Patent ID: 8519254
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: F28D,H01L

Abstract:
1. A mobile device for generating electrical power, comprising: a combustion chamber; a heat sink; a thermal-to-electric conversion (TEC) module in thermal communication with the combustion chamber and the heat sink to transfer thermal energy from the combustion chamber to the heat sink, wherein a heat flux across the TEC module causes electrical power to be generated; a first housing portion enclosing the combustion chamber, the heat sink and the TEC module; a fuel supply; a fuel delivery system to feed fuel into the combustion chamber; a control system to at least monitor and control delivery of fuel to the combustion chamber by the fuel delivery system and to control a temperature gradient across the TEC module to control the electrical power produced by the TEC module, wherein the control system comprises a control unit; a second housing portion comprising an elongated body extending from one side of the first housing portion, the second housing portion enclosing the fuel delivery system at one end of the elongated body proximate to the first housing portion, the control unit at an opposite end of the elongated body from the fuel delivery system and the fuel supply disposed between the fuel delivery system and the control unit; and a layer of insulation at an end of the first housing between the combustion chamber and the second housing, wherein the fuel supply is a magnesium wire fuel supply, and wherein the fuel delivery system comprises a magnesium wire feed system to feed the magnesium wire into the combustion chamber, wherein the control system adjusts a feed rate of the magnesium wire to maintain a substantially constant temperature gradient across the TEC module to provide a substantially uniform power output.