Mar 12 2008
Micropelt GmbH, manufacturer of thin-film thermoelectric chip-like devices, announces the TE-Power-Bolt, a voltage adjustable thermal battery that uses excess heat to generate electrical energy for devices that consume only a few milliwatts (mW) of power, such as wireless sensor nodes. With its micro-thermogenerator that is built into an M24 steel screw, the Power-Bolt can harvest energy from surfaces and structures from 10-20 degrees Celsius over ambient temperature or directly from hot liquids. Output power can range from 0.2 to over 15mW and is voltage-stabilized by an integrated DC-DC converter which can be set to fixed voltages between 1.2 and 5 Volts.
TE-Power-Bolt
The TE-Power-Bolt is an easy-to-deploy self-sustaining energy supply that sticks out about 2.2” (55mm) from its host’s warm or hot surface. By exposing the cylindrical 1.5” (38.1mm) diameter aluminium heat sink to fresh air, the TE-Power-Bolt acts as a ‘never-charge battery’ which provides a few milliwatts, depending upon actual thermal conditions. Continuous air flow multiplies the output instantly. Heat can also be obtained from liquids by screwing the bolt into the threaded hole of a hot liquid container or a pipe. The design is presently in the prototype phase.
“More and more low-power wireless sensor nodes and similar devices are being offered; however, most industries simply dislike batteries,” said Micropelt CEO Fritz Volkert. “The TE-Power-Bolt can work for them as an infinite maintenance-free battery for infrequent duty cycle applications. As a component manufacturer, we are looking to license this technology to strong industry partners wanting to integrate it into devices or build generic ‘green’ power supplies.”