Patent ID: 9000651
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: B60Y,H01L,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for converting heat to electric energy, comprising: thermally cycling one or more layers of an electrically polarizable material between a first temperature T wherein a DC poling voltage is applied to the electrically polarizable material such that, when the electrically polarizable material is in a first portion of the cycle which includes the temperature T wherein the first and second electrodes are connected to a load such that electrical energy is output from the first and second electrodes to the load when the electrically polarizable material is in a second portion of the cycle which includes the temperature T wherein, when T wherein adding thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material comprises: extracting thermal energy from a combustion reaction and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; generating thermal energy from solar energy and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; extracting thermal energy from a nuclear reaction and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; extracting thermal energy from ocean water and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; extracting thermal energy from the earth and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or recovering thermally energy from an industrial process and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material.