Patent ID: 8829326

Claim:
A method of monitoring a property of a fluid transportation system, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one thermoelectric power generation assembly adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a fluid transportation system, the thermoelectric power generation assembly comprising at least one thermodynamic device comprising: a mounting element comprising a first surface adapted to conform to at least a portion of an outer surface of the fluid transportation system, the first surface comprising grooves adapted to provide airflow through the device; at least one thermoelectric module coupled to the mounting element; and a heat exchanging element comprising a mounting block, wherein the heat exchanging element is adapted to exchange heat between the thermoelectric device and surrounding atmosphere, the heat exchanging element comprising at least one elongate element extending from the mounting block at a shallow angle from horizontal, the elongate element comprising a plurality of fins extending therefrom; releasably mounting the thermoelectric power generation assembly to the outer surface of a fluid transportation system; and releasably coupling at least one electrical device to the thermoelectric power generation assembly, wherein (i) the electrical device is adapted to monitor a property of the fluid transportation, and (ii) the at least one electrical device is powered by the at least one thermoelectric power generation assembly in response to a temperature difference between an outer surface of the fluid transportation system and a surrounding atmosphere.