Patent ID: 7957708

Claim:
A field device system comprising: a field device having a field-hardened enclosure, the field device including; a wireless communications module disposed within the field-hardened enclosure and configured to wirelessly communicate process-related information with another device; a controller disposed within the field-hardened enclosure, the controller being coupled to the wireless communication module; memory disposed within the field-hardened enclosure and coupled to the controller; a temperature sensor operably coupled to the controller of the field device; a thermowell configured to couple to a process fluid, the thermowell containing the temperature sensor; an energy conversion module coupled to the wireless communications module and the controller of the field device, the energy conversion module having a semiconductor thermoelectric generator configured to couple to a process fluid, and to convert thermal potential energy in the process fluid into electricity to power circuitry within the field device, the thermoelectric generator having a hot side and a cold side, the hot side configured to thermally couple to the process fluid; and a heat conducting member disposed at least partially within the thermowell and configured to convey heat away from the process fluid, the heat conducting member having a first end and a second end, the first end thermally coupled to the thermoelectric generator cold side and the second end thermally coupled to at least one cooling fin.