JP2007014161A - Thermoelectric generator for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent short circuit of a current generated from a thermoelectric converter. <P>SOLUTION: A front exhaust pipe 42 and a rear exhaust pipe 44 are body earthed BE thus earthing an engine ECU 30, and the like. The exhaust pipe 34 of a thermoelectric stack 10 is stack grounded SG for the thermoelectric stack 10. Insulating spacers 40 are provided between the front exhaust pipe 42 and the exhaust pipe 34 and between the rear exhaust pipe 44 and the exhaust pipe 34, the exhaust pipe 34 of the thermoelectric stack 10 is coupled through the insulating spacer 40 and the body earth BE is insulated from the stack ground SG. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular thermoelectric power generation apparatus, and more particularly to a vehicular thermoelectric power generation apparatus that uses a thermoelectric element to generate power using heat generated in an exhaust path of an automobile exhaust gas or various heats.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a thermoelectric power generation apparatus that performs thermoelectric power generation by providing a thermoelectric converter such as a thermoelectric element in an exhaust path of an automobile exhaust gas or a heat generating part such as an engine.

  For example, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, thermoelectric elements formed of a plurality of BiTe or the like are arranged in an exhaust gas passage such as an automobile engine or a factory furnace, and the thermal energy is converted into electric power. In addition, the control unit measures the temperature on the high temperature side and the temperature on the low temperature side of the thermoelectric element unit, and the control unit determines the current value that gives the optimum output from the output characteristics of the thermoelectric element at this measured temperature, and performs the corresponding control. The signal is supplied to the current control circuit, and the current control circuit takes out the generated electric power of the thermoelectric element as a current value based on the control signal, and boosts and smoothes it to a necessary voltage by a DC-DC converter to charge a battery or the like. Yes.

That is, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the high temperature side temperature and the low temperature side temperature of the thermoelectric element are detected by a sensor or the like, and the operating point of the thermoelectric element current is determined using the output characteristic table. It is possible to effectively extract the electric power generated by the thermoelectric element.
JP-A-6-22572

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the negative terminal of the thermoelectric element unit and the ground (GND) of the output of the DC-DC converter are common GND, the positive terminal of the thermoelectric element unit (the intermediate terminal when connected in series) However, when short-circuited to the body ground due to condensation or the like, there is a problem that a short-circuit current flows and power generation energy cannot be recovered.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to prevent a short circuit of a generated current of a thermoelectric converter.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a vehicular thermoelectric power generation device provided with a thermoelectric converter that converts heat into electric power and outputs the electric power at a heat generation site of the vehicle, wherein the thermoelectric converter An insulating member is provided between the thermoelectric conversion unit provided with a heating element connected to the thermoelectric conversion unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, by providing a thermoelectric converter in a heat generation part of the vehicle (for example, an engine or an exhaust exhaust pipe through which exhaust gas passes), the heat generation unit generates heat by the thermoelectric converter. Heat is converted into electric power and output.

  By the way, the heat generating parts of the vehicle such as the engine and the exhaust pipe act as a body ground. Therefore, when the plus terminal (ground) of the thermoelectric converter is short-circuited to the body ground as described above, a short-circuit current flows and the generated energy of the thermoelectric converter cannot be recovered.

  Therefore, in the invention described in claim 1, an insulating member is provided between the thermoelectric conversion unit provided with the thermoelectric converter and a heating element (for example, an engine, an exhaust pipe, etc.) connected to the thermoelectric conversion unit. ing. As a result, even if the heating element connected to the thermoelectric conversion unit is body-grounded, it is possible to insulate the body ground from the thermoelectric converter ground, thus preventing a short circuit of the generated current of the thermoelectric converter. Can do.

  Further, as in the second aspect of the invention, the switching element for adjusting the power output from the thermoelectric converter, the detection means for detecting the output power of the thermoelectric converter, and the detection result of the detection means A control means for calculating a target output power of the thermoelectric converter on the basis of the thermoelectric converter and controlling on / off of the switching element so as to be the target output power, and connecting and detecting the detection means and the control means The connection between the element and the control means may be performed via an insulating means for electrically insulating the element. In this way, when the body ground is connected to the control means by connecting the detection means and the control means, and the switching element and the control means, respectively, via the insulation means, the body ground connected to the control means. It is possible to prevent a short circuit of the generated current.

  At this time, as in the invention described in claim 3, the insulating means applies a photocoupler and an insulating amplifier that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal and connects it, and connects the detecting means and the control means with an insulating amplifier. By connecting the switching element and the control means via the photocoupler, insulation by the insulating means becomes possible.

  Further, at this time, as in the invention described in claim 4, the estimation means for estimating the power generation amount of the thermoelectric converter based on the detection result of the driving state detection means for detecting the driving state of the vehicle, and the thermoelectric converter Actual power generation amount detecting means for detecting the actual power generation amount, determination means for determining the power generation abnormality of the thermoelectric converter based on the estimation result of the estimation means and the detection result of the actual power generation amount detection means, and determining the power generation abnormality by the determination means In this case, a prohibiting unit that prohibits the power conversion of the thermoelectric converter may be further provided.

  That is, the driving state detecting means detects the driving state of the vehicle (for example, the vehicle speed and the engine speed related to the amount of power generated by the thermoelectric converter), and the estimating means detects the thermoelectric converter based on the detection result of the detecting means. The amount of power generation is estimated. The actual power generation amount detection means detects the actual power generation amount of the thermoelectric converter, and the determination means determines the power generation abnormality of the thermoelectric converter based on the estimation result of the estimation means and the detection result of the actual power generation amount detection means. The And in a prohibition means, the power conversion of a thermoelectric converter is prohibited. Therefore, the power generation abnormality of the thermoelectric converter is judged from the estimated amount of power generation of the thermoelectric converter thus estimated and the amount of power generation of the thermoelectric converter actually detected, and if it is judged to be abnormal, the power conversion of the thermoelectric converter is prohibited. Therefore, the reliability at the time of a short circuit to the body ground or the like can be improved.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the same as the invention according to claim 5, wherein the electric storage device stores electric power output from the thermoelectric converter, and the electric power stored in the electric storage device is transformed to supply electric power to the control means. You may make it further provide the transformer for supplying. Thus, by providing a capacitor and a transformer, the power generated by the thermoelectric converter can be used as a power source for the control means. This eliminates the need to connect a body ground to the control means.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the insulating member is provided between the thermoelectric conversion unit provided with the thermoelectric converter and the heating element connected to the thermoelectric conversion unit, so that the body member can be grounded by the insulating member. Since the ground of the thermoelectric converter can be insulated, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent a short circuit of the generated current of the thermoelectric converter.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicular thermoelectric generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The vehicular thermoelectric generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a thermoelectric stack 10 including a thermoelectric module 12 as a thermoelectric generator of the present invention that changes heat into electric power. The thermoelectric module 12 is configured by combining a plurality of thermoelectric elements that convert heat into electric power. The thermoelectric module 12 is provided in the exhaust path of the exhaust gas of the automobile and converts the heat of the exhaust gas of the automobile into electric power. In addition, it is provided in the part which generate | occur | produces heat, such as an engine, and you may make it convert the heat | fever of heat generating bodies, such as an engine, into electric power.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the thermoelectric stack 10 includes a thermoelectric module 12, an exhaust pipe 34, a heat sink 36, and a cooling water channel 38. The thermoelectric module 12 includes a front exhaust pipe 42 and a rear exhaust pipe 44. It is provided in the exhaust pipe 34 connected between them, and converts the heat of the exhaust pipe 34 into electric power.

  The heat sink 36 is provided in the exhaust path of the exhaust pipe 34, and heat of the exhaust gas is transmitted to the thermoelectric module 12 through the heat sink 36 and the exhaust pipe 34.

  The cooling water channel 38 is provided at a position where the surface of the thermoelectric module 12 opposite to the exhaust pipe 34 is cooled. That is, the thermoelectric module 12 generates electric power due to a temperature difference between cooling by the cooling water passage 38 and heat by the exhaust gas.

  The front exhaust pipe 42 and the rear exhaust pipe 44 are body-grounded BE so that the engine ECU 30 and the like are grounded. The exhaust pipe 34 of the thermoelectric stack 10 is a stack ground SG for the thermoelectric stack 10. Has been. An insulating spacer 40 is provided between the front exhaust pipe 42 and the exhaust pipe 34 and between the rear exhaust pipe 44 and the exhaust pipe 34, and the exhaust pipe 34 of the thermoelectric stack 10 is connected to the insulating spacer 40. The body ground BE and the stack ground SG are insulated.

  The thermoelectric module 12 is connected to the primary side of the transformer of the DC-DC converter 14, and the electric power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 is input to the primary side of the transformer of the DC-DC converter 14. In this embodiment, the DC-DC converter 14 is described as an example using a general flyback type, but is not limited to this, and for example, a forward type is used. May be. Moreover, although this embodiment demonstrates the example which supplies the output electric power of the thermoelectric module 12 to the DC-DC converter 14, you may make it supply the output electric power of the thermoelectric module 12 to another apparatus. In addition, an insulation type converter is applied to the DC-DC converter 14.

  Between the transformer of the thermoelectric module 12 and the DC-DC converter 14, the switching element S0 comprised by FET is provided. The source of the switching element S0 is connected to the thermoelectric module 12 side and grounded (stack ground SG), the drain is connected to the primary side of the transformer of the DC-DC converter 14, and the gate is a controller that controls the thermoelectric generator. The electrical signal is converted into an optical signal by the photocoupler 24 and connected thereto. That is, the electric power generated in the thermoelectric module 12 and input to the primary side of the transformer of the DC-DC converter 14 is controlled by the controller 16 by controlling on / off of the switching element S0. In other words, the output current from the thermoelectric module 12 can be controlled by controlling on / off of the switching element S0 by the controller 16.

  A capacitor C0 is connected in parallel with the transformer of the thermoelectric module 12 and the DC-DC converter 14 between the thermoelectric module 12 and the transformer of the DC-DC converter 14.

  Further, a current sensor 18 for measuring a current output from the thermoelectric module 12 is connected, and a detection result of the current sensor 18 is input to the controller 16. A voltage detection circuit 20 that detects the voltage of the thermoelectric module 12 is connected between the thermoelectric module 12 and the DC-DC converter 14, and the voltage of the thermoelectric module 12 detected by the voltage detection circuit 20 is It is input to the controller 16.

  Further, the controller 16 is connected to an auxiliary battery 26 connected to the body ground BE, and receives power supply from the auxiliary battery 26. In addition, the controller 16 is connected to the current sensor 18 and the voltage detection circuit 20 via an insulation amplifier 28. Since the electrical signal is converted into an optical signal by the insulation amplifier 28, the controller 16 is connected to the body ground BE. The ground SG is insulated.

  The controller 16 is connected to the engine ECU 30, reads the vehicle speed input to the engine ECU 30, obtains a map of the vehicle speed and the amount of power generation stored in advance in the engine ECU 30, and obtains a thermoelectric module obtained from the map The power generation abnormality of the thermoelectric module 12 is detected based on the 12 estimated power generation power and the power generation power obtained from the current sensor 18 and the voltage detection circuit 20, and control is performed to stop power conversion in the case of power generation abnormality. Yes.

  On the other hand, a battery 22 is connected to the secondary side of the DC-DC converter 14 via a fuse 32, and the power input to the primary side of the transformer of the DC-DC converter 14 is boosted by the DC-DC converter 14. Alternatively, the voltage is stepped down and supplied to the battery 22.

  A diode D for rectifying the power supplied to the battery 22 is connected in series between the secondary side of the transformer of the DC-DC converter 14 and the battery 22. Further, a diode D1 is connected in parallel to the transformer and the battery 22 of the DC-DC converter 14 between the secondary side of the transformer of the DC-DC converter 14 and the battery 22, Between the fuses 32, the cathode of the diode D1 is connected, the anode of the diode D1 is connected to the side where the anode of the diode D on the secondary side of the transformer of the DC-DC converter 14 is not connected, and the high voltage system HE is connected. It is connected to the. Further, a coil L0 is connected in series between the diode D and the fuse 32.

  Further, a capacitor C for smoothing the output of the DC-DC converter 14 while suppressing ripples caused by ripples is provided between the transformer of the DC-DC converter 14 and the battery 22. The capacitor C is connected in parallel, and one end of the capacitor C is connected between the coil L0 and the fuse 32.

  Then, the effect | action of the thermoelectric power generating apparatus comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.

  The controller 16 monitors the generated power of the thermoelectric module 12 from the current and voltage output from the thermoelectric module 12 input from the current sensor 18 and the voltage detection circuit 20, and becomes an operating current at which the thermoelectric module 12 operates at the maximum output. Thus, the on / off of the switching element S0 is controlled. At this time, since the current sensor 18 and the voltage detection circuit 20 are connected to the controller 16 via the insulation amplifier 28, insulation between the body ground BE and the stack ground SG is ensured.

  Since the switching element S0 connected to the controller 16 is connected via the coupler 24, insulation from the body earth BE stack ground SG is ensured.

  The exhaust pipe 34 of the thermoelectric stack 10 is connected to the front exhaust pipe 42 and the rear exhaust pipe 44 because the front exhaust pipe 42 and the rear exhaust pipe 44 are connected via the insulating spacer 40. Insulation between the body ground BE and the stack ground SG of the thermoelectric stack 10 is ensured.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, even when one terminal of the thermoelectric module 12 is short-circuited to the main body of the thermoelectric stack 10 or the like, the stack ground SG is insulated from the body ground BE and the high-voltage system ground HE. it can.

  By the way, when one terminal of the thermoelectric module 12 is short-circuited to the main body of the thermoelectric stack 10 or the like, a circuit is formed by the short-circuit, and thus a circulating current (short-circuit current) flows between the thermoelectric modules 12 and power recovery becomes difficult. turn into. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a map of the vehicle speed and the amount of power generation stored in advance in the engine ECU 30 is acquired, and is obtained from the estimated generated power of the thermoelectric module 12 obtained from the map, the current sensor 18 and the voltage detection circuit 20. A power generation abnormality of the thermoelectric module 12 is detected based on the generated power, and control is performed to stop power conversion in the case of a power generation abnormality.

  Here, control including power generation abnormality detection performed by the controller 16 of the thermoelectric module 12 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing performed by the controller 16 of the thermoelectric generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in step 100, the operation of the DC-DC converter 14 is performed. As described above, the operation of the DC-DC converter 14 monitors the generated power of the thermoelectric module 12 from the current and voltage output from the thermoelectric module 12 input from the current sensor 18 and the voltage detection circuit 20, and the thermoelectric module 12. Is controlled to turn on and off the switching element S0 so that the operating current operates at the maximum output.

  Next, at step 102, the voltage V and the current I are read, and the routine proceeds to step 104 where the generated power Pi is calculated. That is, the voltage V and current I generated by the thermoelectric module 12 detected by the current sensor 18 and the voltage detection circuit 20 are read, and the generated power Pin is calculated from the read voltage V and current I. .

  Subsequently, at step 106, the vehicle speed V is read from the engine ECU 30, and the routine proceeds to step 108.

  Next, at step 108, the estimated generated power Pg is calculated, and the routine proceeds to step 112. The estimated generated power Pg is read from a map (for example, a map of generated power with respect to the vehicle speed V as shown in FIG. 3) of the vehicle speed V and the generated power Pg stored in advance in the engine ECU 30, and is read from the map shown in FIG. The generated power Pg corresponding to the vehicle speed V is calculated.

  In step 110, the absolute value ΔP (ΔP = | Pg−Pin |) of the difference between the generated power Pin of the thermoelectric module 12 calculated in step 104 and the estimated generated power Pg calculated in step 108 is calculated.

  Then, in step 112, it is determined whether or not ΔP calculated in step 110 is smaller than a predetermined threshold value Pth. If the determination is affirmative, it is estimated from the generated power Pin of the thermoelectric module 12 and the vehicle speed V. Since the difference between the estimated power Pg and the estimated power Pg is small, it is determined that power is normally generated, and the process returns to step 102 and the above-described processing is repeated.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 112 is negative, since the difference between the generated power Pin of the thermoelectric module 12 and the estimated power Pg estimated from the vehicle speed V is large, it is determined that there is a power generation abnormality of the thermoelectric module 12. Control goes to step 114.

  In step 114, when the control of the switching element S0 is stopped, the DC-DC converter 14 is stopped and the series of processes is ended.

  That is, in this embodiment, when one terminal of the thermoelectric module 12 is short-circuited to the main body of the thermoelectric stack 10 or the like and a circuit is formed by the short circuit, a circulating current (short-circuit current) flows between the thermoelectric modules 12. , ΔP is larger than a predetermined threshold value Pth, and by detecting this, it is possible to detect the power generation abnormality of the thermoelectric module 12, and when the power generation abnormality of the thermoelectric module 12 is detected, the DC-DC converter Since the power conversion by 14 is stopped, the reliability can be improved.

In the first embodiment, when the estimated generated power Pg is calculated, a map of the generated power Pg corresponding to the vehicle speed V is stored in advance, and the estimated generated power Pg is calculated from the vehicle speed V. This is not a limitation. For example, a map of the generated power Pg corresponding to the engine speed may be stored in advance, and the estimated generated power Pg may be calculated from the engine speed.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a vehicular thermoelectric generator according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The vehicular thermoelectric power generation apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the vehicular thermoelectric power generation apparatus according to the first embodiment, except that a circuit connected to the thermoelectric module 12 is different, and the thermoelectric stack 10 Since the configuration of is the same as that of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the vehicular thermoelectric generator according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, about the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the vehicular thermoelectric generator according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a boost chopper 46 for the vehicular thermoelectric generator according to the first embodiment. The power generated by the module 12 is boosted to supply power to the battery 22. That is, a high voltage battery 22 is applied as the battery 22.

As shown in FIG. 4, the step-up chopper 46 is provided between the primary side of the transformer of the DC-DC converter 14 and the thermoelectric module 12. The DC-DC converter 14 is an insulated converter as in the first embodiment.

  The step-up chopper 46 includes two capacitors C1 and C0, a coil L, a diode D2, and a switching element S1, and the two capacitors C1 and C0 are primary sides of the transformer of the thermoelectric module 12 and the DC-DC converter 14. Are connected in parallel.

  A coil L and a diode D2 are connected in series between one end of each of the capacitors C1 and C0. A drain of the switching element S1 is connected to an anode of the coil L and the diode D2, and a source of the switching element S1 is connected to a thermoelectric device. The gate of the switching element S1 connected to the module 12 is connected to the controller 16A that controls the step-up chopper 46 via the photocoupler 24, and the electrical signal is converted into an optical signal by the photocoupler 24 and connected. Note that the switching element S1 is composed of an FET.

  Further, as in the first embodiment, a current sensor 18 for measuring the current output from the thermoelectric module 12 is connected, and the detection result of the current sensor 18 is input to the controller 16. At the same time, a voltage detection circuit 20 that detects the voltage of the thermoelectric module 12 is connected between the thermoelectric module 12 and the step-up chopper 46, and the voltage of the thermoelectric module 12 detected by the voltage detection circuit 20 is the controller 16. To be input.

  Further, the controller 16A is connected to the auxiliary battery 26 connected to the body earth BE, and receives power supply from the auxiliary battery 26. Further, the controller 16A is connected to the current sensor 18 and the voltage detection circuit 20 via an insulation amplifier 28, and since the electrical signal is converted into an optical signal by the insulation amplifier 28, it is connected to the body ground BE and the stack. The ground SG is insulated.

  The controller 16A is connected to the engine ECU 30, reads the vehicle speed input to the engine ECU 30, obtains a map of the vehicle speed and the power generation amount stored in advance in the engine ECU 30, and obtains a thermoelectric module obtained from the map. The power generation abnormality of the thermoelectric module 12 is detected based on the 12 estimated power generation power and the power generation power obtained from the current sensor 18 and the voltage detection circuit 20, and control is performed to stop power conversion in the case of power generation abnormality. Yes.

  The switching element S0 that controls the DC-DC converter 14 is connected to the controller 16B, and the controller 16B is supplied with power from the auxiliary battery 26. The switching element S0 that controls the driving of the DC-DC converter 14 is connected via a photocoupler 24. The photocoupler 24 converts the electrical signal into an optical signal and connects it.

  Since the secondary side of the DC-DC converter 14 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In other words, in the second embodiment, the generated energy generated by the thermoelectric module 12 is boosted to a high battery voltage by the boost chopper 46. At this time, the controllers 16A and 16B monitor the output power (current × voltage) of the thermoelectric module 12 as in the first embodiment, and control is performed with an operating current that operates at the maximum output of the thermoelectric module 12.

  Since the current sensor 18 and the voltage detection circuit 20 are connected to the controller 16A via the insulation amplifier 28 as in the first embodiment, insulation between the body ground BE and the stack ground SG is ensured.

  Further, since the switching element S1 of the step-up chopper 46 is driven by the controller 16A and the switching element S1 and the controller 16A are connected via the photocoupler 24, the insulation between the body ground BE and the stack ground SG is achieved. Secured.

  As in the first embodiment, the exhaust pipe 34 of the thermoelectric stack 10, the front exhaust pipe 42, and the rear exhaust pipe 44 are connected via the insulating spacer 40, so that the front exhaust pipe 42 and the rear exhaust pipe 42 are connected. Insulation between the body ground BE connected to the side exhaust pipe 44 and the stack ground SG of the thermoelectric stack 10 is ensured.

  Furthermore, since the switching element S0 for controlling the driving of the DC-DC converter 14 and the controller 16B are connected via the photocoupler 24, the DC-DC converter 14 is insulated from the body ground BE.

  Therefore, in this embodiment as well as the first embodiment, even when one terminal of the thermoelectric module 12 is short-circuited to the main body of the thermoelectric stack 10 or the like, the stack ground SG is insulated from the body ground BE and the high-voltage ground HE. So power can be recovered.

Note that the step-up chopper 46 may have a transformer turns ratio of 1: 1 when boosted by 100%.
[Third Embodiment]
Next, a vehicular thermoelectric generator according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The vehicular thermoelectric generator according to the third embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the thermoelectric generator according to the second embodiment, and a circuit connected to the thermoelectric module 12 is partly compared to the second embodiment. Only the difference is that the configuration of the thermoelectric stack 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicular thermoelectric generator according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the vehicular thermoelectric generator according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, a step-down converter 48 is connected to a high-voltage battery 22, and the power of the battery 22 is stepped down by the step-down converter 48. Power is supplied to the controllers 16A and 16B. That is, the power of the two controllers 16A and 16B is supplied from the battery 22, and it is not necessary to connect the auxiliary battery 26 to which the body ground BE is connected to the controllers 16A and 16B.

  On the other hand, the controller 16A and the engine ECU 30 are connected via a photocoupler 24 that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal and is connected, and insulation between the stack ground SG and the high-voltage ground HE and the body ground BE is ensured.

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the electric power of the high voltage battery 22 is supplied to the controllers 16A and 16B, there are two ground systems (stack ground SG and high voltage earth HE) as the vehicle thermoelectric generator. Can be.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, the insulation amplifier 28 and the coupler 24 that are necessary for the insulation from the body ground BE connected to the controller 16A are not necessary, and the current sensor 18 and the voltage detection circuit 20 connect the insulation amplifier 28. The switching element S1 of the step-up chopper 46 can be connected to the controller 16A as it is without using the photocoupler 24.

  Therefore, by configuring the high voltage battery 22 to step down and supply power to the controllers 16A and 16B in this way, the circuit configuration can be simplified compared to the second embodiment, and reliability can be ensured. Becomes easier. In addition, since the circuit configuration can be simplified, a 12V power supply wire harness or the like is not required, and the mounting property on the vehicle can be improved.

  In the second embodiment and the third embodiment, the description of the control including the power generation abnormality detection performed by the controller 16 described in the first embodiment is omitted, but by performing the same processing as in the first embodiment. The power conversion by the DC-DC converter 14 can be stopped by detecting the power generation abnormality of the thermoelectric module 12.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the thermoelectric power generator for vehicles concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process performed with the controller of the thermoelectric generator for vehicles concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows an example of the map of the electric power generated with respect to the vehicle speed V. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the thermoelectric power generator for vehicles concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the thermoelectric power generator for vehicles concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Thermoelectric stack 12 Thermoelectric module 14 DC-DC converter 16 Controller 18 Current sensor 20 Voltage detection circuit 22 Battery 24 Photocoupler 28 Insulation amplifier 34 Exhaust pipe 40 Insulation spacer 42 Front side exhaust pipe 44 Rear side exhaust pipe 46 Boost chopper 48 Step-down converter BE body Earth HE High-voltage system earth SG Stack ground S0 Switching element

Claims (5)

A vehicular thermoelectric generator provided with a thermoelectric converter that converts heat into electric power and outputs it at a heat generation site of the vehicle,
A vehicular thermoelectric generator, wherein an insulating member is provided between a thermoelectric conversion unit provided with the thermoelectric converter and a heating element connected to the thermoelectric conversion unit. A switching element for adjusting power output from the thermoelectric converter, detection means for detecting output power of the thermoelectric converter, and target output power of the thermoelectric converter based on a detection result of the detection means And a control means for controlling on / off of the switching element so as to obtain the target output power,
2. The vehicle thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, wherein the connection between the detection means and the control means and the insulation between the switching element and the control means are electrically insulated. .   The insulating means is composed of a photocoupler and an insulating amplifier that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal and connects, and the detection means and the control means are connected via an insulating amplifier, and the switching element and the control means The thermoelectric power generator for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the connection is performed via a photocoupler.   Estimation means for estimating the power generation amount of the thermoelectric converter based on the detection result of the driving state detection means for detecting the driving state of the vehicle, actual power generation amount detection means for detecting the actual power generation amount of the thermoelectric converter, and A determination means for determining a power generation abnormality of the thermoelectric converter based on an estimation result of the estimation means and a detection result of the actual power generation amount detection means; and the thermoelectric converter when the power generation abnormality is determined by the determination means The vehicular thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, further comprising a prohibiting unit that prohibits the power conversion of the vehicle.   The electric storage device for storing electric power output from the thermoelectric converter, and a transformer for transforming electric power stored in the electric storage device to supply electric power to the control means. The vehicle thermoelectric generator according to 2.

Images