A small-gap device system, preferably including two or more electrodes and one or more spacers maintaining a gap between two or more of the electrodes. A spacer for a small-gap device system, preferably including a plurality of legs defining a mesh structure. A method of spacer and/or small-gap device fabrication, preferably including: defining lateral features, depositing spacer material, selectively removing spacer material, separating the spacer from a fabrication substrate, and/or assembling the small-gap device.

A thermoelectric module according to an exemplary embodiment includes a first metal substrate including a first through-hole, a first insulating layer disposed on the first metal substrate, a first electrode part disposed on the first insulating layer and including a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of P-type thermoelectric legs and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric legs disposed on the first electrode part, a second electrode part disposed on the plurality of P-type thermoelectric legs and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric legs and including a plurality of second electrodes, a second insulating layer disposed on the second electrode part, and a second metal substrate disposed on the second insulating layer and including a second through-hole, wherein the first metal substrate includes an effective region in which the first electrode part is disposed and a peripheral region formed outside the effective region, the second metal substrate includes an effective region in which the second electrode part is disposed and a peripheral region formed outside the effective region, the first through-hole occupies a portion of the effective region of the first metal substrate, the second through-hole occupies a portion of the effective region of the second metal substrate, and the first through-hole and the second through-hole are formed at positions corresponding to each other.

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus that uses a brine from a well that is used to both generate electricity and recover valuable minerals present in the brine. The method and apparatus uses a hydrophobic membrane to separate water vapor from the brine to concentrate the brine that is then used to recover the minerals.

Thermal management systems including a thermoelectric component, a two-phase heat transfer unit, and a controller are disclosed herein. The heat transfer unit has a phase-transition chamber and microfeatures in the phase-transition chamber that induce capillary forces to a working fluid that drives the working fluid through the phase-transition chamber. The controller is configured to operate the thermoelectric component and the heat transfer unit such that the heat transfer unit cools one side of the thermoelectric component to a first temperature and the thermoelectric component changes the temperature of a target material on its other side to a second temperature of +/−60° C. of the first temperature within 0.5-20 seconds.

Thermal management systems including a thermoelectric component, a two-phase heat transfer unit, and a controller are disclosed herein. The heat transfer unit has a phase-transition chamber and microfeatures in the phase-transition chamber that induce capillary forces to a working fluid that drives the working fluid through the phase-transition chamber. The controller is configured to operate the thermoelectric component and the heat transfer unit such that the heat transfer unit cools one side of the thermoelectric component to a first temperature and the thermoelectric component changes the temperature of a target material on its other side to a second temperature of +/−60° C. of the first temperature within 0.5-20 seconds.

A lighting device includes a light-emitting device, a heat sink having a hollow unit inside, a translucent cover, and a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element includes a casing unit having a housing unit, and includes a first electrode unit, a second electrode unit having a work function different from that of the first electrode unit, and a middle unit including nanoparticles having a work function between the work function of the first electrode unit and the work function of the second electrode unit, which are provided inside the housing unit. The casing unit is provided on the inner surface of the hollow unit of the heat sink.

A first generator produces a first signal that is supplied to an energy storage circuit. Energy transfer circuitry coupled to the energy storage circuit transfers energy stored in the energy storage circuit to an output node. A driver circuit coupled to the energy transfer circuitry switches the energy transfer circuitry between a state where energy from the first signal is stored in the energy storage circuit and a state where energy stored in the energy storage circuit section is delivered to the output node. A voltage at the energy storage circuit varies between an upper value and a lower value around a voltage setting point. A second generator, which is a scaled-down replica of the first generator, produces a second signal that is indicative of an open-circuit voltage of the first generator. The driver circuit uses the second signal to set the voltage setting point.

The invention refers to a lighting device, it concerns an electronic circuit, equipped with different technical devices, assembling in the same lighting device: and “e-storage” micro battery, an IOT wireless system, a mini thermoelectric generator and a photovoltaic film. This product makes it possible to replace the deteriorated and/or worn component characterized by each part is removable.

An in-contact temperature measurement probe, which can measure temperature accurately on the surface of a current carrying wire, rod, heater, or other device, while maintaining the safety of the user via employing non-electrically conductive but thermally conductive materials.

An in-contact temperature measurement probe, which can measure temperature accurately on the surface of a current carrying wire, rod, heater, or other device, while maintaining the safety of the user via employing non-electrically conductive but thermally conductive materials.