JP2001004245A - Thermoelectric converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance heat exchanging performance between a thermoelectric conversion element and liquid. SOLUTION: A metallic heat transfer plate 3a constituting a part of a heat transfer member 3 is connected by crimping to the heat absorbing side or heat discharging side of a thermoelectric conversion element 1 through a heat conduction grease 2. A heat exchanging jacket 5 made of transparent synthetic resin is applied to a predetermined position of a channel 4 for conducting heat exchanging liquid while opening one side face thereof and the metallic heat transfer plate 3a is fitted by crimping to the open part through a sealing member 6. According to the structure, the heat exchanging jacket 5 and the heat transfer member 3 can be connected liquidtightly while locating the remaining part of the heat transfer member 3, i.e., a heat exchanging fin 3b, in the heat exchanging jacket 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermoelectric conversion device for exchanging heat with a liquid such as water on at least one of a heat absorption side and a heat radiation side of a thermoelectric conversion element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a thermoelectric conversion operation is performed using a thermoelectric conversion element such as a Peltier element, water or the like is used to increase the heat exchange efficiency on at least one of the heat absorption side and the heat radiation side of the thermoelectric conversion element. There has been proposed a thermoelectric conversion device that performs heat exchange with a liquid.

FIG. 10 is a side view schematically showing a configuration of a conventional thermoelectric converter.

In this thermoelectric conversion device, a metal water-cooling jacket 32 is interposed at a predetermined position of a liquid flow path 31 through which a liquid such as water flows, and heat conduction is performed to a predetermined position on the outer surface of the metal water-cooling jacket 32. At least one of the heat absorbing side and the heat radiating side of the thermoelectric conversion element 34 is pressed with the grease 33 interposed therebetween.

If this configuration is adopted, the heat conductive grease 33
In addition, heat exchange with the liquid can be realized via the metal water cooling jacket 32, and the heat exchange efficiency can be significantly increased as compared with the case where heat exchange is performed with air. If the heat exchange efficiency increases, the heat accumulation on at least one of the heat absorption side and the heat radiation side of the thermoelectric conversion element can be significantly reduced, and the thermoelectric conversion efficiency can be maintained high.

[0006]

In the conventional thermoelectric converter shown in FIG. 10, when a metal water-cooling jacket 32 is interposed at a predetermined position of a liquid flow path 31, machining of metal such as copper or aluminum, Since it is necessary to perform the mounting, the manufacturing operation becomes complicated, or expensive manufacturing equipment is required. As a result, there is a disadvantage that the cost is increased. Further, since the water-cooling jacket is made of metal, not only the weight increases, but also the cost increases, and furthermore, there is a disadvantage that the heat insulation property is poor, and that the dew condensation and the heat loss increase. .

Further, it is difficult to reduce the thermal resistance between the thermoelectric conversion element and the metal water-cooled jacket, and the heat between the liquid and the metal water-cooled jacket without increasing the pressure loss due to the structure. Since it is difficult to increase the transmissivity, there is also a disadvantage that the heat exchange performance has a predetermined limit.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a thermoelectric conversion device capable of improving the heat exchange performance between a thermoelectric conversion element and a liquid.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermoelectric conversion device, wherein a heat transfer member having a heat exchange fin is connected to at least one of a heat absorption side and a heat radiation side of the thermoelectric conversion element. Is a liquid-tight connection of the heat transfer member to the heat exchange jacket such that the heat transfer member is located inside the heat exchange jacket.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the thermoelectric converter employs a synthetic resin as the heat exchange jacket.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the heat transfer member is made of a metal, and is connected to at least one of the heat absorbing side and the heat radiating side of the thermoelectric conversion element via heat conductive grease. It is something that adopts.

The thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 4, wherein the heat transfer member includes a metallized layer formed on at least one of a heat absorbing side and a heat radiating side of the thermoelectric conversion element, and a heat exchange fin soldered to the metalized layer. The following is adopted.

[0013]

According to the thermoelectric conversion device of the first aspect, a heat transfer member having a heat exchange fin is connected to at least one of the heat absorption side and the heat radiation side of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the heat exchange fin is a heat exchange jacket. The heat transfer member is connected to the heat exchange jacket in a liquid-tight manner so that it is located inside the heat exchange jacket. The heat exchange performance between the thermoelectric conversion element and the liquid can be enhanced.

According to the thermoelectric conversion device of the second aspect, since the heat exchange jacket is made of a synthetic resin, the heat exchange jacket allows the liquid and the outside air to be separated by the heat exchange jacket. In addition to achieving sufficient heat insulation between them, weight reduction and cost reduction can be achieved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the heat transfer member is made of a metal, and is connected to at least one of the heat absorbing side and the heat radiating side of the thermoelectric conversion element via heat conductive grease. Since this is adopted, the same operation as the first or second aspect can be achieved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, as the thermoelectric conversion device, as the heat transfer member, a metallized layer formed on at least one of a heat absorbing side and a heat radiating side of the thermoelectric conversion element, and a heat conductive soldered to the metalized layer. The use of the exchange fins makes it possible to reduce the thermal resistance between the thermoelectric conversion element and the heat transfer member to almost zero, thereby further improving the heat exchange performance between the thermoelectric conversion element and the liquid. Since it is not necessary to press the heat transfer member to the thermoelectric conversion element, the strength of the heat exchange jacket can be reduced.
Assembly becomes easy, and further weight reduction and cost reduction can be achieved.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing one embodiment of the thermoelectric converter of the present invention.

In this thermoelectric conversion device, a metal heat transfer plate 3a, which is a part of the heat transfer member 3, is crimped by interposing a heat conductive grease 2 on a heat absorption side or a heat radiation side of a thermoelectric conversion element (Peltier module) 1. Connected by Then, a transparent synthetic resin heat exchange jacket 5 is interposed at a predetermined position of the liquid flow path 4 through which the heat exchange liquid such as water flows, and one side of the heat exchange jacket 5 is opened. By press-fitting the metal heat transfer plate 3a with the seal member 6 such as an O-ring interposed between the open portions, the heat exchange fins 3b as the remaining heat transfer member 3 are heated.
In this state, the liquid-tight connection between the heat exchange jacket 5 and the heat transfer member 3 is achieved.

The operation of the thermoelectric conversion device having the above configuration is as follows.

The contact area between the liquid flowing in the heat exchange jacket 5 through the liquid flow path 4 and the heat transfer member 3 is significantly increased due to the presence of the heat exchange fins 3b. Therefore, the flow velocity of the liquid is not increased so much. Even so, the heat transfer coefficient can be increased. Therefore, an increase in pressure loss can be prevented, and high heat exchange efficiency can be achieved. As a result, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric conversion element can be increased.

Further, since the heat exchange jacket 5 is made of a synthetic resin, the heat insulation between the inside and the outside of the heat exchange jacket 5 can be enhanced, and an increase in heat loss and occurrence of dew condensation can be prevented. Further, weight reduction and cost reduction can be achieved.

FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing another embodiment of the thermoelectric converter of the present invention.

In this thermoelectric conversion device, a metallized layer 3c is formed on a ceramic plate on the heat absorbing side or the heat radiating side of the thermoelectric conversion element (Peltier module) 1, and the metallized layer 3c is formed.
The heat exchange fins 3b are soldered or brazed. Then, a transparent heat exchange jacket 5 made of synthetic resin is interposed at a predetermined position of the liquid flow path 4 through which a heat exchange liquid such as water flows, and one side of the heat exchange jacket 5 is opened. The thermoelectric conversion element 1 is press-bonded to the open portion with a sealing member 6 such as an O-ring interposed therebetween, so that the heat exchange fins 3b are located inside the heat exchange jacket 5 and the heat exchange jacket 5 and the thermoelectric conversion element. A liquid-tight connection with the element 1 is achieved.

The operation of the thermoelectric conversion device having the above configuration is as follows.

The contact area between the liquid flowing in the heat exchange jacket 5 through the liquid passage 4 and the heat transfer member 3 is significantly increased due to the presence of the heat exchange fins 3b. Therefore, the flow velocity of the liquid is not increased so much. Even so, the heat transfer coefficient can be increased. In addition, since a thermal contact portion between the heat exchange fin 3b and the thermoelectric conversion element 1 can be eliminated, the thermal resistance between the thermoelectric conversion element 1 and the heat exchange fin 3b can be made almost zero. . Therefore, an increase in pressure loss can be prevented, and high heat exchange efficiency can be achieved. As a result, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric conversion element can be increased.

Further, since the heat exchange jacket 5 is made of a synthetic resin, the heat insulation between the inside and the outside of the heat exchange jacket 5 can be enhanced, and an increase in heat loss and generation of dew can be prevented. Further, weight reduction and cost reduction can be achieved.

Further, since it is not necessary to crimp the heat exchange fins 3b to the thermoelectric conversion element 1, the strength of the heat exchange jacket 5 can be reduced, and the need for torque control of screws for crimping is eliminated. Therefore, the assembling work is facilitated, and further weight reduction and cost reduction can be achieved.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing still another embodiment of the thermoelectric converter of the present invention.

In this thermoelectric conversion device, a partition plate 5a is provided inside a heat exchange jacket 5 made of synthetic resin to form a first chamber 5b and a second chamber 5c, and provided on one side surface of the heat exchange jacket 5. The liquid is supplied from one of the liquid flow paths 4a, and the liquid is discharged through the other liquid flow path 4b. The heat transfer member 3 includes a heat exchange jacket 5
And a heat exchange fin 3b formed integrally with the metal heat transfer plate 3a so as to be accommodated in the first chamber 5b and the second chamber 5c, respectively.
And a configuration having the following. The metal heat transfer plate 3 a is thermally connected to the thermoelectric conversion element 1.

When the thermoelectric converter of this configuration is employed, the liquid supply side and the liquid discharge side can be set on the same side of the heat exchange jacket 5 to simplify the processing of the liquid flow path. can do.

When the thermoelectric conversion element 1 is constituted by arranging four Peltier modules as shown in FIG. 4, the arrangement order of the Peltier modules in the first chamber 5b and the second chamber 5c Since the order of arrangement of the Peltier modules is set to be opposite to each other with respect to the flow direction of the liquid, the degree of heat exchange of all Peltier modules can be substantially equalized.

In addition, the same operation as the above embodiment can be achieved.

FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing still another embodiment of the thermoelectric converter of the present invention.

This thermoelectric conversion device is different from the thermoelectric conversion device of FIG. 4 in that the thermoelectric conversion element 1 arranges four Peltier modules in a straight line and also connects four Peltier modules arranged in a straight line in parallel with each other. The heat exchange jacket 5 has a partition plate 5d corresponding to the center of the Peltier modules in each row and a partition plate 5e corresponding to the gap between the Peltier modules in each row. The only difference is that the partition plates 5d and 5e are provided so as to be staggered from each other, and that heat exchange fins are provided so as to correspond to the respective chambers defined by the partition plates 5d and 5e.

When the thermoelectric conversion device having this configuration is employed, the thermoelectric conversion device 1 can be easily applied to the thermoelectric conversion element 1 in which the Peltier modules are arranged in a plurality of rows. Can be achieved.

In the above embodiment, the heat exchange fins 3b may be plate-like fins (see FIG. 6), plate-like fins with slits (see FIG. 7), or pin-like fins. It may be a fin (see FIG. 8) or a corrugated fin (see FIG. 9).

Further, instead of crimping the heat transfer member 3 and the thermoelectric conversion element 1 with the heat conductive grease therebetween, the heat transfer member 3
And the thermoelectric conversion element 1 may be connected by bonding. Further, instead of connecting the heat exchange fins 3b to the metallization layer 3c by soldering or brazing,
The formation of the metallized layer 3c may be omitted, and the heat exchange fins 3b may be directly bonded.

Further, the heat exchange jacket 5 can be made of an opaque synthetic resin.

[0040]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the heat transfer coefficient can be increased by the heat exchange fins without increasing the flow velocity of the liquid flowing in the heat exchange jacket. This has a specific effect that the heat exchange performance between the two can be enhanced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the heat exchange jacket can achieve a sufficient heat insulating property between the liquid and the outside air and can reduce the weight,
This has a specific effect that cost reduction can be achieved.

The third aspect of the invention has the same effect as the first or second aspect.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the thermal resistance between the thermoelectric conversion element and the heat transfer member can be made almost zero, and the heat exchange performance between the thermoelectric conversion element and the liquid can be further improved. In addition, since it is not necessary to crimp the heat transfer member to the thermoelectric conversion element, the strength of the heat exchange jacket can be reduced, assembling is facilitated, and further weight reduction and cost reduction can be achieved. Has the effect of

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing one embodiment of a thermoelectric conversion device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing another embodiment of the thermoelectric conversion device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the thermoelectric conversion device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the thermoelectric converter of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing still another embodiment of the thermoelectric conversion device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a heat exchange fin.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of the heat exchange fin.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing still another example of the heat exchange fin.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing still another example of the heat exchange fin.

FIG. 10 is a side view schematically showing a conventional thermoelectric conversion device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermoelectric conversion element 2 Heat conductive grease 3 Heat transfer member 3b Heat exchange fin 5 Heat exchange jacket

Claims (4)

[Claims] A heat transfer member (3) having a heat exchange fin (3b) is connected to at least one of a heat absorption side and a heat radiation side of the thermoelectric conversion element (1), and the heat exchange fin (3b) is A thermoelectric conversion device, wherein the heat transfer member (3) is liquid-tightly connected to the heat exchange jacket (5) so as to be located in the heat exchange jacket (5). 2. The thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange jacket (5) is made of a synthetic resin. 3. The heat transfer member (3) is made of metal, and is connected to at least one of a heat absorbing side and a heat radiating side of the thermoelectric conversion element (1) with a heat conductive grease (2) interposed therebetween. The thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The heat transfer member (3) is soldered to a metallized layer (3c) formed on at least one of a heat absorbing side and a heat radiating side of the thermoelectric conversion element (1), and to the metallized layer (3c). The thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a heat exchange fin (3b).