An apparatus and method powered by compressed fluid, which preferably provides both air conditioning and power generation. The apparatus includes a fluid conduit of substantially elongate form (51), a helical accelerator (80), a substantially elongate distributor body (53) associated with said accelerator (80), wherein at least part of said distributor body (53) is positioned substantially coplanar to said fluid conduit (51), and a TEG device (55), positioned intermediate said fluid conduit (51) and said distributor body (53). In use, a compressed fluid (70) is supplied to an inlet (60) of said helical accelerator (80). The accelerator (80) causes the fluid (70) to form a vortex inside said distributor body (53) and thereby produce a hot fluid stream (71) and a cold fluid stream (72). The hot fluid stream (71) is directed to flow adjacent to a wall of said distributor (53) to thereby heat said distributor wall. The cold fluid stream (72) is at least partly directed to flow via said accelerator (80) to cool said fluid conduit (51), and, to cool a surrounding environment. A temperature differential is thereby created between said distributor wall and said conduit (51), to generate power in the TEG device (55).

An air duct system comprising an air duct having a main body, a visible light source, and one or more photovoltaic devices. The main body of the air duct defines a passageway having a reflective inner surface. The visible light source is configured to generate visible light, where the visible light source directs the visible light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct. The one or more photovoltaic devices are disposed along the reflective inner surface of the air duct, where a portion of the visible light generated by the visible light source is converted into electrical power by the one or more photovoltaic devices.

A thermoelectric generator system including: a first surface having a first material configured to undergo a phase change at a first temperature; an actuator configured to retract the first material from contacting a heat source upon the heat source reaching a predetermined temperature higher than the first temperature; and a thermoelectric generator having a hot side and a cold side, the first material being on the hot side. The thermoelectric generator system can further include a second material configured to undergo a phase change at a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, the second material being on the cold side of the thermoelectric generator.

Electronic assemblies for thermoelectric generation are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic assembly includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, and a conductive plane and a plurality of thermal guide traces position on the first surface of the substrate. The conductive plane includes a plurality of arms radially extending from a central region. The plurality of thermal guide traces surrounds the conductive plane, and is shaped and positioned to guide heat flux present on or within the substrate toward the central region of the conductive plane. The electronic assembly may also include a thermoelectric generator device thermally coupled to the central region of the conductive plane, and a plurality of heat generating devices coupled to the second surface of the substrate.

A heat conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a plurality of P-type thermoelectric legs and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric legs which are electrically connected and arranged in an array; an insulating part disposed on one surface of the plurality of P-type thermoelectric legs and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric legs; a heat sink disposed on the insulating part; a fan disposed spaced a predetermined distance from the heat sink; and a plurality of fastening members having moduli of elasticity of 1*10.sup.3 kgf/cm.sup.2 to 30*10.sup.3 kgf/cm.sup.2 and fixing the heat sink and the fan. Each one of the fastening members comprises: a shaft part; a first fixed part which is disposed at one end of the shaft part and fixed to the heat sink; a second fixed part which protrudes from an outer circumferential surface of the shaft part and is fixed to the fan; and a separating part which protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the shaft part and is disposed between the heat sink and the fan to separate the heat sink and the fan, wherein the width of the second fixed part increases toward the first fixed part, and the shaft part, the first fixed part, the second fixed part, and the separating part are integrally formed.

A system on an integrated circuit (IC) chip includes an input terminal and a return terminal. A heater coupled between the input terminal and the return terminal. A thermopile is spaced apart from the heater by a galvanic isolation region. A switch device includes a control input coupled to an output of the thermopile. The switch device is coupled to at least one output terminal of the IC chip.

A fast-rate thermoelectric device control system includes a fast-rate thermoelectric device, a sensor, and a controller. The fast-rate thermoelectric device includes a thermoelectric actuator array disposed on a wafer, and the thermoelectric actuator array includes a thin-film thermoelectric (TFTE) actuator that generates a heating and/or a cooling effect in response to an electrical current. The sensor is configured to measure a temperature associated with the heating or cooling effect and output a feedback signal indicative of the measured temperature. The controller is in communication with the fast-rate thermoelectric device and the sensor, and is configured to control the electrical current based on the feedback signal.

Thermoelectric devices (TE) devices may be used to power wearable electronics, such as watches and sensors by harvesting heat from the body. These TE devices may fully power or partially power the wearable devices to extend a usage time, or to recharge a battery. In other example embodiments, TE devices can be used to provide heating and/or cooling. The TE devices can be integrated into garments such as clothes, vests, and armbands for outdoor and indoor environments. For outdoor environments, applications include, but are not limited to, sports such as golfing, bicycling, running, walking, training, soccer, hiking, and other outdoor activities related to occupations, such as construction, fire-fighting, military operations, law enforcement, farming, underground mining, and so on. In other example embodiments, TE devices can be used to provide thermal camouflaging for people and objects so as to not be seen by thermal imaging devices.

Embodiments relate to an apparatus including a transport medium, a first surface, and a second surface. The transport medium includes a nanoparticle suspended in a dielectric, and has a first side and a second side. The first side opposes the second side. The nanoparticle includes a conductive metal at least partially covered by a monolayer film that is less conductive than the conductive metal. The first surface is disposed at the first side of the transport medium and has a first work function. The second surface is disposed at the second side of the transport medium and has a second work function. The first work function is lower than the second work function. In embodiments, the apparatus is configured to power a load coupled to the apparatus.

An LED lighting fixture powered by a Metal-Organic Framework heat battery. The heat battery is formed of a canister, a MOF container comprised of a plurality of MOF tunnels, each MOF tunnel containing a powdered MOF material, a gate, and a plurality of thermoelectric devices.

Below a certain adsorption activation temperature, the MOF material adsorbs a gas from the atmosphere. Above a certain desorption activation temperature, the MOF desorbs the gas. The heat from the adsorption is used to generate electrical current. The desorbed gas is captured to remove it from the atmosphere.