HEAT-PIPE ELECTRIC-POWER GENERATING DEVICE

Abstract

A heat-pipe electric-power generating device capable of converting thermal energy to electrical energy is provided. The device includes a heat pipe and the heat pipe has a sealed internal space that can produce a steam-flow from an evaporating end to a condensing end according to a pressure difference caused by a temperature difference between the ends. A steam-flow electric-power generating device has at least a rotating portion disposed in the internal space for generating electric power when driven by a steam-flow. An electrode structure is used for leading the electric power out. The heat pipe is maintained in a sealed condition. In addition, several heat-pipe electric-power generating devices can be arranged into an array to form a heat electric-power generator or disposed inside an apparatus with a heat source for recycling the conventional waste thermal energy into useful electrical energy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional heat pipe.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a conventional electric generator.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cut-out section of a heat-pipe electric-power generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure corresponding to the heat-pipe electric-power generating device in FIG. 3 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heat-pipe electric-power generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the conventional cyclic electrical power generating mechanism corresponding to the heat-pipe electric-power generating device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the conventional thermal work diagram corresponding to the heat-pipe electric-power generating device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of heat electric-power generating unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heat electric-power generator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a top view of the heat electric-power generator shown in FIG. 9A.

FIGS. 10-11 are cross-sectional views, schematically illustrating other embodiments, according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing, illustrating another mechanism to generate the electric power.

FIGS. 13-14 are cross-sectional views, schematically illustrating other embodiments, according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view, illustrating the structure of the FIG. 14 in another cross-section.

Claims

1. A heat-pipe electric-power generating device, suitable for converting heat energy or heat source energy into electrical energy, comprising: a heat pipe, wherein the heat pipe has a sealed interior space capable of producing a steam flow from an evaporating end to a condensing end through a pressure difference between the ends of the heat pipe;a steam-flow electric-power generating device, wherein at least a rotating portion is located within the interior space of the heat pipe for generating electric power through a force produced by the steam flow; andan electrode structure, coupled to the steam-flow electric-power generating device for leading the electric power out.

2. The heat-pipe electric-power generating device of claim 1, wherein the steam-flow electric-power generating device is a micro-turbine steam-powered generator or a vibrating-type steam-powered generator.

3. The heat-pipe electric-power generating device of claim 1, wherein the electrode structure is a metal thermal sintering structure comprising at least a pair of electrodes that penetrate through a pipe wall of the heat pipe and electrically connect to the steam-flow electric-power generating device.

4. The heat-pipe electric-power generating device of claim 1, wherein the steam-flow electric-power generating device comprises a winding and a magnetic element capable of producing a magnetic field such that an electric power source is produced when the winding and the magnet element relatively rotate to produce varying magnetic flux to the winding.

5. The heat-pipe electric-power generating device of claim 1, wherein the pipe wall further comprises: an outer wall, of which the evaporating end is in direct contact with an external heat source; andan inner wall for returning a liquid condensed at the condensing end to the evaporating end so that the liquid is vaporized again to generate the steam flow.

6. The heat-pipe electric-power generating device of claim 5, wherein the outer wall of the heat pipe is one continuous sealed casing.

7. The heat-pipe electric-power generating device of claim 5, wherein the outer wall of the heat pipe comprises a first end wall, a second end wall and a connecting wall such that the connecting wall supports the steam-flow electric-power generating device and connects with the first wall and the second wall, and the electrode structure comprises a thermal sintering electrode structure which penetrates through the connecting wall and electrically connects to the steam-flow electric-power generating device; or a terminal structure connected to the winding outside the outer wall.

8. The heat-pipe electric-power generating device of claim 1, wherein the evaporating end of the heat pipe further comprises a light-to-heat converter for converting light energy into the heat energy of a heat source.

9. A heat electric-power generator, comprising: an accommodating unit having a heat source reception surface with a plurality of accommodating slots distributed thereon to form an array; anda plurality of heat-pipe electric-power generating devices according to claim 1 disposed within the accommodating slots.

10. The heat electric-power generator of claim 9, further comprising an electric power collector for combining the electric power produced by each of the heat-pipe electric-power generating devices and outputting the total power.

11. The heat electric-power generator of claim 9, wherein the steam-flow electric-power generating device of each heat-pipe electric-power generating device is a micro-turbine steam-powered generator or a vibrating-type steam-powered generator.

12. The heat electric-power generator of claim 9, wherein the electrode structure of the steam-flow electric-power generating device is a metal thermal sintering structure comprising at least a pair of electrodes that penetrate through a pipe wall of the heat pipe and electrically connect to the steam-flow electric-power generating device.

13. The heat electric-power generator of claim 9, wherein the steam-flow electric-power generating device comprises a winding and a magnetic element capable of producing a magnetic field such that an electric power source is produced when the winding and the magnet element relatively rotate to produce varying magnetic flux to the winding.

14. The heat electric-power generator of claim 9, wherein the pipe wall comprises: an outer wall, of which the evaporating end is in direct contact with an external heat source; andan inner wall for returning a liquid condensed at the condensing end to the evaporating end so that the liquid is vaporized again to generate the steam flow.

15. The heat electric-power generator of claim 14, wherein the outer wall of the pipe wall is one continuous sealed casing.

16. The heat electric-power generator of claim 14, wherein the outer wall of the heat pipe comprises a first end wall, a second end wall and a connecting wall such that the connecting wall supports the steam-flow electric-power generating device and connects with the first wall and the second wall, and the electrode structure comprises a thermal sintering electrode structure which penetrates through the connecting wall and electrically connects to the steam-flow electric-power generating device; or a terminal structure connected to the winding outside the outer wall.

17. The heat electric-power generator of claim 9, wherein the evaporating end of the heat pipe further comprises a light-to-heat converter for converting light energy into the heat energy of a heat source.

18. An apparatus with heat energy (source) recycling capability, comprising: a main unit for executing a prescribed function, wherein the main unit generates a waste heat source; andat least one of the heat-pipe electric-power generating device in claim 1 for converting the heat energy of the waste heat source into recycled electrical energy.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the steam-flow electric-power generating device of the heat-pipe electric-power generating device is a turbine steam-powered generator.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the thermal sintering electrode structure of the steam-flow electric-power generating device is a metal thermal sintering structure comprising at least a pair of electrodes that penetrate through a pipe wall of the heat pipe and electrically connect to the steam-flow electric-power generating device.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the pipe wall comprises: an outer wall, of which the evaporating end is in direct or indirect contact with the waste heat source; andan inner wall for returning a liquid condensed at the condensing end to the evaporating end so that the liquid is vaporized again to generate the steam flow.