under control of the controller, electrical interconnections of thermoelectric modules within at least one bank and electrical interconnections of the banks, to keep the power characteristic within the predetermined range. 22. The method of converting thermal energy stored in a reservoir of heated fluid to electrical energy as recited in claim 21, further comprising heating the heated fluid using a solar collector.
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