Method for thermoelectric energy generation

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus for using a controllable heat source to generate electricity. One embodiment provides an energy generation module comprising a controllable heat source, one or more jackets of thermoelectric devices, and heat conducting fluids surrounding or otherwise thermally coupled to the jackets. The energy generation module can be used to convert heat from a heat source such as a gas combustion chamber into electricity. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for generating electricity when electrical power is not existent, cost prohibitive or otherwise in short supply. The generated electricity can be used by the user, stored in an electrical storage battery or sold to a local or remote power grid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing electrical energy by an energy generation system in communication with a local power grid, the method comprising:
 monitoring at least a load demand of the energy generation system and a supply condition of the local power grid, wherein the energy generation system includes a plurality of energy generation modules, each of the plurality of energy generation modules including a controllable heat source;   determining whether to adjust one or more controllable heat sources in order to modify an electricity output of the energy generation system based on the monitoring; and   adjusting one or more controllable heat sources of the plurality of energy generation modules based on the determination.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining is performed when:
 the load demand of the energy generation system is greater than the supply condition of the local power grid.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring a buying price for natural gas and a buying price for electricity; and   wherein the determining is performed when:
 a cost of providing electrical energy is lower than the buying price for electricity. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring a selling price for transmitting electricity back to the local power grid; and   wherein the determining is performed when:
 a cost of providing electrical energy is lower than the selling price for transmitting electricity back to the local power grid. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing the electricity output in a battery during a first transition time in which an output from one or more of the plurality of energy generation modules is higher than what is designated by a control module.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 releasing the electricity output from the battery during a second transition time in which the output from one or more of the plurality of energy generation modules is lower than what is designated by the control module.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the one or more controllable heat sources of the plurality of energy generation modules includes transmitting a control signal to at least one of the one or more controllable heat sources. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing cold water to be admitted into the energy generation system, via a cold water input, so that the cold water flows within the energy generation system to cool a jacket of thermoelectric devices provided with each energy generation module of the plurality of energy generation modules.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 converting the electricity output from direct current (DC) to alternate current via a DC-to-AC converter.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each controllable heat source is a natural gas combustor.