Subsea thermoelectric generator with thermoelectric modules disposed in sleeves

US5939667A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• L'Etat Francais, represente par le Delegue General pour l'Armement · FR

Inventors

• Philippe Oudoire · Les Pieux, FR
• Gery Tribou · Cherbourg, FR
• Tony Mesnil · Cherbourg, FR
• Gerard Burnouf · Cherbourg, FR
• Philippe Dubourdieu · Cherbourg, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 29, 1997
• Grant date: Aug 17, 1999
• Expiry date: Dec 29, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N10/17
• WIPO field: Civil engineering
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A subsea thermoelectric generator has a plurality of flat thermoelectric modules attached concentrically to the outside wall of an undersea line in which petroleum products extracted from a subsea drilling well circulate. The thermoelectric modules are disposed in flat-bottomed pans machined into the outside wall of the line. The pans are sealed by lids made of heat-conducting material and in thermal contact with the thermoelectric modules. Each lid defines, with the walls of the corresponding pan, a peripheral sealed chamber. The various chambers in the pans communicate with each other through passages provided in partitions that separate the pans and are filled with a soft (compliant), preferably non-heat-conducting, resin. At least one of the pans is provided with an orifice closed by a sealed deformable element.