Ion-enhanced thermoelectric generator

Abstract

A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter, the method comprising:
 providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, wherein the thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material;   emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the radiation source is an external source. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the external source is a reactor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the radiation source is an internal source. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the internal source is a radioisotope dopant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the thermoelectric converter uses materials that respond to the radiation source by changing material properties. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the materials are not metal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the changing material properties may be from radiation induced conductivity changes to electrical conductivity, changes to thermal conductivity, or changes to Seebeck coefficient. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the changing material properties take place over a specific range of temperatures. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the radiation source uses alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, or neutronic radiation.