THERMO-ELECTRIC POWER GENERATORS

摘要

The invention relates to thermo-electric power generators and especially to such generators adapted to produce power from pipelines. In a first aspect the invention provides a thermo-electric generation having first and second junctions of dissimilar materials in a circuit and adapted to be maintained at different temperatures so as to produce a direct current due to the Seebeck effect, chopper means (3) being provided to convert the direct current to an alternating current transformer means (4) being provided to transfer the alternating current from a first to a second level and output means (6) being provided to supply an electric current from the transformer means. In a second aspect the invention provides a thermo-electric power unit adapted for use with a pipe (81)comprising a thermo-electric generator (80), a heat sink (84) and means (86) and (87) for maintaining thermal contact between the heat sink (84) and a first surface of the thermo-electric generator (80) and for maintaining thermal contact between a second surface of the thermo-electric generator (80) and the pipe (81), at least one of the surfaces of the thermo-electric generator (80) being covered with a substance to enhance the transfer of heat to and from the surface.