JP2012238825A - Thermal power generation apparatus and cooling system of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To downsize a cooling system and prevent overheating of a heat source with a structure of a thermal power generation apparatus.SOLUTION: A thermal power generation apparatus 100 is composed of: a heat source 110 generating heat and becoming hot; a heat sink 120 conducting heat of the heat source 110 and radiating the conducted heat; and a thermoelectric conversion module 130 generating power by using temperature differences. The heat sink 120 is divided into a heat conduction part 121 conducting heat of the heat source and a heat radiation part 122 radiating the heat. The heat sink 120 includes a heat receiving surface of the thermoelectric conversion module 130 in the heat conduction part 121 and a heat radiation surface of the thermoelectric conversion module 130 in the heat radiation part 122. A valve 220 included in a cooling system 200 of the thermal power generation apparatus 100 is controlled by a control device 230 to flow a coolant 240 into one of flow pathways 121b, 122b disposed in the heat conduction part 121 and the heat radiation part 122 and cools the heat of the thermal power generation apparatus 100.

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermoelectric generator that converts heat from a heat source into electric power, and a cooling system that cools the heat source of the thermoelectric generator.

  Conventionally, as a thermoelectric generator that converts heat from a heat source into electric power, for example, a thermoelectric generator described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. This thermoelectric power generator is a device that is provided in a cooling water circulation path of an automobile engine or various combustion equipment, etc., and generates power using cooling water, and a high-temperature side heat source that radiates heat from the engine or the like, and a high-temperature side heat source Cooling water that has been heated and received through a radiator or other radiator is used as a low-temperature heat source, and the temperature difference between the high-temperature heat source and the low-temperature heat source (Seebeck effect, etc.) ) To generate an electromotive force. Moreover, the thermoelectric generator is provided with the heat receiving surface of the thermoelectric conversion module on the side wall (casing) of the high-temperature heat source, and the heat dissipating surface of the thermoelectric conversion module is provided with heat dissipating fins, as in the engine described in Patent Document 2. A structure for generating electric power by generating a temperature difference has been proposed.

JP 2005-287090 A JP2011-043142A

  Since the thermoelectric generator described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a thermoelectric conversion module between a path for flowing the cooling water of the high-temperature side heat source and a path for flowing the cooling water of the low-temperature side heat source, It is considered that the power generator must be attached separately to the cooling water circulation path. Therefore, it is difficult to downsize the cooling system for cooling the thermoelectric generator.

Moreover, in the structure provided with the heat receiving surface of the thermoelectric conversion module in the heat source like the engine described in Patent Document 2, the heat receiving surface of the thermoelectric conversion module is not excellent in heat conductivity compared to a heat sink or the like. Resistance may increase the temperature of the heat source of the thermoelectric generator. Therefore, it is considered that there is a risk that the heat source will overheat.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and the cooling system for cooling the thermoelectric generator is reduced in size by the structure of the thermoelectric generator, and the heat source of the thermoelectric generator is overheated by the cooling system. The purpose is to prevent.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a thermoelectric generator comprising a heat source that generates heat and becomes high temperature, a heat sink that conducts heat of the heat source and dissipates the conducted heat, and a thermoelectric conversion module that generates electric power by temperature difference The heat sink has a structure that is divided into a heat conducting part that conducts heat from a heat source and a heat radiating part that radiates heat, and the heat conducting part is provided with a heat receiving surface of a thermoelectric conversion module to dissipate heat. It is a technical feature that the part is provided with a heat radiating surface of the thermoelectric conversion module 130.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a circulation path provided in a part of a path of a heat conduction part and a heat radiation part of a heat sink included in the thermoelectric generator, and a water flow on the heat conduction part side of the circulation path. A cooling system comprising a valve for switching the path between the path and the water flow path on the heat radiation part side, a pump for circulating the cooling water flowing through the circulation path, and a cooling device for cooling the cooling water, The valve is technically characterized in that the valve is controlled by a control device that switches the flow channel based on a temperature measured by a temperature sensor provided in the heat conduction unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the thermoelectric generator can be integrated with the heat sink that receives and dissipates heat from the heat source, the cooling system that cools the thermoelectric generator can be downsized. .

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the flow path of the cooling water of the cooling system can be switched depending on the temperature of the heat source of the thermoelectric generator, overheating of the heat source provided in the thermoelectric generator can be prevented.

It is a figure which shows the outline of the thermoelectric generator and cooling system of this invention. The figure which the valve | bulb of a cooling system has blocked the water flow path by the side of the heat conductive part of a heat sink is shown. The figure which the valve | bulb of a cooling system has blocked the flowing water path by the side of the thermal radiation part of a heat sink is shown.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The present invention is a thermoelectric generator 100 that generates electricity using heat from a heat source 110, and generates a heat to generate a high temperature heat source 110, and a heat sink 120 that conducts heat from the heat source 110 and dissipates the conducted heat. And a thermoelectric conversion module 130 that generates electric power due to a temperature difference between the heat source 110 and the heat sink 120.

  The heat source 110 generates heat and becomes a high temperature. In this embodiment, the heat source 110 is an engine mounted on a vehicle. This engine is a general one, and a highly volatile liquid such as gasoline is mixed with air, and the mixture is sucked into a combustion chamber inside the cylinder, compressed, and ignited to push a piston that reciprocates inside the cylinder. Generate power. This reciprocating motion of the piston is linked to the connecting rod and the crankshaft, so that it can be changed into a rotational motion to output power from the crankshaft to drive the wheels. Here, since the engine generates heat when the mixture explodes and the piston reciprocates, there is a risk of overheating if the heat continues to be generated. Therefore, a dangerous temperature for preventing overheating is set.

  The heat sink 120 is a member that conducts heat from the heat source 110 and dissipates heat, and is manufactured from a material having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper. The heat sink 120 includes a heat conducting unit 121 that conducts heat from the heat source 110. The structure is divided into heat dissipation portions 122 that dissipate heat.

  The heat conducting unit 121 conducts heat from the heat source 110 to a thermoelectric conversion module 130 described later, and may be provided anywhere as long as it is in contact with the heat source 110. The heat conducting unit 121 includes a temperature sensor 121a that measures the temperature of the heat source 110 and a flowing water channel 121b that flows the cooling water 240 of the cooling system 200 that cools the heat source 110 described later.

  The temperature sensor 121a is a sensor that measures the temperature of the heat source 110, and is set to a danger prevention temperature that prevents the temperature of the heat source 110 from reaching the danger temperature. This danger prevention temperature is set to a temperature lower than the danger temperature of the heat source 110.

  The water flow path 121b is one of the paths for flowing the cooling water 240 of the cooling system 200 described later, and is disposed in substantially the entire area inside the heat conducting unit 121. The flowing water channel 121b is provided with valves 220 of the cooling system 200 at both ends. When the valve 220 is in an open state, the cooling water 240 flows to cool the temperature of the heat source 110.

  The heat dissipating part 122 dissipates heat conducted to the thermoelectric conversion module 130 described later, and includes heat dissipating fins 122a that promote heat dissipating and a water flow path 122b that flows cooling water 240 of the cooling system 200 described later. I have.

  The heat radiation fins 122a are for promoting heat radiation and are formed in a sword mountain shape or a bellows shape. The heat dissipating fins 122a cool the heat dissipating part 122 by exchanging heat by coming into contact with running wind generated when the vehicle is traveling and air sent out by a fan provided in the vehicle.

  The flowing water path 122b is one of the paths for flowing the cooling water 240 of the cooling system 200 to be described later, and is disposed in substantially the entire area inside the heat radiating section 122. Like the water flow path 121b disposed inside the heat conduction unit 121, the water flow path 122b is provided with the valves 220 of the cooling system 200 at both ends, and when the valve 220 is in an open state, The temperature of the thermoelectric conversion module 130 is cooled by flowing.

  Since the heat radiating portion 122 is cooled by the cooling water 240 flowing through the heat radiating fins 122a and the flowing water passage 122b, it is possible to maintain a lower temperature than the heat conducting portion 121.

  The thermoelectric conversion module 130 is a thermoelectric conversion element that generates electric power by utilizing the Seebeck effect according to a temperature difference, and has a heat receiving surface that receives heat and a heat dissipation surface that dissipates heat. In this thermoelectric element module, the heat receiving surface is attached to the heat conducting portion 121 of the heat sink 120 that becomes high temperature, and the heat radiating surface is attached to the heat radiating portion 122 of the heat sink 120 that becomes low temperature. Between.

Next, the cooling system 200 that cools the heat source 110 of the thermoelectric generator 100 described above will be described.
The cooling system 200 is a device that cools the heat source 110 of the thermoelectric generator 100, and includes a circulation path 210 that has flow channels 121 b and 122 b disposed inside the heat sink 120 of the thermoelectric generator 100 as a part of the path, and a circulation A valve 220 that switches the flow paths 121b and 122b disposed inside the heat sink 120 of the path 210, a control device 230 that controls switching of the valve 220, and a circulation in which the control device 230 is activated and the valve 220 is switched. A cooling water 240 that flows through the passage 210, a pump 250 that causes the cooling water 240 to flow within the circulation passage 210, and a cooling device 260 that cools the flowing cooling water 240 are provided.

  The circulation path 210 is a path for flowing cooling water 240 to be described later, and includes flowing water paths 121b and 122b disposed inside the heat sink 120 as part of the path. In this circulation path 210, a path through which the cooling water 240 flows is switched by a valve 220 described later. Here, although the circulation path 210 is a path | route which flows the cooling water 240 in a present Example, a heat pipe may be sufficient.

  The valve 220 switches a path through which the cooling water 240 to be described later flows, and is provided at both ends of the water flow paths 121b and 122b disposed inside the heat conducting part 121 and the heat radiating part 122 of the heat sink 120. The valve 220 is controlled by a control device 230, which will be described later, and switches the flow path of the cooling water 240 between the flowing water path 121b on the heat conducting section 121 side and the flowing water path 122b on the heat radiating section 122 side. Therefore, when the valve 220 seals the flowing water channel 121b on the heat conducting unit 121 side, the cooling water 240 flows through the flowing water channel 122b on the heat radiating unit 122 side with the flowing water channel 122b on the heat radiating unit 122 side opened. In the case where the valve 220 blocks the water flow path 122b on the heat radiation part 122 side, the water flow path 121b on the heat conduction part 121 side is opened, and the cooling water 240 flows through the water flow path 121b on the heat conduction part 121 side.

  The control device 230 (not shown) is a device that controls the temperature of the heat source 110 of the thermoelectric generator 100 by switching the valve 220, and detects the temperature of the temperature sensor 121a provided in the thermoelectric generator 100. Therefore, the control device 230 operates the valve 220 so as to block the flowing water channel 121b on the heat conducting unit 121 side until the temperature of the heat source 110 reaches the danger prevention temperature set by the temperature sensor 121a. . In addition, when the temperature of the heat source 110 exceeds the danger prevention temperature set by the temperature sensor 121a, the control device 230 operates the valve 220 so as to block the flowing water passage 122b on the heat radiating unit 122 side.

  The cooling water 240 (not shown) flows through the circulation path 210 and passes through the flowing water paths 121b and 122b disposed inside the heat sink 120 of the thermoelectric generator 100, so that the heat source 110 or thermoelectric power of the thermoelectric generator 100 is supplied. The heat of the heat radiating surface of the conversion module 130 is received and heated. The warmed cooling water 240 is cooled by passing through a cooling device 260 described later. Here, the cooling water 240 is water-cooled in this embodiment, but may be oil-cooled.

  The cooling device 260 is a device for cooling the cooling water 240, and is a radiator mounted on the vehicle in this embodiment. This radiator has a general water-cooled structure, and is of a downflow type or a crossflow type. A tank that temporarily stores warmed cooling water 240 and a cooling water 240 stored in the tank are provided. It is comprised with the tube to convey, the fin which cools the cooling water 240 conveyed by the tube, and the tank which stores the cooling water 240 which passed through the fin and was cooled temporarily.

Next, a procedure for generating power while the temperature of the heat source 110 is managed by the thermoelectric generator 100 of the present invention will be described.
The heat source 110 (engine) of the thermoelectric generator 100 generates heat and gradually increases in temperature when an occupant riding in the vehicle starts by rotating a key. Here, since the heat conduction part 121 of the heat sink 120 is made of a material having good heat conductivity, the heat of the heat source 110 is received and becomes substantially the same temperature as the heat source 110. The temperature management of the heat source 110 is measured by a temperature sensor 121 a provided in the heat conducting unit 121 of the heat sink 120, and is managed by a control device 230 provided in the cooling system 200.

Therefore, until the temperature of the heat source 110 reaches the danger prevention temperature set by the temperature sensor 121a, the control device 230 blocks the water flow path 121b on the heat conducting unit 121 side disposed in the heat sink 120 and dissipates the heat. The valve 220 is controlled so as to open the flowing water passage 122b on the 122 side. As a result, the cooling water 240 flows through the circulation path 210 passing through the water flow path 122b on the heat dissipation section 122 side of the heat sink 120, thereby cooling the heat dissipation section 122 of the heat sink 120. Here, the cooling water 240 that has passed through the water flow path 122 b included in the heat radiating section 122 of the heat sink 120 is warmed by receiving heat from the heat radiating section 122, is cooled by the cooling device 260 of the cooling system 200, and circulates in the circulation path 210. doing.

Moreover, since the heat radiating part 122 is in contact with the heat radiation fin 122a and the running wind generated when the vehicle is traveling or the air sent out by the fan provided in the vehicle, cooling is promoted by the heat radiation fin 122a. Yes.

  As described above, in the thermoelectric generator 100, the heat conducting part 121 of the heat sink 120 is heated to a high temperature by the heat source 110, and the heat radiation surface of the heat sink 120 is cooled by the cooling water 240 and the heat radiation fins 122a to be a low temperature. A temperature difference is generated between the heat receiving surface and the heat radiating surface of the thermoelectric conversion module 130 to generate electric power.

  Next, a procedure for generating power by the thermoelectric generator 100 when the temperature of the heat source 110 is high and the temperature sensor 121a indicates the danger prevention temperature will be described.

  First, when the temperature of the heat source 110 is high and the temperature sensor 121a indicates the danger prevention temperature, in the cooling system 200, the control device 230 opens the water flow path 121b on the heat conducting unit 121 side of the heat sink 120 to release the heat radiating unit 122. The heat source 110 is cooled by controlling the valve 220 so as to block the flow channel 122b on the side and flowing the cooling water 240 to the flow channel 121b disposed inside the heat conduction unit 121. As a result, the heat source 110 does not overheat.

  Here, although the heat conduction part 121 of the heat sink 120 is cooled by the cooling water 240 flowing through the flowing water channel 121b, it is at a high temperature because it receives heat from the heat source 110. It goes without saying that the temperature of the heat source 110 at this time is lower than that before the cooling water 240 flows through the flowing water channel 121b disposed inside the heat conducting unit 121. Further, the heat radiating part 122 of the heat sink 120 is not cooled by the cooling water 240 because the water flow path 122b is blocked by the valve 220, but is cooled by the cooling by the heat radiating fins 122a.

  In the thermoelectric generator 100, as described above, even when the temperature of the heat source 110 is high and the temperature sensor 121 a indicates the danger prevention temperature, the heat conducting unit 121 of the heat sink 120 is heated to a high temperature by the heat source 110. Since the heat dissipating surface of 120 is cooled by the heat dissipating fins 122a and becomes a low temperature, a temperature difference is generated between the heat receiving surface and the heat dissipating surface of the thermoelectric conversion module 130 to generate electric power.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Thermoelectric generator 110 Heat source 120 Heat sink 121 Heat conduction part 121a Temperature sensor 121b Flow channel
122 Radiation part 122a Radiation fin 122b Flow channel 130 Thermoelectric conversion module 200 Cooling system 210 Circulation channel 220 Valve 230 Controller 240 Cooling water 250 Pump 260 Cooling device

Claims (2)

A heat source that generates heat and becomes hot,
A heat sink that conducts heat of the heat source and dissipates the conducted heat;
A thermoelectric generator configured with a thermoelectric conversion module that generates electric power due to a temperature difference,
The heat sink has a structure divided into a heat conduction part that conducts heat of the heat source and a heat radiation part that radiates heat, and the heat conduction part includes a heat receiving surface of the thermoelectric conversion module, and the heat radiation part The thermoelectric generator is provided with a heat radiating surface of the thermoelectric conversion module. A circulation path provided in a part of the path with a flowing water path respectively disposed inside the heat conduction part and the heat radiation part of the heat sink;
A valve for switching the path between the water flow path on the heat conduction part side of the circulation path and the water flow path on the heat radiation part side;
A pump for circulating the cooling water flowing through the circulation path;
A cooling system comprising a cooling device for cooling the cooling water,
2. The heat of the thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, wherein the valve is controlled by a control device that switches the flow channel based on a temperature measured by a temperature sensor provided in the heat conduction unit. Cooling cooling system.

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