JPS6059982A - Themoelectric converter for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save fuel by arranging a heat contactor of a thermoelectric converter on a heat generating portion and exhaust gas discharge portion of an engine, and using electric energy generated due to temperature difference as a power source for a vehicle. CONSTITUTION:Heat receivers 9, 10 of thermoelectric converter are arranged in close contact with the outside surface of a cylinder 7 and the outside surface of an exhaust gas discharge cylinder 8 of an engine for a vehicle. The thermoelectric converter absorbs combustion heat generated form the engine by a metal heat receiving plate 11, dissipated from a metal heat sink plate 12 to produce temperature difference between both to form to glow a current through a load 15 from an N type thermoelectric element 13 and a P type thermoelectric element 14 mounted therebetween. Accordingly, the power source of illumination lamps of the vehicle can be auxiliarily obtained by utilizing the waste heat of the engine, thereby saving fuel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a means for obtaining an auxiliary power source for lighting, etc. in an automobile, and is capable of efficiently utilizing energy by utilizing engine waste heat and contributing to fuel savings. The present invention provides a thermoelectric conversion device.

The heat generated by combustion in a car engine is approximately 1000'C in the engine section, and several 100'C at the exhaust gas outlet.
The temperature will be ℃. Conventionally, this amount of heat has been cooled with a cooler or released directly into the atmosphere as exhaust gas, which is extremely wasteful from the point of view of energy conservation.

So, the main F! A is intended to obtain an auxiliary power source by effectively utilizing the waste heat, and will be described below with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the engine section. In the figure, 1 is a piston, and when the piston 1 is lowered, the intake valve 2 opens, and a mixture of fuel and air flows into the cylinder 4 from the intake passage 3.

When the piston 1 passes through the bottom dead center, it rises again, is ignited just before the top dead center, and when the piston 1 passes through the top dead center, it is lowered by the spiral force of combustion.

Due to the elliptical force, the piston 1 begins to rise again after passing the bottom dead center. At this point, the exhaust valve 6 opens and exhaust gas flows out into the exhaust passage 6 as the piston 1 moves up.

During the above process, the fuel f! ! Heat generation occurs due to I-burning.

This heat mainly increases the temperature of the cylinder tube 7 and the exhaust gas exhaust tube 8, and is transmitted to the outside.

Therefore, the heat receiving parts 9 and 1o of the thermoelectric conversion element are provided in close contact with the outer surface of the cylinder tube 7 and the outer surface of the exhaust pipe 8, and the heat radiation part of the thermoelectric conversion element is arranged at the rear of the cooling fan. This enables efficient thermoelectric conversion.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the principle of a thermoelectric conversion element. This utilizes the Seebe effect, in which thermoelectromotive force is generated when one of the junctions of two metals is heated to create a temperature difference between the two junctions. In FIG. 2, when the combustion heat generated by the engine is absorbed by the metal heat receiving plate 11 and the heat is radiated by the metal heat sink plate 12, an N-type thermoelectric element (semiconductor) 13 and a P-type thermoelectric element (semiconductor) )
A temperature difference occurs between each end of 14.

Now, the temperature of the heat receiving plate 11 is TH, and the temperature of the heat sink 12 is TL.
Then, (TH-T
L) temperature difference occurs.

This temperature difference (TH-Tt, ) generates a thermoelectromotive force in the thermoelectric elements 13 and 14, and current flows from the P-type thermoelectric element 14 to the N-type thermoelectric element 13 through the load 15.

The maximum value ηmax of thermoelectric conversion efficiency η is, however, M: Figure of merit indicating the performance of the thermoelectric element. However, a! p, αy1: thermoelectric power, ρp, ρn: resistivity.

Therefore, in order to improve efficiency, the temperature difference (TH-Tt
), it is necessary to use a thermoelectric element with large thermoelectric power and low resistivity and thermal conductivity.Currently, Zn5b
Thermoelectric elements such as , G4Se, and Ag5eTe 2 are used.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the electrical circuit of the present device. The heat receiving plate 11 is attached to a portion 9 on the outside of the cylinder pipe 7 and a portion 1o on the outside of the exhaust pipe 8 in FIG. An electromotive force is generated between the thermoelectric elements 13 and 14 due to the temperature difference. This electromotive force is smoothed and boosted to a necessary voltage by the conversion circuit 16. The power at the required voltage is supplied to the lamp lighting and to the loads 17 of each electrical equipment.

When there is excess power, the battery 18 is charged. If there is a shortage, the battery 18 supplies the shortage to the load 17.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the engine is often loaded to obtain power by utilizing the waste heat of the engine, fuel can be saved, and it is possible to save fuel compared to the conventional method. alternator is unnecessary or can be made smaller.
It is lightweight and space-saving, and since there are no moving parts, it can be used semi-permanently and has great effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the main parts of a thermoelectric conversion device for an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a principle diagram of a thermoelectric conversion element used in the device, and Fig. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of the device. . 4---Cylinder, 6...Discharge path, 7...
... Cylinder pipe, 8 ... Exhaust pipe, 9, 10...
...Heat receiving part of thermoelectric conversion element.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A thermal contact part of a thermoelectric conversion element is arranged in the heat generating part and the exhaust gas discharge part of an automobile engine, and the temperature difference caused by combustion in the engine is converted into electrical energy by the thermoelectric conversion element and the conversion circuit, and the electricity is generated. A thermoelectric conversion device for automobiles characterized by using energy as a power source for automobiles.