Floating thermoelectric generator using solar heated thermocouples - used esp. for generating power to desalinate water for drinking

摘要

The hot junctions and cold junctions respectively are connected in series and/or parallel to positive and negative output terminals. The hot junctions are now fixed in the hot zone of a solar radiation trap employing an optical collector. The cold junctions are sealed in electric insulation and submerged in the water of a river, lake, sea, etc. The generator is mounted on a support floating on the water. The optical collector is pref. adjustable by pivoting about a horizontal axis and by angular reorientation around a vertical axis. Drinking water can be produced by distillation or electrolytic desalination, either process employing electric power supplied by the generator. This is an inexpensive, reliable source of electricity. The generator actually floats on water which cools the cold junctions of the thermocouples and can be the water to be desalinated.