Donetsk, Oct 19 – DAN. Scientists of the Donetsk National Technical University (DonNTU) invented a device for converting thermal energy into electricity. The patent for pioneer technology, issued in Russia, became the first in DPR history, Assistant Professor at the DonNTU Department of Industrial Thermal Engineering Dmitry Parkhomenko told the Donetsk News Agency.
“Russia’s Federal Service for Intellectual Property issued Patent No 162 553 to a group of scientists of the Donetsk People’s Republic for inventing a thermoelectric converter,” Parkhomenko said. ”It was developed by heating engineers, physicists, designers and DonNTU specialists in other fields. Former DonNTU graduates turned entrepreneurs helped the alma mater in the project.”
The patent was granted after a thorough search for similar devices invented in Donetsk, which was subsequently recognized as original and useful in a number of branches of national economy, from the utilities sector to mining.
“Take a standard boiler house for example. We used its wasted heat having a temperature of up to 200 degrees. A minus temperature is the ambient temperature outside the boiler house. A difference of more than 100 degrees is what it takes to obtain electric power by means of thermal converter,” the scientist said explaining the device’s operating principle.
He believes that boiler houses equipped with such a converter can generate up to 50 kilowatts of energy for its own consumption. It will be sufficient to power induced-draft fans and air and ventilation pumps.
The installation of the converter, which is small in size, takes two days. It can save up to 1,200 kWh for each boiler house per day.
The DonNTU Department of Industrial Thermal Engineering has finalised the documents on the invention and proceeded to assemble the pilot unit. The first prototype will be tested in the University’s boiler house. It is planned to start mass production of these converters in the future.