Thermoelectric Coatings for Waste Heat Recovery and Photo-Thermal Power

Abstract

An energy harvesting system for collecting energy from sources of thermal energy that exist in the environment and convert the energy to electricity. The system has N-P junctions mounted on the outer surface of a conduit, pipe or flue. A hot medium flows through the conduit, pipe or flue. The p-n junctions operate as thermoelectric power generators. Heat absorbed at the p-n junctions increases the kinetic energy of charge carriers causing migration of the charge carriers. This thermally-driven migration of charge carriers is used to drive an electrical current in an external circuit.

1 . An apparatus for energy harvesting, comprising:
 a conduit,   a coating of an N-material on said conduit producing an N-junction on said conduit,   a coating of a P-material on said conduit producing a P-junction on said conduit,   a separator on said conduit between said N-junction on said conduit and said P-junction on said conduit, and   electrical connectors for said N-junction and said P-junction.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 1  wherein said electrical connectors for said N-junction and said P-junction include said conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 1  including an insulator coating on said conduit between said coating of an N-material and said conduit; and
 an insulator coating on said conduit between said coating of a P-material and said conduit. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 1  including
 additional coatings of an N-material on said conduit producing additional N-junctions on said conduit, 
 additional coatings of a P-material on said conduit producing additional P-junction son said conduit, 
 additional separators on said conduit between said additional N-junctions and said additional P-junctions, and 
 additional electrical connectors for said additional N-junctions and said additional P-junctions. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 4  wherein said electrical connectors for said N-junction and said conduit and said P-junction are connected in series. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 4  wherein said electrical connectors for said N-junction and said conduit and said P-junction are connected in parallel. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for energy harvesting, comprising:
 a conduit,   a coating of an N-material on said conduit producing a first N-junction on said conduit,   a coating of a P-material on said conduit producing a first P-junction on said conduit,   a separator on said conduit between said first N-junction and said first P-junction,   a coating of an N-material on said conduit producing a second N-junction on said conduit,   a coating of a P-material on said conduit producing a second P-junction on said conduit,   a separator on said conduit between said first N-junction and said first P-junction,   a separator on said conduit between said second N-junction and said second P-junction, and   an electrical conductor extending from said first N-junction to said first P-junction to said second N-junction to said second P-junction.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 7  wherein said electrical conductor extending from said first N-junction to said first P-junction to said second N-junction to said second P-junction includes said conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 7  including an insulator between said conduit and said first N-junction,
 an insulator between said conduit and said first P-junction, 
 an insulator between said conduit and said second N-junction, and 
 an insulator between said conduit and said second P-junction. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 7  including
 additional coatings of an N-material on said conduit producing additional N-junctions on said conduit, 
 additional coatings of a P-material on said conduit producing additional P-junctions on said conduit, 
 additional separators on said conduit between said additional N-junctions and said additional P-junctions, and 
 additional electrical connectors for said additional N-junctions and said additional P-junctions. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 9  wherein said electrical connectors for said N-junction and said conduit and said P-junction are connected in series. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 9  wherein said electrical connectors for said N-junction and said conduit and said P-junction are connected in parallel. 
     
     
         13 . A multilayer apparatus for energy harvesting, comprising:
 a conduit;   a first coating of an N-material on said conduit producing a first N-junction on said conduit;   a first coating of a P-material on said conduit producing a first P-junction on said conduit, and   a separator on said conduit between said first N-junction and said first P-junction, wherein said first N-junction and said first P-junction are a first layer on said conduit;   a second coating of an N-material producing a second N-junction on said first layer;   a second coating of a P-material on said conduit producing a second P-junction on said first layer;   a separator between said second N-junction and second first P-junction, wherein second N-junction and second P-junction are a second; and   an electrical conductor extending from said first N-junction to said first P-junction to said second N-junction to said second P-junction.   
     
     
         14 . The multilayer apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 7  including an insulator between said conduit and first layer on said conduit and an insulator between said first layer and said second layer. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for energy harvesting, comprising:
 a conduit,   a coating of an N-material on said conduit producing an N-junction on said conduit,   a coating of a P-material on said conduit producing a P-junction on said conduit,   a separator on said conduit between said N-junction on said conduit and said P-junction on said conduit,   additional coatings of an N-material on said conduit producing additional N-junctions on said conduit,   additional coatings of a P-material on said conduit producing additional P-junctions on said conduit, and   electrical connectors for said N-junction, said P-junction, said additional N-junctions, and said additional N-junctions.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for energy harvesting of  claim 14  wherein said electrical connectors for said N-junction, said P-junction, said additional N-junctions, and said additional N-junctions include said conduit.