Pellet stove

Abstract

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a pellet stove system that incorporates a thermoelectric generator for efficient electricity generation. The system features a combustion chamber for burning pellet fuel, a heat exchanger to transfer generated heat to an external environment, a heat sink to transfer a portion of the generated heat to a thermoelectric generator comprising a first portion thermally coupled to the heat sink and a second portion designed to maintain a lower temperature. This arrangement allows the generation of electricity through the temperature difference, powering stove components. Additionally, the system can include mechanisms for remote monitoring and control, optimizing fuel consumption, and enhancing heat distribution, facilitated by a control unit and wireless communication module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pellet stove for providing heat to a heated space comprising:
 a heat exchanger;   a combustion chamber for combusting pellet fuel to generate heat at the heat exchanger   an auger that transports the pellet fuel to the combustion chamber from a storage hopper;   an exhaust that removes combustion gas out of the pellet stove;   an air intake that receives outside air due to convection from outside of the pellet stove and directs the outside air across the heat exchanger resulting in heated air;   and air outlet that directs the heated air out of the pellet stove into a heated space; and   a thermoelectric generator that generates electricity comprising:
 a first thermoelectric portion, wherein heat is transferred from the combustion chamber to a heat sink thermally coupled to the first thermoelectric portion; and 
 a second thermoelectric portion thermoelectrically coupled to the first thermoelectric portion, wherein heat is removed from the second thermoelectric portion through a cool sink thermally coupled to the second thermoelectric portion, wherein a temperature difference between the first thermoelectric portion and the second thermoelectric portion generates electricity; and 
 at least one cooling fan disposed within the pellet stove, wherein the cooling fan directs air across the cool sink resulting in a reduction of temperature of the second thermoelectric portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pellet stove of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that detects one or more environmental conditions in the environment around the stove. 
     
     
         3 . The pellet stove of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that detects one or more operating conditions of the stove. 
     
     
         4 . A pellet stove system comprising:
 a combustion chamber for burning pellet fuel to generate heat;   a heat sink configured to transfer heat from the combustion chamber; and   a thermoelectric generator comprising:
 a first thermoelectric portion thermally coupled to the heat sink to receive heat therefrom; and 
 a second thermoelectric portion thermoelectrically coupled to the first thermoelectric portion, wherein the second thermoelectric portion is operably cooler than the first thermoelectric portion, and wherein a temperature differential between the first and second thermoelectric portions results in generation of electricity. 
   
     
     
         5 . The pellet stove system of  claim 4 , wherein the thermoelectric generator is configured to power at least one electrical component of the pellet stove. 
     
     
         6 . The pellet stove system of  claim 5 , wherein the thermoelectric generator is in electric communication with an internal battery storage to charge the internal battery storage. 
     
     
         7 . The pellet stove system of  claim 4 , further comprising a cool sink thermally coupled to the second thermoelectric portion for dissipating heat therefrom. 
     
     
         8 . The pellet stove system of  claim 7 , wherein the cool sink is fluidly coupled with a cooling fan to facilitate heat dissipation from the cool sink. 
     
     
         9 . The pellet stove system of  claim 4 , further comprising an auger mechanism that feeds pellet fuel from a storage hopper to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The pellet stove system of  claim 4 , further comprising a control unit programmed to adjust the operation of the stove based on detected environmental conditions outside of the pellet stove. 
     
     
         11 . The pellet stove system of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is wirelessly connected to a network allowing for remote monitoring and control. 
     
     
         12 . A pellet stove comprising a thermoelectric generator, the thermoelectric generator comprising:
 a first thermoelectric portion configured to be receive by a combustion chamber of the pellet stove;   a second thermoelectric portion configured to operate at a lower temperature than the first thermoelectric portion; and   thermoelectric generation portion disposed between the first and second thermoelectric portions, wherein the thermoelectric generation portion operably generates electricity from a temperature differential between the first and second thermoelectric portions.   
     
     
         13 . The pellet stove of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoelectric generator is configured to output electricity to external devices disposed in the pellet stove. 
     
     
         14 . The pellet stove of  claim 12 , further comprising an exhaust system for venting combustion gases and drawing in outside air by convection across a heat exchanger disposed in the pellet stove. 
     
     
         15 . The pellet stove of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoelectric generator portion comprise one or more of: bismuth telluride, lead telluride, or silicon germanium. 
     
     
         16 . The pellet stove of  claim 12 , further comprising a power management unit configured to optimize generation of electricity for use or storage. 
     
     
         17 . The pellet stove of  claim 12 , further comprising insulation materials disposed around the first thermoelectric portion resulting in an increase in heat retention and electrical generation efficiency. 
     
     
         18 . The pellet stove of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoelectric generation portion is electrically coupled to at least one battery in a battery storage system, and generated electricity is stored in the at least one battery. 
     
     
         19 . The pellet stove of  claim 12 , comprising a control unit that controls one or more portions of the pellet stove, and generated electricity operably powers the control unit. 
     
     
         20 . The pellet stove of  claim 19 , wherein the control unit comprises a wireless communication module that operably provides operational data of the pellet stove to a remote user interface.