Structures, System and Method for Converting Electromagnetic Radiation to Electricity

Abstract

A substrate, resonant structures, a ground plane, a thermal optimization layer and energy transfer structures are combined to receive and convert incoming electromagnetic radiation into electrical energy. This combination of materials may be housed in various configurations near heat sources to maximize surface area for heat contact as well as cooling. All structures are designed so as to be manufactured in low cost processes such as roll to roll.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for converting electromagnetic energy into electricity comprising:
 an interior region through which a hot first material flows;   an outer region that is physically separated from the interior region, the outer region filled with a second material that allows for exchange of thermal energy from the hot first material such that the second material becomes heated when the hot first material flows;   a plurality of collector/converter devices in the outer region that are exposed to the heated second material, and collect heat from the heated second material and convert the collected heat to electricity, wherein each collector/converter device comprises:
 a rectenna that stimulates an electric current and converts the stimulated electric current to DC current; 
 a cold source thermally connected to the rectenna to provide cooling to the rectenna; 
 a thermal insulator in areas around the rectenna to minimize heat flow in these areas. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pipe having a pipe wall, wherein the interior region is defined by the pipe wall;   a thermally conductive core material that has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side that is in contact with and defines the outer region; and   a NEC film upon which the plurality of collector/converter devices is disposed that covers the second side of the thermally conductive material.   
     
     
         3 . The system recited in  claim 2 , further comprising an environmental protective coating material to protect the NEC film. 
     
     
         4 . The system recited in  claim 2 , wherein the thermally conducive core material has a structure to increase surface area for exposing the NEC film to heat. 
     
     
         5 . The system recited in  claim 4 , wherein the structure is a fin structure. 
     
     
         6 . The system recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a composite ring element that comprises:
 an inner layer having a wedge shape that defines the interior region;   a NEC film layer having a wedge shape that comprises a NEC film upon which the plurality of collector/converter devices is disposed and surrounds the inner layer;   an outer layer having a wedge shape that surrounds the NEC film layer, and wherein the outer region is defined by an inner surface of the outer layer and an outer surface of the inner layer.   
     
     
         7 . The system recited in  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of composite ring elements are combined to form a composite ring. 
     
     
         8 . The system recited in  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of composite rings are stacked to form a composite ring stack. 
     
     
         9 . The system recited in  claim 8 , wherein the composite ring elements are configured such that when the composite rings are stacked, a plurality of spiral flues are formed for hot gases flowing through the interior region from composite ring elements in one composite ring in the composite ring stack to corresponding composite ring elements in the next composite ring in the composite ring stack. 
     
     
         10 . The system recited in  claim 9 , wherein the composite ring elements are turned to create the plurality of spiral flues in the composite ring stack. 
     
     
         11 . A system for converting electromagnetic energy in the form of heat to electricity, comprising:
 a thermally conductive material that is heated to radiate heat;   a NEC film that surrounds the thermally conductive material at one end, wherein the NEC film comprises:
 a plurality of collector/converter devices in the outer region that collect heat radiated from the thermally conductive material, and convert the collected heat to electricity, wherein each collector/converter device comprises:
 a rectenna that stimulates an electric current and converts the stimulated electric current to DC current; 
 a cold source thermally connected to the rectenna to provide cooling to the rectenna; 
 a thermal insulator in areas around the rectenna to minimize heat flow in these areas. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The system recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a wall from which the thermally conductive material extends. 
     
     
         13 . The system recited in  claim 11 , further comprising an environmental overcoat to protect the NEC film. 
     
     
         14 . The system recited in  claim 11 , wherein the thermally conductive core material has a fin structure at one end to increase the surface area of the thermally conductive material from which heat can radiate. 
     
     
         15 . The system recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a hot plate to provide heat to the thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         16 . The system recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a hot plate to provide heat to the thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         17 . The system recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a cold source. 
     
     
         18 . The system recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a cold source.