Gas burner with thermoelectric generator

Abstract

A gas burner with thermoelectric unit installed inside the burner head to generate electricity with waste heat energy. Gas flame at the edge of the burner head creates high temperature source (hot side) for the thermoelectric unit. A heat sink is installed inside the burner head and cooled by the fuel mixture. Electricity is generated by the thermoelectric unit when the gas burner is in operation. The electricity generated by the thermoelectric unit can be used to power electric devices.

1 . A gas burner with thermoelectric generator comprising: a burner head, at least one thermoelectric power generation module, and a heat sink; 
 said burner head having at least one fuel supply passage and slots or holes for forming flame jets;    said thermoelectric module and heat sink are installed inside the burner head;    said thermoelectric module incorporated in the burner head in said gas burner for generating electric power.    
   
   
       2 . The said thermoelectric module as in  claim 1  comprises: a hot side that is in contact with the burner head; and a cold side that is in contact with a heat sink. A thermal insulator can be inserted in between the thermoelectric module and the burner head to control the hot side temperature according to the thermoelectric operating range.  
   
   
       3 . The said thermoelectric module as in  claim 1  comprises: a plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements, a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements, said P-type and said N-type thermoelectric elements being positioned in said thermoelectric element spaces.  
   
   
       4 . The said thermoelectric module in  claim 1  can be designed in different shapes for maximizing power output.  
   
   
       5 . The said heat sink in  claim 1  can be designed to maximize the heat transfer from the thermoelectric module to the fuel/air mixture.  
   
   
       6 . The said heat sink in  claim 1  is cooled by the fuel/air mixture.  
   
   
       7 . A gas burner according to  claim 1  wherein said burner head has electric outlets connected to the said thermoelectric module.  
   
   
       8 . The power generated by the said thermoelectric module in  claim 1 , can be used to power electric devices, such as fans, lights, TVs, battery chargers etc.