Patent Publication Number: US-2019189886-A1

Title: Power supplying device and heating system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a power supplying device and a heating system, more particularly to a power supplying device which can generate electrical power through thermoelectric conversion and a heating system which is powered by the power supplying device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In recent years, some materials are discovered that a temperature difference at either end will be produced as it is electrified, and these materials will produce electrical current when the temperature difference exists. Accordingly, these materials have thermoelectric properties and are made into a thermoelectric conversion module in products, such as insulation coasters, mini refrigerators, condensing systems of mini dehumidifiers, for adjusting temperature. Furthermore, the thermoelectric conversion module can generate electrical currents when temperature difference is created, so it is also applicable to thermal recycling to convert thermal energy into electrical energy. While converting thermal energy into electrical energy, the required amount of output voltage and current is obtained through connecting chips of the thermoelectric conversion module in series or in parallel by an electrically conductive circuit. 
     However, the thermoelectric conversion module is usually disposed in a high-temperature environment. The material of the electrically conductive circuits has lower thermal durability than that of the material of the thermoelectric conversion module, which might result in malfunctioning of the electrically conductive circuit. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the aforementioned problem, the present disclosure provides a power supplying device and a heating system that are capable of preventing an electrically conductive circuit from overheating. 
     One embodiment of the disclosure provides a power supplying device including a first base, a thermoelectric conversion module, an electrically conductive circuit and a second base. The first base has a first flow channel and a supporting surface. The thermoelectric conversion module is disposed on the supporting surface. The electrically conductive circuit is disposed on the supporting surface and electrically connected to the thermoelectric conversion module. At least a part of a projection of the first flow channel on the supporting surface overlaps the electrically conductive circuit. The second base is stacked on the thermoelectric conversion module, and the thermoelectric conversion module is located between the first base and the second base. 
     One embodiment of the disclosure provides a heating system including the aforementioned power supplying device and a heater. The heater is electrically connected to the electrically conductive circuit of the power supplying device. 
     The aforementioned summary and the following detailed description are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiment and provide a further explanations of claims of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a power supplying device in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the power supplying device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the power supplying device taken along line III-III of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a power supplying device in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a power supplying device in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a power supplying device in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a power supplying device in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure are described in the following embodiments, which enables one skilled in the art to understand and implement the technical contents of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and one skilled in the art can easily understand the objects and advantages related to the present disclosure by according to the content disclosed in the specification, claims and the drawings. The following embodiments are further details of the present disclosure, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The drawings may not be drawn to actual size or scale, some exaggerations may be necessary in order to emphasize basic structural relationships, while some are simplified for clarity of understanding, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. It is allowed to have various adjustments under the spirit of the present disclosure. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a power supplying device  1  in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 2  is a top view of the power supplying device  1  of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the power supplying device taken along line III-III of  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the power supplying device  1  includes a first base  11 , a second base  12 , a thermoelectric conversion module  13 , an electrically conductive circuit  14  and fasteners  15 . 
     The first base  11  has a first flow channel  11   a  and a supporting surface  110 . The first base  11  includes a first bottom plate  111 , a first top plate  112 , a first leak-proof member  113  and first base fasteners  114 . The first bottom plate  111  and the first top plate  112  are stacked on each other and together form the first flow channel  11   a.  The supporting surface  110  of the first base  11  is on the first top plate  112 . The supporting surface  110  of the first top plate  112  has a containing groove  110   a.  In this embodiment, a part of the containing groove  110   a  is in a ring shape surrounding the supporting surface  110 . At least a part of a projection of the first flow channel  11   a  on the supporting surface  110  overlaps the containing groove  110   a.  A material of the first bottom plate  111  and a material of the first top plate  112  may include polyimide, glass fiber, ceramic or metal, but are not restricted. The first flow channel  11   a  is configured for coolant to flow therethrough. 
     In this embodiment, a top surface of the first bottom plate  111  has a groove, and the first top plate  112  covers the groove. The first bottom plate  111  and the first top plate  112  together form the first flow channel  11   a  at the groove. The present disclosure is not limited to how the first flow channel  11   a  is formed, the first flow channel may be formed through other ways. The first leak-proof member  113  surrounds the first flow channel  11   a  and is disposed between the first bottom plate  111  and the first top plate  112  in order to prevent coolant from leaking from the first flow channel  11   a.  The first bottom plate  111  and the first top plate  112  are fixed to each other through the first base fasteners  114 . 
     The thermoelectric conversion module  13  is disposed on the supporting surface  110 . In this embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion module  13  includes a plurality of thermoelectric chips. The thermoelectric conversion module  13  has a cooling side surface  131  and a heating side surface  132 . The thermoelectric conversion module  13  is disposed on the supporting surface  110  through the cooling side surface  131  in direct contact with the supporting surface  110  of the first top plate  112 . Since the thermoelectric conversion module  13  is disposed on the supporting surface  110 , and the containing groove  110  is disposed around the periphery of the supporting surface  110 , the thermoelectric conversion module  13  is also surrounded by the containing groove  110   a.  The electrically conductive circuit  14  is disposed on the supporting surface  110  and is embedded in the containing groove  110   a.  The electrically conductive circuit  14  is electrically connected to the thermoelectric conversion module  13 , such that output voltage and output current from the power supplying device  1  are obtained through connecting the thermoelectric chips of the thermoelectric conversion module  13  in series or in parallel. At least a part of the projection of the first flow channel  11   a  on the supporting surface  110  overlaps the electrically conductive circuit  14 , and another part of the projection of the first flow channel  11   a  on the supporting surface  110  overlaps the thermoelectric conversion module  13 . When coolant flows in the first flow channel  11   a,  the part of the projection of the first flow channel  11   a  on the supporting surface  110  overlapping the electrically conductive circuit  14  is able to exchange heat with the electrically conductive circuit  14 , thereby preventing the electrically conductive circuit  14  from overheating, and the another part of the projection of the first flow channel  11   a  on the supporting surface  110  overlapping the thermoelectric conversion module  13  is also able to cool the cooling side surface  131  of the thermoelectric conversion module  13 . An equivalent resistance of a combination of the thermoelectric conversion module  13  and the electrically conductive circuit  14  may range from 12 ohms to 15 ohms. The electrically conductive circuit  14  may be printed onto a copper clad laminate or a ceramic substrate before being disposed. 
     The second base  12  is stacked on and covers the thermoelectric conversion module  13 , and may be in direct contact with the heating side surface  132  of the thermoelectric conversion module  13 . The second base  12  may be not in direct contact with the electrically conductive circuit  14 . The thermoelectric conversion module  13  is located between the first base  11  and the second base  12 . The first base  11  and the second base  12  are fixed to each other through the fasteners  15 . The first base  11  and the second base  12  are not in direct contact with each other in order to decrease heat transferred from the second base  12  to the first base  11 . A material of the second base  12  may have higher thermal durability than that of a material of the first base  11 . The material of the second base  12  may include, aluminum, copper or alloys thereof. 
     When the power supplying device  1  is in operation, the second base  12  is positioned near a heat source in order to raise the temperature of the second base  12 . Meanwhile, coolant flows through the first flow channel  11   a  of the first base  11  to cool the first base  11 . This can increase a temperature difference between the two opposite surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion module  13 , thereby increasing a power supply rate of the thermoelectric conversion module  13 . 
     Furthermore, the power supplying device  1  is able to be applied to a heating system. The heating system may include the power supplying device  1  and a heater. The heater is electrically connected to the electrically conductive circuit  14  of the power supplying device  1  to receive electrical power from the power supplying device  1 . The heater may be a heating resistor. A ratio of an equivalent resistance of the heater to an equivalent resistance of the power supplying device  1  ranges from 1 to 2.7. In addition, the equivalent resistance of the power supplying device  1  may equal to the equivalent resistance of the combination of the thermoelectric conversion module  13  and the electrically conductive circuit  14 . Therefore, the equivalent resistance of the heater may range from 12 ohms to 40.5 ohms. 
     The heating system is applicable to incinerators. When combusting objects in the incinerators, a combustion-supporting gas is usually provided for completely combusting objects. The combustion-supporting gas is, for example, oxygen or oxygen-containing gas. The state of the objects to be combusted in the incinerators is not restricted, and the objects may be in solid form, liquid form or gaseous form. A gas provided into the incinerator through an inlet thereof may include the combustion-supporting gas or the objects to be combusted. During the combustion, if a temperature of the gas being provided into the inlet is too low, a combustion reaction rate may be decreased, and it may lead to incomplete combustion. As such, a user can dispose the power supplying device  1  on the incinerator with the second base  12  facing a heat source of the incinerator and the heater disposed in the inlet of the incinerator. The power supplying device  1  is able to draw heat energy generated by the incinerator and convert it into electrical energy for the heater to generate heat energy to heat the gas in the inlet, thereby increasing the combustion reaction rate of the incinerator. 
     In one exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the equivalent resistance of the heater is approximately 15 ohms, and the equivalent resistance of the power supplying device  1  is approximately 12.05 ohms in a room temperature around 20° C. The second base  12  of the power supplying device  1  is disposed in an environment having a temperature approximately 220° C., such that a temperature of the heating side surface  132  of the thermoelectric conversion module  13  is also approximately 220° C. When a temperature difference between the heating side surface  132  of the thermoelectric conversion module  13  and the cooling side surface  131  of the thermoelectric conversion module  13  is approximately or higher than 150° C., meaning a temperature of the cooling side surface  131  of the thermoelectric conversion module  13  is approximately or lower than 70° C., then the electrical power generated by the power supplying device  1  is able to drive the heater to a temperature higher than 60° C., enabling the gas in the inlet of the incinerator to be heated to a temperature higher than 50° C. Therefore, a combustion efficiency of the incinerator is improved because of the heated gas in the inlet of the incinerator. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure that the equivalent resistance of the heater is around 26.8 ohms, and other conditions are similar to the aforementioned case. When the temperature difference between the heating side surface  132  of the thermoelectric conversion module  13  and the cooling side surface  131  of the thermoelectric conversion module  13  is approximately or higher than 150° C., the electrical power generated by the power supplying device  1  is able to drive the heater to a temperature higher than 60° C. so as to heat the gas in the inlet of the incinerator, thereby improving the combustion efficiency of the incinerator. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4 , which is a cross-sectional view of a power supplying device  2  in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the power supplying device  2  includes a first base  21 , a second base  22 , a thermoelectric conversion module  23 , an electrically conductive circuit  24  and fasteners  25 . Except that the second base  22  has a second flow channel  22   a,  the other components are similar to or the same as that of the power supplying device  1  in  FIG. 3 . 
     The second base  22  includes a second bottom plate  221 , a second top plate  222 , a second leak-proof member  223  and second base fasteners  224 . The second top plate  222  and the second bottom plate  221  are stacked on each other and together form the second flow channel  22   a.  The second bottom plate  221  is stacked on and covers the thermoelectric conversion module  23 . At least a part of a projection of the second flow channel  22   a  on a supporting surface  210  overlaps the thermoelectric conversion module  23 . The second flow channel  22   a  is configured for heating fluid to flow therethrough in order to heat a heating side surface  232  of the thermoelectric conversion module  23 . 
     In this embodiment, a top surface of the second bottom plate  221  has a groove, and the second top plate  222  covers the groove. The second bottom plate  221  and the second top plate  222  together form the second flow channel  22   a  at the groove. The present disclosure is not limited to how the second flow channel  22   a  is formed, the second flow channel may be formed through other ways. The second leak-proof member  223  surrounds a periphery of the second flow channel  22   a  and is pressed by and disposed between the second bottom plate  221  and the second top plate  222  in order to prevent fluid from leaking from the second flow channel  22   a.  The second bottom plate  221  and the second top plate  222  are fixed to each other through the second base fasteners  224 . 
     The power supplying device  2  is also able to be applied to a heating system. When the power supplying device  2  is in operation, the second base  22  does not need to be positioned close to a heat source. The heating fluid can be heated by the heat source, and then the heating fluid is channeled into the second flow channel  22   a  to heat the heating side surface  232  of the thermoelectric conversion module  23 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 , which is a cross-sectional view of a power supplying device  3  in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the power supplying device  3  includes a first base  31 , a second base  32 , a thermoelectric conversion module  33 , an electrically conductive circuit  34  and fasteners  35 . Except how a first flow channel  31   a  of the first base  31  and a second flow channel  32   a  of the second base  32  are formed, the other components are similar to or the same as that of the power supplying device  2  in  FIG. 4 . 
     In this embodiment, a top surface of a first bottom plate  311  and a bottom surface of a first top plate  312  have a groove, respectively, and when the first top plate  312  covers the first bottom plate  311 , these grooves are aligned with each other to form the first flow channel  31   a.  The present disclosure is not limited to how the first flow channel  31   a  is formed, the first flow channel may be formed through other ways. A first leak-proof member  313  is pressed by and disposed between the first bottom plate  311  and the first top plate  312  and surrounds a periphery of the first flow channel  31   a.  The first bottom plate  311  and the first top plate  312  are fixed to each other through first base fasteners  314 . 
     Furthermore, a top surface of a second bottom plate  321  and a bottom surface of a second top plate  322  both have a groove, and when the second top plate  322  covers the second bottom plate  321 , these grooves are aligned with each other to form the second flow channel  32   a.  The present disclosure is not limited to how the second flow channel  32   a  is formed, the second flow channel may be formed through other ways. A second leak-proof member  323  is pressed by and disposed between the second bottom plate  321  and the second top plate  322  and surrounds a periphery of the second flow channel  32   a.  The second bottom plate  321  and the second top plate  322  are fixed to each other through second base fasteners  324 . 
     The power supplying device  3  is also applicable to a heating system. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6 , which is a cross-sectional view of a power supplying device  4  in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the power supplying device  4  includes a first base  41 , a second base  42 , a thermoelectric conversion module  43 , an electrically conductive circuit  44  and fasteners  45 . Except how a first flow channel  41   a  of the first base  41  and a second flow channel  42   a  of the second base  42  are formed, the other components are similar to or the same as that of the power supplying device  2  in  FIG. 4 . 
     In this embodiment, a bottom surface of a first top plate  412  has a groove, and when the first top plate  412  covers a first bottom plate  411 , the first bottom plate  411  and the first top plate  412  together form the first flow channel  41   a  at the groove. The present disclosure is not limited to how the first flow channel  41   a  is formed, the first flow channel may be formed through other ways. A first leak-proof member  413  is pressed by and disposed between the first bottom plate  411  and the first top plate  412  and surrounds the first flow channel  41   a.  The first bottom plate  411  and the first top plate  412  are fixed to each other through first base fasteners  414 . 
     Furthermore, a bottom surface of a second top plate  422  has a groove, and when the second top plate  422  covers a second bottom plate  421 , the second bottom plate  421  and the second top plate  422  together form the second flow channel  42   a  at the groove. The present disclosure is not limited to how the second flow channel  42   a  is formed, the second flow channel may be formed through other ways. A second leak-proof member  423  is pressed by and disposed between the second bottom plate  421  and the second top plate  422  and surrounds a periphery of the second flow channel  42   a.  The second bottom plate  421  and the second top plate  422  are fixed to each other through second base fasteners  424 . 
     The power supplying device  4  is also applicable to a heating system. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7 , which is a cross-sectional view of a power supplying device  5  in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the power supplying device  5  includes a first base  51 , a second base  52 , a thermoelectric conversion module  53 , an electrically conductive circuit  54  and fasteners  55 . Except how a first flow channel  51   a  of the first base  51  and a second flow channel  52   a  of the second base  52  are formed, the other components are similar to or the same as that of the power supplying device  2  in  FIG. 4 . 
     In this embodiment, the first base  51  is an inseparable object formed by molding or welding, and the first flow channel  51   a  is formed in the first base  51  at the time when the first base  51  is formed. The present disclosure is not limited to how the first flow channel  51   a  is formed, the first flow channel may be formed through other ways. The second base  52  is also an inseparable object formed by molding or welding, and the second flow channel  52   a  is formed in the second base  52  at the time when the second base  52  is formed. The present disclosure is not limited to how the second flow channel  52   a  is formed, the second flow channel may be formed through other ways. 
     The power supplying device  5  is also applicable to a heating system. 
     Furthermore, the disclosure is not restricted to the combination of the aforementioned first bases  11 ,  21 ,  31 ,  41 ,  51  and the second bases  12 ,  22 ,  32 ,  42 ,  52 , any one of the first bases is able to be adapted to any one of the second bases. 
     Accordingly, in the power supplying device and the heating system in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the part of the projection of the first flow channel on the supporting surface overlapping the electrically conductive circuit cools the electrically conductive circuit by coolant flowing through the first flow channel, thereby preventing the electrically conductive circuit from overheating. Furthermore, electrical power generated by the power supplying device can be used to drive the heater of the heating system, such that the heater is able to heat the gas in the inlet of the incinerator, thereby increasing the combustion reaction rate of the incinerator. 
     The disclosure is described by the foregoing embodiments, but these embodiments are not intended to limit the disclosure. Changes and modifications without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure all fall within the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is defined by the following claims and their equivalents. 
     SYMBOL DESCRIPTION 
       
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 1    2    3    4    5 
                 power supplying device 
               
               
                   
                 11    21    31    41    51 
                 first base 
               
               
                   
                 11a    31a    41a    51a 
                 first flow channel 
               
               
                   
                 110    210 
                 supporting surface 
               
               
                   
                 110a 
                 containing groove 
               
               
                   
                 111    311    411 
                 first bottom plate 
               
               
                   
                 112    312    412 
                 first top plate 
               
               
                   
                 113    313    413 
                 first leak-proof member 
               
               
                   
                 114    314    414 
                 first base fastener 
               
               
                   
                 12    22    32    42    52 
                 second base 
               
               
                   
                 13    23    33    43    53 
                 thermoelectric conversion module 
               
               
                   
                 131 
                 cooling side surface 
               
               
                   
                 132    232 
                 heating side surface 
               
               
                   
                 14    24    34    44    54 
                 electrically conductive circuit 
               
               
                   
                 15    25    35    45    55 
                 fastener 
               
               
                   
                 22a    32a    42a    52a 
                 second flow channel 
               
               
                   
                 221    321    421 
                 second bottom plate 
               
               
                   
                 222    322    422 
                 second top plate 
               
               
                   
                 223    323    423 
                 second leak-proof member 
               
               
                   
                 224    324    424 
                 second base fastener