Solid state energy converter

Details Solid state energy converter Solid state energy converter

2006-09-13

2009-08-04

Noguerola, Alex (Department: 1795)

Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric

Thermoelectric

Electric power generator

C136S201000, C136S211000, C136S212000, C136S236100, C136S238000, C136S239000, C136S240000, C257S467000, C257S470000, C257S471000, C310S306000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07569763

ABSTRACT:
A solid-state energy converter with a semiconductor or semiconductor-metal implementation is provided for conversion of thermal energy to electric energy, or electric energy to refrigeration. In n-type heat-to-electricity embodiments, a highly doped n* emitter region made of a metal or semiconductor injects carriers into an n-type gap region. A p-type layer is positioned between the emitter region and gap region, allowing for discontinuity of corresponding Fermi-levels and forming a potential barrier to sort electrons by energy. Additional p-type layers can optionally be formed on the collector side of the converter. One type of these layers with higher carrier concentration (p*) serves as a blocking layer at the cold side of the converter, and another layer (p**) with carrier concentration close to the gap reduces a thermoelectric back flow component. Ohmic contacts on both sides of the device close the electrical circuit through an external load to convert heat to electricity. In the case of a refrigerator, the external load is substituted by an external power supply.

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