Abstract: A flexible infrared irradiation and temperature sensor is provided. The sensor includes a substantially cubic deformable rubber substrate and a conductive layer embedded in the rubber substrate, wherein the conductive layer comprises a middle portion comprising a composite film of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc); and one or more exterior portions comprising carbon nanotubes, wherein the one or more exterior portions do not include NiPc.

Abstract: A solar thermoelectric power generation system includes roofing products such as shingles with solar heat reflective areas and roofing products with solar heat absorptive areas. Thermoelectric power generating elements are provided in thermal contact with the solar heat reflective areas and the solar heat absorptive areas.

Abstract: An improved Pirani sensor uses a measuring element disposed within a fluid between a base plate and a cover. The measuring element is held by suspension members that are connected to the base plate. A heating element is thermally conductively connected to the suspension members. Using the sensor the characteristic of the fluid is determined by evaluating the heat transfer from the thermal element through the fluid into the cover when heating power is applied to measuring element. Parasitic conductive heat loss from the measuring element into the suspension members is compensated by applying power to the heating element.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for thermal-to-electric conversion involving relatively hot and cold juxtaposed surfaces separated by a small vacuum gap wherein the cold surface provides an array of single charge carrier converter elements along the surface and the hot surface transfers excitation energy to the opposing cold surface across the gap through Coulomb electrostatic coupling interaction.

Abstract: A packaged thermoelectric conversion module that does not need a pressing mechanism for reducing a thermal contact resistance or an application of a thermal-conductive grease between a heat source of a thermoelectric conversion module sealed in an airtight container, wherein an interior of an airtight container 13 containing a thermoelectric conversion module 5 is decompressed or evacuated, wherein the interior of the airtight container 13 is partitioned into two chambers 14 and 17 by a partition plate 7, wherein one chamber 17 is provided with the thermoelectric conversion module 5 and electrodes 9a and 9b led out to the outside of the airtight container 13, while the other chamber 14 is provided with a flow path 16 for introducing a thermal medium 26 or 25 from an external thermal medium supplying source and circulating the thermal medium 26 or 25 between the chamber 14 and the external thermal medium supply source, and heat is transferred to or received from one surface of the thermoelectric semiconductor

Abstract: A temperature power generation device includes a temperature reactive layer made of high thermal energy absorbing material and a thermal electron generation layer made of low work function material. A temperature power generation method by using the temperature reactive layer and the thermal electron generation layer to absorb heat and generate thermal electrons which are then induced to a conductive layer through an externally applied electric field, and the generated thermal electrons are then further transferred via an electricity output component to an output load for providing power.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for thermal-to-electric conversion involving relatively hot and cold juxtaposed surfaces separated by a small vacuum gap wherein the cold surface provides an array of single charge carrier converter elements along the surface and the hot surface transfers excitation energy to the opposing cold surface across the gap through Coulomb electrostatic coupling interaction.

Abstract: An MTPV thermophotovoltaic chip comprising a photovoltaic cell substrate, micron/sub-micron gap-spaced from a juxtaposed heat or infrared radiation-emitting substrate, with a radiation-transparent intermediate window substrate preferably compliantly adhered to the photovoltaic cell substrate and bounding the gap space therewith.

Abstract: The thermoelectric detector consists of an absorber structure supported by two electrically connected beams made of thermoelectric materials such as polysilicon, polysilicon/germanium, bismuth-telluride, skutterrides, superlattice structures, nano-composites and other materials. One end of the thermoelectric beam connects to the absorber structure; the other end connects to the substrate. Infrared radiation incident on the absorber heats up the absorber, resulting in a temperature gradient along the length of the thermoelectric legs, and generating an electrical voltage. The detector arrays are fabricated using micromachining process. The absorber structure is formed over a sacrificial material that is removed at the end of the processing, leaving the detector suspended and thermally isolated. The sacrificial processing method enables the production of small pixel thermoelectric detectors in large two-dimensional arrays with high sensitivity.

Abstract: Embedded electronics (102) are operated under normal operating conditions, with power being supplied to embedded electronics via a power source (205). Heat is generated via the normal operation of the embedded electronics (102), and a voltage (117) is generated via thermionic emission from the heat. The voltage (117) that is generated is supplied to the power source (205) to help power the embedded electronics (102).

Abstract: A technique for enhancing the generation of carriers (ex. electrons and/or holes) in semiconductor devices such as photovoltaic cells and the like, receiving radiation from a heated surface, through the use of micron juxtaposition of the surface of the device and the heated surface and with the gap thereinbetween preferably evacuated.

Abstract: A device that utilizes the difference in NEAF values between two plates to generate voltage is disclosed. The difference in NEAF values is created by shaping or varying the thickness of two plates to create a voltage differential which is available to drive electrical devices.

Abstract: The detection device includes at least one thermocouple (10) arranged aligned with the bottom head of the vessel of the nuclear reactor, having a first branch (9) made of a first metallic material and at least one second branch (11) made of a second metallic material, different from the first material, welded to a point on the first branch constituting a hot junction of the thermocouple (10). The first branch (9) of the thermocouple has the form of an elongate hollow section. The device furthermore includes means for analyzing the measurements taken by the thermocouples (10).

Abstract: A solar-powered thermionic-photoelectric current generator is disclosed employing a paraboloidal telescope for collecting and concentrating sunlight into a narrow beam which is incident upon a thorium-doped tungsten cathode target within an evacuated envelope, the light being incident on the target at a very large angle of incidence. An anode arranged substantially parallel to the beam of light incident on the cathode target surrounds the major portion of the cathode target and extends an appreciable distance rearwardly from the cathode target. A gas impervious envelope maintains the region of space immediately surrounding the anode and cathode target at a desired vacuum. Electrical conductors leading from the anode and cathode target to points outside the gas impervious envelope can connect the anode and cathode target to an appropriate load.

Abstract: A self-sustaining solar energy conversion system for converting solar heat energy to electrical energy comprising a finite heat sink having a first heat exchange means and drive means disposed therein. The finite heat sink comprises an enclosure having a thermopile formed in the side walls thereof wherein the cold junctions are arranged to communicate with the interior of the finite heat sink and the hot junctions are arranged to communicate with the exterior surrounding infinite heat sink. The first heat exchange is coupled to an external liquid gas supply to cool the interior of the finite heat sink and cold junctions. The drive means is electrically coupled to the thermopile and mechanically coupled to an electrical generator means disposed externally of the finite heat sink such that the electrical energy derived from the thermopile is used to electrically power the drive means which, in turn, is used to mechanically drive the electrical generator means to generate an electrical output of the system.

Abstract: Thermopile mounting comprising elongated thermoelectric elements with insulation therebetween arrayed into a thermopile block, electrical interconnections for said elements, a hot plate and a cold plate at each end of the thermopile and a plurality of tensioned wires extending from the hot plate to the cold plate in a manner to transfer the stress of the wires to the thermopile to place same under compression, said wires having a strength to thermal conductivity ratio of greater than 250,000.

Abstract: Thermoelectric long-lasting microgenerator which may be implanted in the human body, using a cylinder containing a radioactive isotope as a heat source and the human body as a cold source. The connection between the heat source and the thermoelectric element is effected by means of a supple substance which is a poor conductor of electricity. The rest of the heat source is surrounded by a volume affording a very high impedance to the propagation of heat.