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THERMOELECTRIC SOURCES OF CURRENT
INVENTION
Patent of the Russian Federation RU2113035

THERMOGENERATOR

THERMOGENERATOR

The name of the inventor: Friedrich -Carl Migowski (DE)
The name of the patent holder: Friedrich -Carl Migowski (DE)
Address for correspondence:
Date of commencement of the patent:

Use: in the field of thermoelectric energy conversion. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: The thermogenerator consists of n- and p-thermoelements, which are coated with a thin- or thick-film technique on a substrate. To reduce the overall resistance, additional layers and contacting surfaces are provided, consisting of a metal or alloy metal soluble with the material of the p and n elements. The use of a thermo-generator in hours and a sensitive element is provided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a thermo-generator with p and n elements for a clock, a sensing element, a power supply device or the like, which is located between warm and cold temperature sources, the thermoelements being coated with a thin- or thick-film technique on the substrate, and the n- and p- -elements is selected in such a way that they overlap.

A known thermo-generator is described in Swiss Patent No. 604249. It is assembled from discrete elements, the thermoelectric material is cut into stacks to then be assembled into blocks. As a consequence, only a few thousand thermoelectric elements can be connected in series in one clock. The output voltage is too low to supply the battery with a current. The latter must also be brought through expensive electronics and by means of a transformer brought to a level sufficient to charge the battery. GB-A-1381001 describes the manufacture of a thin film thermal generator on a substrate of aluminum and aluminum oxide. This product is suitable only for a very small number of thermocouples. In addition, the manufacture of a substrate is very expensive.

US Pat. No. 3,684,470 describes a Peltier element for heating and cooling a part. In this case, the p and n elements mutually overlap, and between the overlap a material is provided which conducts an electric current well, but does not conduct heat.

However, when fabricating thin or thick films, it is important to select the material connecting the p and n elements in such a way that it creates a metallurgical bond, resulting in good adhesion, low electrical resistance, and good thermal conductivity.

The layers described in Japanese Patents Nos. 61 / 259,580 and US Pat. No. 4,677,416 applied by the thin film technique overlap. Since in this case speech is always only about a few pairs, the magnitude of the total electrical resistance has no problems. However, such an implementation is not permissible with the consecutive connection of several thousand pairs of elements, since electrical resistance would greatly increase. And would not take into account the intrametallic problems in metal transitions (p-n-junctions).

US Patent No. 3,554,815 describes a solution in which a p-layer is applied on one side and an n-layer on the other side of the sub-shell. This would be much more expensive in case of mass production. And a ratio of 5: 1 between the film thickness and the thickness of the substrate for thin films is not feasible in the claims. This ratio, rather, 1: 1 for applications that are described later.

The object of the invention is to create a thermo-generator manufactured by simple means, cheaply and in large series.

This is achieved according to the distinctive parts of pp. 1 and 4 of the claims.

In the manufacture of a thermo-generator, only one mask is required, which, after obtaining the p-elements, is rotated by 180 ° with the aim of applying then the n-elements. In this case overlapping of n- and p-materials occurs automatically. In order to reduce the electrical resistance, an additional layer of material metallically connected to the n- and p-materials of the thermoelements should be applied. As a consequence, there is no effect on the thermoelectric voltage of the generator, but this reduction in the electrical resistance clearly improves the efficiency. At the same time, contact surfaces are applied similarly with analogous materials, so that the first and last elements of the thermo-generator can be connected to the circuit. Another problem is the heat transfer from the heat source to the substrate. By applying an additional layer as described in claim 4, it is possible due to the use of a suitable heat conductive paste or the like. Obtaining optimum heat transfer. Since the loss of heat transfer through the substrate, fastening and through the air is not insignificant, this solution of the problem is of great importance.

The layer for improving heat transfer can preferably be made of the same material as that used for contact surfaces or for additional conductive layers. One of the most important sources of heat loss is the gap between the two sources. The air transfers heat relatively well, and the volume between the sources can be large. To reduce the loss, it is preferable to apply a plastic film on the surface in contact with air to eliminate the transfer of heat between the sources and the air. Especially in watches, where the temperature difference between two heat sources is insignificant, for example 3-5 o C, the proposed solutions are very effective. When using a thermo-generator in a clock, it is advantageous that the clock mechanism is mostly round. With a rectangular shell, it is advantageous (preferably) to place the thermogenerator in four corners. About 1000 pairs of elements are connected in series with a thin-film generator. 4000 pairs, consistently connecting, in total give a voltage of ~ 1.5 V to charge a battery or capacitor with a capacity of ~ 1 F. A 1000-pair thermal generator has a length of about 30 cm. Therefore it must roll up to be able to be built in hours .

The production of thin films can be carried out by sputtering, cathodic sputtering, or by flame spraying. For thick films, screen printing or other printing methods may be used. If heat treatment is required after the application of the thermoelectric elements, it is preferable to use mica or ceramics as the substrate. Otherwise, plastic such as polyamide or polyterephthalate, which are available under the trade name Kapton or Milar, should be preferred. With the latter, limited thermal treatment is possible. The thickness of the substrate should be selected, if possible, thin to minimize the thermal short circuit. Thermal efficiency is improved if thermoelectric elements are applied on both sides of the substrate.

Instead of applying a mask, the thermoelectric material can be applied to the entire substrate. By chemical etching or by means of an ion beam, the desired geometry can be made.

The n- and p-thermoelements can be made from known materials such as Bi, Te, Sb, Se or Pb, Se, or Pb, Te, or alloys.

In thermal clocks, the substrate can be located around the clock mechanism or separate substrates can be placed in the watch body at convenient places.

The current of the thermo-generators can directly charge the capacitor or battery. The battery has a big drawback, it contains an electrolyte. As a consequence, it is difficult to short-seal the battery. With today's electrolytes KOH and NOH, it is almost impossible to seal the battery for at least 10 years. These drawbacks do not take place in the condenser.

Along with the described application of the thermo-generator defined by the invention in watches, it can be used in sensing elements, power supplies, etc. Due to the measures required to save energy on heating, it is preferable to measure the heat flux. In this case, the thermo generator generates enough current and voltage to power the electronic circuit, and the integrator can measure the amount of heat that can then be stored in the electronic memory unit. At the same time, it becomes unnecessary to use a lithium battery, which must also be periodically replaced.

Such sensitive elements can be used in large heating systems and rented apartments, as well as in industrial installations for fully automated control of thermal processes, which must function independently of the voltage of the network or the battery.

An example of the invention is shown in the figures. In Fig. 1 shows separately n- and p-elements; In Fig. 2 shows a thermo-generator with contact surfaces; In Fig. 3 - thermo-generator assembly; In Fig. 4 shows a substrate with a thermo-generator.

FIG. 1a shows the n-elements produced by the mask, and FIG. 1b - p-elements made with the same mask, but rotated by 180 ° . If now the n- and p-elements 1 and 2 are placed on the same place on the substrate, a thermal generator is obtained, as shown in FIG. 2. To reduce the electrical resistance of the thermo-generator 5, additional layers 3 are applied to the contact surfaces of the n- and / or p-elements. The contact surfaces 4 are applied to the same alloy as the layers 3. The layers 3 and contact surfaces 4 consist of a material that is a metal soluble n- and p-elements. By means of the contact surfaces 4 it is possible to connect the thermo-generator 5 to the electrical circuit.

EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION IN HOURS

The size of the p- or n-element: film thickness 0.005 mm, film width 0.1 mm, film length 0.75 mm, specific electrical resistance 0.00001 Ω / m. This gives an electrical resistance to a pair of elements of 30 ohms. At 7500 series-connected pairs of elements, the resistance is 225 kΩ. This resistance can be reduced by 20-40% by means of additional layers. With a temperature difference of 6 o C, a terminal voltage of approximately 1.6 V can be expected. Such a generator can produce a power of 11 μW.

It is also possible to place thermocouples in a watch bracelet, which has a thermally insulated hand surface. The thermal generator is then connected by electrical conductors with a capacitor or battery. Instead of a clock, one could imagine a portable device, such as a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, a height measuring device, a thermometer, an electronic compass, etc.

FIG. 3 represents a thermo-generator 5 disposed between two temperature sources 7. To optimize heat transfer, material 6 is applied between heat sources 7 and heat generator 5. This material should, if possible, conduct heat well to conduct heat transfer from sources 7 to thermo-generator 5. This material may be an elastomer in a soft or hardened state and may contain a relatively large Percentage of powder that conducts heat.

In a thermo-generator, if possible, there should be a lot of heat passing through the thermocouples 1, 2. To achieve this loss, through parallel thermal bridges, it should be possible to decrease as much as possible. Heat loss through air plays an important role. This heat loss can be reduced by applying additional films 8 to one or both of the temperature sources 7.

FIG. 4 represents the substrate 10 on which the thermoelements 1, 2 are applied. In addition, another layer 9 is applied which does not touch the thermocouples 1, 2. This layer can be of metal or the same material as the layers 3. The layer 9 has the advantage , Which improves heat transfer from the source 7, between which already there is a heat transfer material 6.

CLAIM

1. Thermal generator with p- and n-elements for a clock, a sensitive element, a power supply device, etc. located between warm and cold sources of temperature, the thermoelements being applied by means of thin and thick-film technique to the substrate, and the shape of n- and p Is selected for overlapping, characterized in that the additional electrically conductive layer is applied to the p and / or n-elements to reduce the electrical resistance of the thermo-generator, that the first and last series-connected element is connected to the contact surface, the conductive layer and / Or the contact surface consists of a metal or alloy that is metal soluble with the material of the p- and n-elements.

2. Thermal generator according to claim 1, characterized in that thermoelements are applied to the substrate (10) of the chip on both sides.

3. Thermal generator according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that an additional thermal bridge (6) is applied between the sources (7) and the substrate (10) from a thermally conductive electrically insulating material, for example an elastomer, with the addition of a heat-conducting powder and / or metal (9) applied to the substrate (10) parallel to its longitudinal direction, to guide at least a portion of the heat flux between the sources (7).

4. Thermal generator according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that insulating films (8) are applied to the sources (7) to reduce heat loss through the air.

5. A clock comprising a thermo-generator according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one or more heat generators (5) are arranged around the clock mechanism or that several of its distributed and electrically connected thermo-generators (5) are arranged around the clock mechanism.

6. Hours according to claim 5, characterized in that the thermo-generator or thermo-generators (5) are rolled into a roll.

7. The watch according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that they are provided with a capacitor, charged by means of a thermo-generator and supplying the clock mechanism with current.

8. A sensor element comprising a thermo-generator according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an integrator for measuring the amount of heat is provided.

print version
Date of publication 13.01.2007gg