A thermoelectric generator includes a heat-receiving plate having a heat-receiving surface for receiving flame and high-temperature combustion gas, a thermoelectric generation module disposed at a surface of the heat-receiving plate opposite the heat-receiving surface, a cooling plate disposed at a side of the thermoelectric generation module opposite the heat-receiving plate, a cover disposed to cover the heat-receiving surface and including a heat inlet for introducing the flame and the high-temperature combustion gas and a heat outlet for discharging the temperature-reduced combustion gas introduced through the heat inlet, a heat diffuser provided on the heat-receiving surface at a position corresponding to the heat inlet and configured to diffuse the combustion gas introduced through the heat inlet along the heat-receiving surface, and a heat absorber provided on the heat-receiving surface to surround the heat diffuser and configured to absorb the heat of the high-temperature combustion gas diffused by the heat diffuser.

A device including a liquid's flow path having an upstream side and a downstream side, a plurality of flow restrictive elements providing material communication between the upstream side to the downstream side, a thermoelectric generator or a thermophotovoltaic cell in thermal connection with a portion of the device located at the downstream side with respect to the plurality of flow restrictive elements. The portion is provided with roughness elements for, in use, contacting a fluid flowing through the device and facilitating collapse of cavitation bubbles.

A thermoelectric watch includes a thermoelectric generator; a voltage booster connected to the thermoelectric generator, and an energy management circuit connected to the voltage booster and configured to control the charging of at least one energy storage element. The energy management circuit includes an output configured to change from a first logic state to a second logic state when the thermoelectric generator starts generating electrical energy, and to change from the second logic state to the first logic state when the thermoelectric generator finishes generating electrical energy.

A system for adjusting properties of a seat for a vehicle, may include thermoelement modules configured to have a structure in which a plurality of flexible thermoelements is connected by conductive wires to each other, and mounted in a seat foam pad of the seat; a property adjustment region input unit configured to select a property adjustment region of the seat foam pad; a property adjustment amount input unit configured to input a target property adjustment amount of the seat foam pad; and a controller connected to the thermoelement modules, the property adjustment region input unit and the property adjustment amount input unit, and configured to control an amount of current supplied to some or all of the flexible thermoelements according to output signals from the property adjustment region input unit and the property adjustment amount input unit.

A thermoelectric device and method of use thereof are provided for cooling and powering a laser device. The thermoelectric device comprises a first side, a second side, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements disposed therebetween. The thermoelectric device engages a photodiode array of the laser device, such that when heat is generated by the photodiode array, the thermoelectric device passively cools the photodiode array by receiving the heat and converts the heat generated to electricity to power the laser device.

A system, a thermoelectric generator, and a method for generating electricity are provided. The system includes a thermoelectric generator, a cooling system, and a heating system. The cooling system includes a cold side module configured to hold a predetermined volume of air, a subterranean heat exchanger including an underground conduit, the underground conduit having a first end configured to receive ambient air and a second end coupled to the inlet of the cold side module, and an air exhaust coupled to the outlet of the cold side module and having one or more valves configured to control an airflow from the subterranean heat exchanger towards the air exhaust. The heating system includes a first solar concentrator to collect light rays, a hot side module, and a fiber optic cable to transport the collected light rays to the hot side module.

A system, a thermoelectric generator, and a method for generating electricity are provided. The system includes a thermoelectric generator, a cooling system, and a heating system. The cooling system includes a cold side module configured to hold a predetermined volume of air, a subterranean heat exchanger including an underground conduit, the underground conduit having a first end configured to receive ambient air and a second end coupled to the inlet of the cold side module, and an air exhaust coupled to the outlet of the cold side module and having one or more valves configured to control an airflow from the subterranean heat exchanger towards the air exhaust. The heating system includes a first solar concentrator to collect light rays, a hot side module, and a fiber optic cable to transport the collected light rays to the hot side module.

A device that includes a region comprising a heat generating device, and an energy harvesting device coupled to the region comprising the heat generating device. The energy harvesting device includes a first thermal conductive layer, a thermoelectric generator (TEG) coupled to the first thermal conductive layer, and a second thermal conductive layer coupled the thermoelectric generator (TEG) such that the thermoelectric generator (TEG) is between the first thermal conductive layer and the second thermal conductive layer. In some implementations, the energy harvesting device includes an insulation layer.

The present disclosure is directed to materials, devices, and methods for resonant ambient thermal energy harvesting. Thermal energy can be harvested using thermoelectric resonators that capture and store ambient thermal fluctuations and convert the fluctuations to energy. The resonators can include non-linear heat transfer elements, such as thermal diodes, to enhance their performance. Incorporation of thermal diodes can allow for a dynamic rectification of temperature fluctuations into a single polarity temperature difference across a heat engine for power extraction, as compared to the dual polarity nature of the output voltage of linear thermal resonators, which typically necessitates electrical rectification to be routed to an entity for energy storage. In some embodiments, the thermal diode can be applied to transient energy harvesting to construct thermal diode bridges. Methods for constructing such devices, and using such devices, are also provided.

The present invention relates to a cooling arrangement, which comprises an insulation module (1) surrounding the insulated object (7) for its main part and formed by an internal layer (8), an external layer (3) and insulation material (9) located between them. The external layer of the insulation module is adapted to be surrounded by a protective enclosure (2) in a way that at least one air gap (4) is provided between the external layer and the protective enclosure. The insulation module has at least one exchange aperture (10) penetrating it at least in part with the first cooling element (12) adapted to it. The second cooling element (12) opposite to the first cooling element is, in turn, adapted to the external air gap (4) in a way that at least one thermoelectric generator (13) is arranged between them. The protective enclosure surrounding the insulation module is provided with a venting aperture (15) penetrating it, and a fan (5) utilizing the electric power produced by the thermoelectric generator (13) is adapted to it for increasing the efficiency of the airflow in the air gap.