EP-4068400-B1 - THERMOELECTRIC POWER GENERATION USING RADIANT AND CONDUCTIVE HEAT DISSIPATION

Inventors

• STRICKLAND, Julie
• HIMMELMANN, Ashley R.
• ANDERSON, SAMUEL
• ROHRIG, JAKE

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20220307

Claims (10)

1. A thermoelectric power generation system comprising: a solar panel array (110) on a first side of a tower (135) configured to absorb solar radiation and generate electrical energy and waste heat, wherein an orientation of the tower is controlled based on a gimbal (130); a panel (120) on a second side, opposite the first side, of the tower (135), wherein the second side of the tower (135) is on a first side of the panel (120) and, based on a positioning of the thermoelectric power generation system, the panel (120) is configured to dissipate, from a second side of the panel (120), a portion (R) of the waste heat that reaches the panel (120) via radiative dissipation; a plurality of thermoelectric elements (125) of the tower interposed between the solar panel array (110) and the panel (120), the plurality of thermoelectric elements (125) being configured to convert conductive heat flow (C1) of the waste heat from the solar panel array (110) directed toward the panel (120) to electrical energy; and a conductive base (160) attached to the panel (120) at a first end to support the tower (135) and configured to conduct heat away from the panel (120) into a ground based on being positioned in the ground at a second end, opposite the first end; and a coolant channel (121) within the panel (120) that convectively transfers heat of a portion (C2) of the waste heat from the panel (120).
2. The thermoelectric power generation system according to claim 1, further comprising insulating material between the solar panel array (110) and the panel (120) around the thermoelectric elements (125).
3. The thermoelectric power generation system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gimbal (130) is configured to change a position of the tower (135) in a first dimension and in a second dimension, perpendicular to the first dimension; and/or further comprising a controller (140) to control the gimbal.
4. The thermoelectric power generation system according to any preceding claim, wherein the conductive base (160) is aluminum.
5. The thermoelectric power generation system according to any preceding claim, wherein the panel (120) is aluminum, copper, steel, a conductive polymer, or a conductive composite.
6. A method of assembling a thermoelectric power generation system, the method comprising: forming a first side of a tower with a solar panel array configured to absorb solar radiation and generate electrical energy and waste heat; forming a second side of the tower, opposite the first side, with a panel, wherein the second side of the tower is on a first side of the panel; configuring the panel to dissipate, from a second side of the panel based on a positioning of the thermoelectric power generation system, a portion of the waste heat (R) that reached the panel via radiative dissipation; disposing a plurality of thermoelectric elements between the solar panel array and the panel, the plurality of thermoelectric elements being configured to convert conductive heat flow (C1) of the waste heat from the solar panel directed toward the panel to electrical energy; and attaching a conductive base to the panel at a first end to support the tower and configuring the conductive base to be positioned in a ground at a second end, opposite the first end, to conduct heat away from the panel into the ground; and forming a coolant channel within the panel that convectively transfers a portion (C2) of the waste heat from the panel; and arranging a gimbal between the base and the tower to control an orientation of the tower.
7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising disposing insulating material between the solar panel array and the panel around the thermoelectric elements.
8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the arranging the gimbal includes configuring the gimbal to change a position of the tower in a first dimension and in a second dimension, perpendicular to the first dimension, and preferably further comprising configuring a controller to control the gimbal.
9. The method according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising configuring the conductive base to be affixed at a surface location at an edge of a permanently shadowed region at a second end of the conductive base.
10. The method according to any of claims 6-9, wherein the forming the second side of the tower with the panel includes forming the second side of the tower with an aluminum panel, copper panel, steel panel, conductive polymer panel, or conductive composite panel; and/or wherein the forming the second side of the tower with the panel includes forming the second side of the tower with the panel including a coolant channel configured for convective heat transfer from the panel or the attaching the conductive base includes attaching the conductive base including a second coolant channel configured for convective heat transfer from the conductive base.

Description

BACKGROUND Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of power generation and, in particular, to thermoelectric power generation using radiant and conductive heat dissipation. On-site power generation presents both an opportunity and a challenge in space travel. Power generation capability reduces the need to carry bulky power storage devices that add to launch costs. Yet, many types of power generation used on earth are impractical due to the extreme environment of space or are impractical due to inefficiency. US 2011/209744 relates to a solar powered generator. US 8 991 117 relates to a solar and rainwater tower. BRIEF DESCRIPTION The present invention is provided by a thermoelectric power generation system according to claim 1 and to a method of assembling a thermoelectric power generation system according to claim 6. In one embodiment, a thermoelectric power generation system includes a solar panel array on a first side of a tower configured to absorb solar radiation and generate electrical energy and waste heat, wherein an orientation of the tower is controlled based on a gimbal; a panel on a second side, opposite the first side, of the tower, wherein the second side of the tower is on a first side of the panel and, based on a positioning of the thermoelectric power generation system, the panel is configured to dissipate, from a second side of the panel, a portion (R) of the waste heat that reaches the panel via radiative dissipation;a plurality of thermoelectric elements of the tower interposed between the solar panel array and the panel, the plurality of thermoelectric elements being configured to convert conductive heat flow of the waste heat from the solar panel array directed toward the panel to electrical energy; and a conductive base attached to the panel at a first end to support the tower and configured to conduct heat away from the panel into a ground based on being positioned in the ground at a second end, opposite the first end; and a coolant channel within the panel that convectively transfers heat of a portion of the waste heat from the panel. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments, the thermoelectric power generation system also includes insulating material between the solar panel array and the panel around the thermoelectric elements. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments, the gimbal changes a position of the tower in a first dimension and in a second dimension, perpendicular to the first dimension. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments, the thermoelectric power generation system also includes a controller to control the gimbal. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments, the conductive base is aluminum. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments, the panel is aluminum, copper, steel, a conductive polymer, or a conductive composite. In another embodiment, a method of assembling a thermoelectric power generation system includes forming a first side of a tower with a solar panel array configured to absorb solar radiation and generate electrical energy and waste heat;forming a second side of the tower, opposite the first side, with a panel, wherein the second side of the tower is on a first side of the panel; configuring the panel to dissipate, from a second side of the panel based on a positioning of the thermoelectric power generation system, a portion of the waste heat that reached the panel via radiative dissipation; disposing a plurality of thermoelectric elements between the solar panel array and the panel, the plurality of thermoelectric elements being configured to convert conductive heat flow of the waste heat from the solar panel directed toward the panel to electrical energy; and attaching a conductive base to the panel at a first end to support the tower and configuring the conductive base to be positioned in a ground at a second end, opposite the first end, to conduct heat away from the panel into the ground; and forming a coolant channel within the panel that convectively transfers a portion (C2) of the waste heat from the panel; and arranging a gimbal between the base and the tower to control an orientation of the tower. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments, the method also includes disposing insulating material between the solar panel array and the panel around the thermoelectric elements. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments, the arranging the gimbal includes configuring the gimbal to change a position of the tower in a first dimension and in a second dimension, perpendicular to the first dimension. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments, the method also includes configuring a controller to control the gimbal. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments, the method also includes configuring the conductive base to be affixed at a surface location at an edge of a permanently shadowed region at a se