JP2004343898A - Thermoelectric generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermoelectric generator which can surely improve the power generation efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: In a thermoelectric generator 1, the vaporization amount of a condensed heat medium vaporizing at a vaporization part 10 shows a distribution which is larger on the upstream side and tends to be smaller toward the downstream in the flow direction of a high-temperature medium. However, power generating plates 21 are arranged densely and sparsely from the upstream to the downstream even at a thermoelectric exchanging part 20. Accordingly, the distribution of a condensation amount on a condensation face 23B of a thermoelectric module 23 is also made to be similar to that corresponding to the distribution of the vaporization amount. Therefore, the unevenness such that the vapor is excessively supplied to the condensation face 23B on the upstream side or it is not sufficiently supplied on the downstream side can be eliminated. As a result, the power generation efficiency to the supply amount of the vapor can be surely improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thermoelectric generator.
[0002]
[Background Art]
In recent years, for example, exhaust gas discharged from an engine generates vapor of a condensing heat medium such as a fluorine-based inert liquid, and this vapor heats the condensing surface of the thermoelectric module and cools the cooling surface with cooling water. In addition, a thermosiphon-type thermoelectric generator that generates power based on a temperature difference between a condensing surface and a cooling surface of the thermoelectric module has been developed (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
Such a thermoelectric generator is provided with an evaporator for evaporating the condensing heat medium by using a duct through which exhaust gas flows. Specifically, first, the duct is provided so that the exhaust gas flows in a substantially horizontal direction, and the duct is provided with a heat transfer tube in a direction (vertical direction) orthogonal to the horizontal flow of the exhaust gas. Is penetrating. Since the duct is immersed in the stored condensing heat medium, the heat transfer tube is heated by the exhaust gas from the outer peripheral side, and the condensing heat medium entering the heat transfer tube evaporates by this heating. In the evaporating section, a plurality of heat transfer tubes are arranged at equal pitches along the flow direction of the exhaust gas and the width direction of the duct.
[0004]
On the other hand, the thermoelectric modules are arranged on both sides of the hollow plate, and the condensed surface of the surface is heated by the steam, while the cooling surface in close contact with the plate is cooled by cooling water passing through the plate. At this time, a plurality of plate bodies on which the thermoelectric modules are arranged are arranged at an equal pitch along the flow direction of the exhaust gas or the width direction of the duct. Then, the vapor of the condensing heat medium used for heating condenses on the condensing surface of the thermoelectric module, and returns to the storage part of the condensing heat medium by dropping.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2000-272152 (FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the thermoelectric generator described in Patent Document 1, since the heat transfer tubes are arranged at an equal pitch in the evaporating section, particularly in the flow direction of the exhaust gas, the heat transfer tube closer to the inlet side of the duct receives less heat from the exhaust gas. It is large and easy to heat, and the amount of evaporation of the condensing heat medium is large.However, since the temperature of the exhaust gas decreases toward the downstream, the heat transfer tube is not easily heated and the amount of evaporation of the condensing heat medium also decreases. .
As a result, the amount of evaporation of the condensed heat medium in the flow direction of the exhaust gas becomes uneven, and even in the thermoelectric modules juxtaposed almost immediately above the thermoelectric modules on the upstream side, the steam exceeds the maximum power generation capacity and excessive steam is generated. In the thermoelectric module on the downstream side, the amount of steam is small and the power is not sufficiently generated due to the small amount of steam, and there is a problem that the power generation efficiency of the entire apparatus is reduced.
FIG. 17 shows the relationship between the position of the exhaust gas in the evaporator in the flow direction and the amount of evaporation, and it can be seen that the amount of evaporation decreases toward the downstream.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric generator capable of reliably improving power generation efficiency.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Effects]
The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1 of the present invention includes an evaporator that generates a vapor of a condensing heat medium by a high-temperature medium flowing in a predetermined direction, and a condensing surface heated by the vapor of the condensed heat medium from the evaporator. A distribution of the amount of condensation of the condensed heat medium on the condensation surface of the thermoelectric module is set according to the amount of evaporation of the condensed heat medium in the direction of flow of the high-temperature medium in the evaporator. It is characterized by having been done.
[0009]
According to the present invention, the distribution of the amount of condensation on the thermoelectric module side along the flow direction of the high-temperature medium is set in accordance with the distribution of the amount of evaporation on the evaporation unit side. If the amount of evaporation on the upstream side is large and the amount on the downstream side is small, arrange the thermoelectric module so that a large condensation surface is secured on the upstream side, and install the thermoelectric module so that a small condensation surface is secured on the downstream side. It should just be arranged. This eliminates unevenness such as excessive supply of steam to the condensing surface of the thermoelectric module and conversely insufficient supply of steam, so that the power generation efficiency with respect to the supply amount of steam is reliably improved.
[0010]
In the thermoelectric generator according to claim 2 of the present invention, in the thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, the amount of evaporation of the condensed heat medium from the evaporator is set substantially uniformly in the flow direction of the high-temperature medium. It is characterized by having.
[0011]
In the thermoelectric generator, it is considered that vacuuming the inside of the device is superior in improving the condensation efficiency on the condensation surface, but in this case, a vacuum device or the like is required and the structure becomes complicated, and Be expensive. Therefore, in practice, the inside of the apparatus is opened to the atmosphere through a communication hole and constantly kept at atmospheric pressure. However, if the amount of evaporation from the evaporator is uneven as described above, part of the air in the device cannot be smoothly removed from the communication hole immediately after the operation starts, and the air stays in the device and vapor is hardly condensed. Become.
On the other hand, in the present invention, since the amount of evaporation from the evaporator is made substantially uniform along the flow direction, the steam rises in a uniform amount in the flow direction, and the air in the apparatus is not biased by the steam. The gas is smoothly exhausted, and there is no fear that the condensation of the vapor is hindered, so that the power generation efficiency is maintained satisfactorily.
[0012]
Here, in order to make the amount of evaporation in the flow direction substantially uniform with respect to the high-temperature medium whose temperature decreases toward the downstream, it is effective to increase the effective heat transfer area related to the amount of evaporation in the evaporator. . That is, the evaporation amount Q is U, the heat transfer rate between the high-temperature medium and the condensing heat medium in the heat transfer tube is F, the heat transfer area is F, and the temperature difference between the high-temperature medium and the condensing heat medium in the heat transfer tube is U. If (Tf−Ts), then Q = UF (Tf−Ts), so that the heat transfer area F and the heat transfer rate U may be increased on the downstream side where the temperature difference is small.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the second and subsequent embodiments described below, the same members and the same functional members as those described in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof in the second and subsequent embodiments will be omitted or omitted. Simplify.
[0014]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing the entire thermoelectric generator 1 according to the present embodiment. 2A is a plan sectional view showing the thermoelectric converter 20 of the thermoelectric generator 1, and FIG. 2B is a plan sectional view showing the evaporator 10 of the thermoelectric generator 1. As shown in FIG.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, for example, a thermoelectric generator 1 circulates an exhaust gas or the like discharged from an internal combustion engine such as an engine as a high-temperature medium (see a black arrow) through an evaporator 10 and heats the exhaust gas. This is a device that generates steam of a condensed heat medium such as an inert liquid and supplies it to the upper thermoelectric conversion unit 20, and converts the heat energy of the steam into electric energy in the thermoelectric conversion unit 20 to generate power. The evaporator 10 and the thermoelectric converter 20 are covered with a housing 30.
[0016]
The evaporator 10 includes a duct 11 so that a high-temperature medium passes through the housing 30. As shown in FIG. 2B, a plurality of heat transfer tubes 12 are provided in the duct 11 in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the high-temperature medium. The number of the heat transfer tubes 12 is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately set depending on a desired evaporation amount. Further, in the present embodiment, the pitch of the heat transfer tubes 12 along the flow direction of the high-temperature medium is equal, and the pitch along the width direction of the duct 11 is also equal.
[0017]
In the housing 30, such a duct 11 is immersed in the condensing heat medium to a substantially upper surface thereof. That is, the portion through which the duct 11 penetrates serves as the storage portion 31 of the condensed heat medium provided in the housing 30. The condensed heat medium in the storage section 31 enters the heat transfer tube 12 as shown as one of the most upstream heat transfer tubes 12 in FIG. 1, but the heat transfer tube 12 is heated by the high-temperature medium. As a result, it rises as steam in the heat transfer tube 12. At this time, since the temperature of the high-temperature medium is as high as about 500 ° C. on the inlet side of the duct 11 and drops to about 250 ° C. on the outlet side, the amount of evaporation from the evaporating section 10 is large on the upstream side and gradually decreases toward the downstream side. Less. That is, the distribution of the evaporation amount as described with reference to FIG. 17 is obtained.
[0018]
One thermoelectric conversion section 20 includes a plurality of power generation plates 21 arranged in parallel along the flow direction of the high-temperature medium. The power generation plate 21 has a configuration in which a plurality of thermoelectric modules 23 are arranged on both front and back surfaces of a hollow plate-shaped cooling plate 22. Cooling water is supplied into the cooling plate 22 from cooling water circulating means (not shown) to cool the thermoelectric module 23. The surface 23A is cooled. On the other hand, the surface of the thermoelectric module 23 is a condensing surface 23B, and the vapor from the evaporator 10 heats the condensing surface 23B and condenses on the condensing surface 23B. Then, power is generated by the thermoelectric module 23 according to the temperature difference between the cooling surface 23A and the condensing surface 23B at this time.
[0019]
These power generation plates 21 are vertically installed so that the condensation surface 23B of the thermoelectric module 23 is perpendicular to the flow direction of the high-temperature medium, and the pitch of each power generation plate 21 in the flow direction is small on the upstream side, It gets bigger toward the downstream. In other words, they are densely arranged on the upstream side and are arranged so as to be coarser toward the downstream side. Accordingly, it is possible to receive a large amount of steam generated upstream on the larger condensing surface 23B and receive a small amount of steam generated downstream on the smaller condensing surface 23B. The amount of condensation on the condensation surface 23B downstream also has a distribution like the curve shown in FIG.
[0020]
Then, the condensed heat medium condensed on the condensing surface 23B falls back into the storage unit 31, is heated again by the evaporating unit 10 and evaporates, and repeats the evaporation and condensation.
By the way, a communication hole 32 for communicating the thermoelectric converter 20 (inside the housing 30) with the outside is provided at the upper center of the housing 30. The communication hole 32 serves to maintain the inside of the housing 30 at substantially the atmospheric pressure. At the start of the operation of the thermoelectric generator 1, the air in the housing 30 is driven upward by steam from the evaporator 10. Then, the air is exhausted from the communication hole 32 to the outside.
[0021]
Although not shown, the communication hole 32 is provided with a filter or the like that allows air to pass through but does not allow steam to pass through, so that the steam is not discharged. When it is desired to maintain the interior of the housing 30 at a predetermined pressure instead of the atmospheric pressure, a pressure adjusting valve or the like may be provided in the communication hole 32.
[0022]
According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
In other words, according to the thermoelectric generator 1, the amount of evaporation of the condensed heat medium evaporated in the evaporator 10 shows a distribution following the curve curve shown in FIG. 17 in the flow direction of the high-temperature medium. 20, since the power generation plates 21 are densely and roughly arranged upstream and downstream, the amount of condensation on the condensation surface 23B of the thermoelectric module 23 also has a similar distribution according to the distribution of the amount of evaporation. it can. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate unevenness such as excessive supply of steam to the condensing surface 23B on the upstream side and insufficient supply of steam on the downstream side, thereby reliably improving power generation efficiency with respect to the supply amount of steam. be able to.
[0023]
[Second embodiment]
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a thermoelectric generator 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the thermoelectric generator 2, the structure of the evaporator 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and only the structure of the thermoelectric converter 20 is different.
[0024]
In the thermoelectric converter 20, the pitch of each power generation plate 21 in the flow direction of the high-temperature medium is uniform. However, a plurality of types of power generation plates 21 having different vertical dimensions are used. That is, the vertical dimension of the power generation plate 21 on the upstream side is large, and becomes smaller toward the downstream side. Thereby, the number of the thermoelectric modules 23 on the upstream side is increased to secure a larger condensation surface 23B, and the number of the thermoelectric modules 23 on the downstream side is reduced to reduce the condensation surface 23B.
[0025]
Even with such a structure, it is possible to receive more steam generated upstream by the larger condensing surface 23B and receive less steam generated downstream by the smaller condensing surface 23B. Also, the amount of condensation on the condensation surface 23B from the upstream to the downstream has a distribution like the curve shown in FIG. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, unevenness such as excessive supply of steam to the condensation surface 23B on the upstream side and insufficient supply of steam on the downstream side can be eliminated. Power generation efficiency can be reliably improved.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, the evaporation is performed by changing the vertical size of the power generation plate 21 to change the number of thermoelectric modules 23 provided on one power generation plate 21 or by combining the thermoelectric modules 23 having different sizes. Although the distribution of the condensed amount according to the distribution of the amount is realized, for example, even when all the sizes of the cooling plates 22 of the power generation plate 21 are made the same and the vertical size of the entire power generation plate 21 is unified, By changing the number and size of the provided thermoelectric modules 23, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained. In such a case, since only one type of cooling plate 22 is required, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0027]
[Third embodiment]
5 and 6 show a thermoelectric generator 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this thermoelectric generator 3, the structure of the evaporator 10 is the same as in the first and second embodiments described above, and only the structure of the thermoelectric converter 20 is different.
[0028]
The thermoelectric conversion unit 20 has a structure in which a plurality of power generation plates 21 that are continuous along the flow direction of the high-temperature medium are used, and these are arranged at equal pitches in the width direction of the thermoelectric conversion unit 20. In each power generation plate 21, a larger condensing surface 23B is secured by increasing the number of thermoelectric modules 23 provided on the upstream side or by combining thermoelectric modules 23 having different sizes. The condensing surface 23B is reduced by reducing the number of the condensing surfaces 23 or the like. Even with such a structure, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained by the above-described operation.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, the upper and lower dimensions of the power generation plate 21 are the same in the flow direction of the high-temperature medium and are rectangular. , The vertical dimension may become smaller in accordance with the formula (1).
[0030]
[Fourth embodiment]
7 and 8 show a thermoelectric generator 4 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this thermoelectric generator 4, a plurality of power generation plates 21 of the thermoelectric converter 20 are arranged at equal pitches along the flow direction of the high-temperature medium, as in the conventional case. Therefore, by making the amount of evaporation of the high-temperature medium in the evaporating section 10 in the flow direction substantially uniform, the amount of condensation on the condensing surface 23B on the side of the power generation plate 21 arranged at an equal pitch also changes in the flow direction of the high-temperature medium. It is made uniform.
[0031]
Specifically, the diameter of the heat transfer tube 12 used in the evaporating section 10 is large on the upstream side and smaller on the downstream side. However, in this embodiment, three types of heat transfer tubes 12A, 12B, and 12C having different diameters are used in consideration of manufacturing convenience, and a plurality of the heat transfer tubes are arranged in three divided sections a, b, and c. . In each of the sections a, b, and c, the density of the heat transfer tubes 12A in the section a is coarse, the arrangement of the heat transfer tubes 12B in the section b is dense, and the arrangement of the heat transfer tubes 12C in the section c is more dense. It is. Accordingly, the size of the heat transfer area F of the heat transfer tube 12 in each of the sections a, b, and c is such that the heat transfer area F in the section a <the heat transfer area F in the section b <the heat transfer area in the section c. F, as a result, the heat transfer area F is increased toward the downstream, and the evaporation amount in the flow direction of the high-temperature medium is made the same.
[0032]
FIG. 16 shows the relationship between the position in the flow direction of the high-temperature medium in the evaporator 10 and the amount of evaporation. According to this figure, the distribution of the evaporation amount in each of the sections a, b, and c is not completely constant (flat), but is substantially uniform, and the evaporation amount is substantially the same in any part in the flow direction. Is obtained. In order to make the amount of evaporation completely constant, the diameter of the heat transfer tubes 12 arranged along the width direction of the duct 11 may be made different for each row, but this is extremely expensive in manufacturing. Since this structure is not practical, it is not shown here.
[0033]
In the above structure, the distribution of the amount of evaporation is substantially uniform, whereas the distribution of the amount of condensation on the condensing surface 23B also varies in the flow direction of the high-temperature medium because the same power generation plates 21 are arranged at the same pitch. Since it is substantially uniform, it can be said that the distribution of the amount of condensation is set according to the distribution of the amount of evaporation. Therefore, the steam can be supplied evenly over the upstream and downstream, and the power generation efficiency with respect to the supply amount of the steam can be reliably improved.
[0034]
Further, since the amount of evaporation from the evaporating section 10 is substantially uniform along the flow direction, the steam rises in a uniform amount in the flow direction, and the air in the thermoelectric generator 4 is released from the communication hole 32 by the steam. Exhaust can be performed smoothly without bias, and it is possible to prevent the condensation of steam from being hindered by stagnation of air, thereby further improving power generation efficiency.
[0035]
[Fifth Embodiment]
9 and 10 show a thermoelectric generator 5 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this thermoelectric generator 5, the structure of the thermoelectric converter 20 is the same as that of the fourth embodiment described above, and only the structure of the evaporator 10 is different. That is, the evaporation amount is made substantially uniform by a structure different from that of the fourth embodiment.
[0036]
In the evaporating section 10 in the present embodiment, three types of heat transfer tubes 12A, 12B, and 12C having different diameters are used, but the difference in density between the sections a, b, and c is the same as in the fourth embodiment. Not as good as form. Of course, depending on the diameter of the heat transfer tube 12, the heat transfer tube 12 may be denser toward the downstream. Each of the heat transfer tubes 12 has a larger vertical dimension as it goes downstream, so that the heat transfer area F of the heat transfer tube 12 on the downstream side is increased, and the flow of the high-temperature medium is increased. The evaporation amount in each direction is made uniform (see FIG. 16).
[0037]
Even with such a structure, the steam can be supplied evenly over the upstream and downstream, and the power generation efficiency with respect to the supply amount of the steam can be reliably improved. Further, there is also an effect that the power generation efficiency can be further improved by the smooth exhaust of the air.
[0038]
[Sixth embodiment]
FIGS. 11 and 12 show a thermoelectric generator 6 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the thermoelectric generator 6, the structure of the thermoelectric converter 20 is also the same as in the fourth and fifth embodiments described above, and only the structure of the evaporator 10 is different.
[0039]
In the evaporating section 10 according to the present embodiment, the arrangement density of the heat transfer tubes 12A, 12B, and 12C in each of the sections a, b, and c does not significantly differ in density as in the fifth embodiment. In addition, their length dimensions are all the same. However, annular thin plate-shaped fins 13 are provided on the outer periphery of the heat transfer tubes 12A and 12B arranged in the sections b and c for the purpose of increasing the heat transfer area F. The plurality of fins 13 are provided at intervals in the vertical direction in the heat transfer tubes 12B and 12C. The number of the fins 13 per tube is larger in the heat transfer tube 12C than in the heat transfer tube 12B. Thus, the evaporation amount is made uniform in the flow direction.
[0040]
Even with such a structure, since the steam can be supplied evenly over the upstream and downstream, the same operation and effects as those of the fourth and fifth embodiments can be obtained.
[0041]
[Seventh embodiment]
FIGS. 13 and 14 show a thermoelectric generator 7 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In this thermoelectric generator 7, the structure of the thermoelectric converter 20 is also the same as that of the fourth to sixth embodiments described above, and only the structure of the evaporator 10 is different.
[0042]
In the evaporating section 10 in the present embodiment, the arrangement density of the heat transfer tubes 12A, 12B, and 12C does not differ much in density as in the fifth and sixth embodiments. In addition, their length dimensions are all the same. However, in order to increase the heat transfer area F, the inner circumference of the heat transfer tubes 12B and 12C arranged in the sections b and c is enlarged as shown in FIG. Fins 14 are provided. The fins 14 are continuous along the length direction of the heat transfer tubes 12B and 12C and are provided in plural at equal circumferential intervals. For example, when the heat transfer tubes 12B and 12C are made of aluminum, they are formed by extrusion molding (extruded material). ) Is formed integrally with the tube portion. Further, the number of the fins 14 per tube is larger in the heat transfer tube 12C than in the heat transfer tube 12B, whereby the evaporation amount in the flow direction is made uniform.
[0043]
Even with such a structure, since the steam can be supplied evenly over the upstream and downstream, the same operation and effects as those of the fourth and fifth embodiments can be obtained.
[0044]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes other configurations that can achieve the object of the present invention, and also includes the following modifications and the like.
For example, in the evaporating section 10 of each of the above-described embodiments, the heat transfer tube 12 having a circular cross section is used to evaporate the condensing heat medium. However, the cross sectional shape and the like of the heat transfer tube 12 are arbitrary, and a triangular or square cross section The shape is not limited to a circle, such as a heat transfer tube having a polygonal cross section or a heat transfer tube having an elliptical cross section.
Further, in addition to the type in which such a heat transfer tube is heated from the outer peripheral side with a high-temperature medium, an evaporator of a type in which a high-temperature medium is heated from the inside through the heat transfer tube and the condensed heat medium is evaporated by the outer peripheral surface may be used. Good.
[0045]
The evaporator according to the present invention may be formed using a plate as shown in FIG. 15 in addition to using a heat transfer tube having an arbitrary cross section. The evaporating section 10 includes a plurality of duct sections 15 each having a rectangular shape and having vertically elongated openings 15A. The duct portion 15 is closed at upper and lower portions so as to communicate with each other in a substantially horizontal direction, through which a high-temperature medium flows (see black arrows). In the duct portion 15, fins 16 also serving as reinforcement are provided continuously in the flow direction.
Between the duct portions 15 is a steam generating portion 18 separated by a plate 17. The upper and lower portions of the steam generating portion 18 are rectangular openings 18A continuous along the flow direction of the high-temperature medium, and a portion corresponding to the space between the openings 15A of the duct portion 15 is closed. The condensed heat medium entering from the lower opening (not shown) is heated and supplied to the thermoelectric converter 20 as steam from the upper opening 15A (see the white arrow).
[0046]
In the evaporating section 10 as well, the temperature is high at the opening 15A on the inlet side of the high-temperature medium, but the temperature decreases as it goes downstream, so that the amount of evaporation decreases and the flow direction of the high-temperature medium decreases. The portion of the evaporation amount is as shown in FIG. Therefore, when such an evaporation unit 10 is used, the object of the present invention can be achieved by using the thermoelectric conversion unit 20 described in the first to third embodiments.
[0047]
In addition, the best configuration and method for carrying out the present invention have been disclosed in the above description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention has been particularly illustrated and described primarily with respect to particular embodiments, but may be modified in form with respect to the embodiments described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. A person skilled in the art can make various modifications in the structure, quantity, and other detailed configurations.
Therefore, the description with the limited shapes, quantities, and the like disclosed above is illustratively described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention. The description by the name of the member excluding some or all of the limitations such as is included in the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the entire thermoelectric generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a plan sectional view showing a thermoelectric conversion unit of the thermoelectric generator of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a plan sectional view showing an evaporating unit.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view schematically showing the entire thermoelectric generator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4A is a plan sectional view showing a thermoelectric converter of a thermoelectric generator according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a plan sectional view showing an evaporator.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view schematically showing the entire thermoelectric generator according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6A is a plan sectional view showing a thermoelectric converter of a thermoelectric generator according to a third embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a plan sectional view showing an evaporator.
FIG. 7 is a side sectional view schematically showing the entire thermoelectric generator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
8A is a plan sectional view showing a thermoelectric converter of a thermoelectric generator according to a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a plan sectional view showing an evaporator.
FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the entire thermoelectric generator according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10A is a plan sectional view showing a thermoelectric converter of a thermoelectric generator according to a fifth embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a plan sectional view showing an evaporator.
FIG. 11 is a side sectional view schematically showing the entire thermoelectric generator according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12A is a plan sectional view showing a thermoelectric converter of a thermoelectric generator according to a sixth embodiment, and FIG. 12B is a plan sectional view showing an evaporator.
FIG. 13 is a side sectional view schematically showing the entire thermoelectric generator according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
14A is a plan sectional view showing a thermoelectric converter of a thermoelectric generator according to a seventh embodiment, FIG. 14B is a plan sectional view showing an evaporator, and FIG. FIG.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a modification of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a relationship between a position in a flow direction of a high-temperature medium and an amount of evaporation in an evaporating section of the fourth to seventh embodiments.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a relationship between a position in a flow direction of a high-temperature medium and an amount of evaporation in a conventional evaporator.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 to 7: thermoelectric generator, 10: evaporator, 11: duct, 12: heat transfer tube, 20: thermoelectric converter, 22: power generation plate, 23: thermoelectric module, 23B: condensation surface.

Claims (2)

In the thermoelectric generators (1 to 7),
An evaporating unit (10) for generating vapor of a condensing heat medium by a high-temperature medium flowing in a predetermined direction;
A thermoelectric module (23) having a condensing surface (23B) heated by the vapor of the condensing heat medium from the evaporating section (10);
The distribution of the amount of condensation of the condensing heat medium on the condensing surface (23B) of the thermoelectric module (23) depends on the amount of evaporation of the condensing heat medium in the direction of flow of the high-temperature medium in the evaporating section (10). Thermoelectric generators (1 to 7) characterized by being set. The thermoelectric generator (4 to 7) according to claim 1,
The thermoelectric generator (4 to 7), wherein the amount of evaporation of the condensed heat medium from the evaporator (10) is set substantially uniformly in the flow direction of the high-temperature medium.

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