Modular thermoelectric converter

• Main Author: ITTNER THILO
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 16.05.2012
• Subjects: BLASTING; HEATING; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; WEAPONS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS

A thermoelectric converter for converting heat into electric energy, or for generating heat and cold, comprises a thermoelectric converter module, or a plurality of thermoelectric converter modules. A thermoelectric converter module comprises at least two spatially delimited gas volumes, which are interconnected by a regenerator in a gas-permeable manner, wherein one gas volume is a first gas volume, which during operation of the thermoelectric converter is warmer than the ambient temperature or a fluid flow, wherein the first gas volume can be heated, preferably by way of an optical element, for example a hollow mirror or a lens, or by thermal coupling to a fluid, such as for example a cooling liquid or a waste gas, wherein one gas volume is a second gas volume, which is cooler than the first gas volume during operation of the thermoelectric converter, and wherein said thermoelectric converter module comprises at least one volume change element that is suited to change the size of one or more of said gas vol