JP2013008737A - Thermoelectric conversion unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermoelectric conversion unit which conducts heat exchange at both sides of a thermoelectric conversion element with a heat medium and has a small number of components for a seal member.SOLUTION: A thermoelectric conversion unit 1 has: a first substrate 2b; a second substrate 2c facing the first substrate 2b; a thermoelectric conversion element 2a provided between the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c; a seal member 4; and a case 3 housing the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c at an interior space thereof. The seal member 4 has: an inner peripheral part 4h closely contacting with an outer peripheral part of the first substrate 2b and an outer peripheral part of the second substrate 2c; and an outer peripheral part 4i closely contacting with an inner side surface of the case 3. The interior space of the case 3 has: a first passage 3h divided by the first substrate 2b and the seal member 4; and a second passage 3i divided by the second substrate 2c and the seal member 4. The case 3 has: a first inflow part 3h1 and a first outflow part 3h2, which communicate with the first passage 3h, and a second inflow part 3i1 and a second outflow part 3i2 which communicate with the second passage 3i.

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermoelectric conversion unit having a thermoelectric conversion element.

  The thermoelectric conversion unit described in Patent Document 1 includes a pair of opposing substrates, a thermoelectric conversion element provided between the pair of substrates, and a seal member along the outer periphery of the substrate. The seal member seals between the outer peripheral portions of the pair of substrates and protects the thermoelectric conversion element from an external environment such as moisture. The thermoelectric conversion unit described in Patent Document 2 includes a jacket in which a flow path having an open structure is formed, a thermoelectric conversion module having a thermoelectric conversion element and covering an open portion of the flow path, and a space between the thermoelectric conversion module and the jacket. A seal member for sealing; Therefore, one side of the thermoelectric conversion module can exchange heat with the heat medium in the flow path.

JP 2008-61374 A JP 2001-4245 A

  However, a thermoelectric conversion unit that can exchange heat with both sides of the thermoelectric conversion element with a heat medium and has a small number of parts of the seal member has been conventionally required.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a thermoelectric conversion unit as described in each claim. The thermoelectric conversion unit according to claim 1 includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a thermoelectric conversion element provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, a sealing member, and a first substrate. And a second substrate are housed in the internal space. The seal member has an inner peripheral portion in close contact with the outer peripheral portion of the first substrate and the outer peripheral portion of the second substrate, and an outer peripheral portion in close contact with the inner side surface of the case. The internal space of the case has a first flow path partitioned by the first substrate and the seal member, and a second flow path partitioned by the second substrate and the seal member. The case has a first inflow portion and a first outflow portion that communicate with the first flow path, and a second inflow portion and a second outflow portion that communicate with the second flow path.

  Therefore, one end of the thermoelectric conversion element can exchange heat with the heat medium in the first flow path via the first substrate. The other end of the thermoelectric conversion element can exchange heat with the heat medium in the second flow path via the second substrate. The seal member seals between the first substrate and the second substrate, and forms a first channel and a second channel in the internal space of the case in cooperation with the substrate. Therefore, the number of seal members of the thermoelectric conversion unit can be reduced. For example, a structure that has a member that seals between the first substrate and the second substrate, a member that seals between the first substrate and the inner surface of the case, and a member that seals the second substrate and the inner surface of the case. In comparison, the number of sealing members can be reduced. Moreover, the outer peripheral part of a sealing member is located in the back side of an inner peripheral part. Therefore, the force with which the outer peripheral portion presses the inner surface of the case and the force with which the inner peripheral portion presses the substrate are intensified, and the sealing performance by the seal member can be improved.

  The inner peripheral portion of the seal member according to claim 2 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the second substrate separately from the first inner protrusion and the first inner protrusion protruding toward the outer periphery of the first substrate and closely contacting the first substrate. A second inner protrusion projecting toward the second substrate is provided. Therefore, the first inner protrusion and the second inner protrusion can be in close contact with the first substrate and the second substrate without interference with each other or with little interference. Therefore, the sealing performance of the sealing member is improved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the inner peripheral portion of the seal member has an intermediate protrusion that protrudes between the first substrate and the second substrate and contacts the inner surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate. Therefore, the intermediate protrusion can determine the positions of the sealing member with respect to the first substrate and the second substrate by contacting the inner surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate. This ensures that the seal member is in intimate contact with the substrate or case.

  5. The outer peripheral portion of the seal member according to claim 4, wherein the outer periphery of the seal member protrudes in a direction opposite to the first inner protrusion and protrudes in a direction opposite to the second inner protrusion. It has the 2nd outer projection part closely_contact | adhered to a side surface. Therefore, the first outer protrusion can reliably come into close contact with the inner surface of the case using the force received by the first inner protrusion from the first substrate. The second outer protrusion can reliably come into close contact with the inner surface of the case using the force received by the second inner protrusion from the second substrate.

  The thermoelectric conversion unit according to claim 5 includes a plurality of first substrates arranged in parallel along the first flow path and a plurality of second substrates arranged in parallel along the second flow path. The seal member does not protrude from the first flow path and the second flow path. Therefore, the heat medium in the first flow path can smoothly flow along the plurality of first substrates, and the heat medium in the second flow path can flow smoothly along the plurality of second substrates.

  According to the present invention, the first flow path and the second flow path can be formed by a small number of seal members, and both sides of the thermoelectric conversion element can be heat-exchanged with the heat medium by the first flow path and the second flow path.

It is a block diagram of a heat exchange system. It is a perspective view of a thermoelectric conversion unit. It is a perspective view of the thermoelectric conversion unit in the middle of an assembly. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. It is a perspective view of the thermoelectric conversion unit in the middle of an assembly concerning other forms. It is sectional drawing of the thermoelectric conversion unit corresponding to the VI-VI line of FIG. It is a perspective view of the thermoelectric conversion unit in the middle of an assembly concerning other forms. It is sectional drawing of the thermoelectric conversion unit corresponding to the VIII-VIII line of FIG. It is a partial cross section figure of the thermoelectric conversion unit concerning another form.

  One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The heat exchange system 10 is provided in a vehicle, for example, and includes a thermoelectric conversion unit 1, a radiator 11, and an indoor heat exchanger 14 as shown in FIG. The radiator 11 is connected to a vehicle engine 12 by a pipe 20. An outdoor heat medium (coolant liquid) circulates between the engine 12 and the radiator 11 by a pump 13 provided in the middle of the pipe 20. The outdoor heat medium receives heat (hot heat) from the engine 12 and releases heat from the radiator 11 to the outside air.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the thermoelectric conversion unit 1 is connected to the radiator 11 by a pipe 21 connected to the pipe 20, and is connected to the radiator 11 in parallel with the engine 12. The outdoor heat medium is cooled by receiving cold from the thermoelectric conversion unit 1 via the pipes 20 and 21. Therefore, the outdoor heat medium can be cooled not only by the radiator 11 but also by the thermoelectric conversion unit 1.

  The thermoelectric conversion unit 1 is connected to the indoor heat exchanger 14 by a pipe 22 as shown in FIG. The indoor heat medium (coolant liquid) circulates between the thermoelectric conversion unit 1 and the indoor heat exchanger 14 by the pump 15 provided in the middle of the pipe 22. The indoor heat medium receives heat from the thermoelectric conversion unit 1 and releases heat from the indoor heat exchanger 14 to the indoor air. Therefore, the room can be warmed by the indoor heat exchanger 14.

  The thermoelectric conversion unit 1 includes a case 3 and a plurality of (for example, two) thermoelectric conversion modules 2 as shown in FIGS. The case 3 has a cylindrical shape, and an internal space is formed in the case 3. The case 3 has a top plate 3a, a bottom plate 3b, and side plates 3c and 3d. A front plate 3e is provided between the front portions of the side plates 3c and 3d, a rear plate 3f is provided between the rear portions of the side plates 3c and 3d, and a central plate 3g is provided between the center portions of the side plates 3c and 3d.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front plate 3e, the rear plate 3f, and the central plate 3g are located between the top plate 3a and the bottom plate 3b, and the two flow paths 3h and 3i are provided between the top plate 3a and the bottom plate 3b. Located so that it can be partitioned. The thermoelectric conversion module 2 is inserted into the case 3 with the side plate 3d removed. The thermoelectric conversion module 2 is inserted into the case 3 to partition the internal space of the case 3 into two flow paths 3h and 3i. The thermoelectric conversion module 2 is held by the case 3 by attaching the side plate 3d to the case body.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the thermoelectric conversion module 2 includes a thermoelectric conversion element 2a, substrates 2b and 2c, and fins 2d and 2e. The thermoelectric conversion element (Peltier element) 2a is composed of different metals, conductors or semiconductors. The thermoelectric conversion element 2a exerts a Peltier effect by passing a direct current, and either one of the first heat surface and the second heat surface serves as a heat absorbing portion, and the other one serves as a heat radiating portion to dissipate heat. . A plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 2a are provided between the substrates 2b and 2c. The plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 2a are arranged in a plurality of rows vertically and horizontally in a plane with respect to the substrates 2b and 2c.

  The substrates 2b and 2c are plate-shaped as shown in FIG. 4 and are made of an insulating material. The first substrate 2b partitions the internal space of the case 3 and forms a first flow path 3h in the internal space. The second substrate 2c partitions the internal space of the case 3 and forms a second flow path 3i in the internal space. The substrates 2b and 2c have outer surfaces 2b1 and 2c1 that cover the open portions of the channels 3h and 3i having an open structure, and inner surfaces 2b2 and 2c2 that face the other substrates 2b and 2c. The inner surfaces 2b2 and 2c2 are provided with a plurality of rows of electrodes 2b3 and 2c3 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The electrodes 2b3 and 2c3 are made of a conductive material, and the thermoelectric conversion element 2a is connected to the electrodes 2b3 and 2c3 by solder.

  Fins 2d and 2e are provided on the outer surfaces 2b1 and 2c1 of the substrates 2b and 2c as shown in FIGS. The fins 2d and 2e protrude from the substrates 2b and 2c toward the flow paths 3h and 3i. The fins 2d, 2e have a plurality of plate portions 2d1, 2e1 arranged in parallel, and gaps 2d2, 2e2 are formed between the plate portions 2d1, 2e1. The gaps 2d2 and 2e2 spread in the flow direction of the flow paths 3h and 3i so as not to block the flow paths 3h and 3i.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a seal member 4 is attached to the outer periphery of the substrates 2 b and 2 c. The seal member 4 is formed from rubber or resin having a large elastic deformation amount. The seal member 4 integrally includes an annular seal body 4f, an inner peripheral portion 4h, and an outer peripheral portion 4i. The inner peripheral portion 4h includes a first inner protrusion 4a, a second inner protrusion 4b, and an intermediate protrusion 4c provided on the inner peripheral side of the seal body 4f.

  The first inner protrusion 4a protrudes from the seal body 4f toward the first substrate 2b as shown in FIG. The first inner protrusion 4a has a contact surface 4a1 that is in close contact with the entire outer periphery of the first substrate 2b. The second inner protrusion 4b protrudes from the seal body 4f toward the second substrate 2c separately from the first inner protrusion 4a. The second inner protrusion 4b has a contact surface 4b1 that is in close contact with the entire outer peripheral end surface of the second substrate 2c. The first inner protrusion 4a and the second inner protrusion 4b cooperate with the seal body 4f to seal between the outer periphery of the first substrate 2b and the outer periphery of the second substrate 2c. Thereby, the sealing member 4 suppresses that the thermoelectric conversion element 2a contacts a heat medium or external air.

  The intermediate protrusion 4c protrudes between the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c from the seal body 4f as shown in FIG. The intermediate protrusion 4c has a tapered shape and has inclined surfaces 4c1 and 4c2. The inclined surface 4c1 contacts the outer peripheral edge of the inner surface 2b2 of the first substrate 2b, and the inclined surface 4c2 contacts the outer peripheral edge of the inner surface 2c2 of the second substrate 2c. The intermediate protrusion 4c determines the position of the sealing member 4 with respect to the thermoelectric conversion module 2 by contacting the substrates 2b and 2c.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the outer peripheral portion 4i has a first outer protrusion 4d and a second outer protrusion 4e. The first outer protrusion 4d and the second outer protrusion 4e protrude from the seal body 4f toward the inner surface of the case 3 (front plate 3e, rear plate 3f, central plate 3g, side plates 3c and 3d in FIG. 2). To do. The first outer protrusion 4 d and the second outer protrusion 4 e have an annular contact surface 4 d 1 that is in close contact with the inner surface of the case 3. The first outer protrusion 4d and the second outer protrusion 4e form flow paths 3h and 3i in the internal space of the case 3 in cooperation with the substrates 2b and 2c.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first outer protrusion 4d is located on the back side of the first inner protrusion 4a and protrudes in the opposite direction to the first inner protrusion 4a. Therefore, the force by which the first outer protrusion 4d presses the inner surface of the case 3 and the force by which the first inner protrusion 4a presses the first substrate 2b reinforce each other. The second outer protrusion 4e is located on the back side of the second inner protrusion 4b and protrudes in the opposite direction to the second inner protrusion 4b. For this reason, the force by which the second outer protrusion 4e presses the inner surface of the case 3 and the force by which the second inner protrusion 4b presses the second substrate 2c reinforce each other.

  When manufacturing the thermoelectric conversion unit 1, the seal member 4 is attached to the thermoelectric conversion module 2 as shown in FIG. The thermoelectric conversion module 2 is slid and inserted into the case 3 together with the seal member 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the side plate 3d is attached to the case body. A converter (not shown) is electrically connected to the thermoelectric conversion unit 1. The converter supplies a direct current to the thermoelectric conversion unit 1, and the direct current flows through the plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 2a in series by the electrodes 2b3 and 2c3 as shown in FIG. The thermoelectric conversion element 2a, when supplied with current, absorbs heat through the second substrate 2c and the second fin 2e and dissipates heat through the first substrate 2b and the first fin 2d.

  The 2nd flow path 3i of the thermoelectric conversion unit 1 is connected to the piping 21 as shown in FIG. The outdoor heat medium is supplied to the second flow path 3 i by the pump 13 via the pipes 20 and 21. The outdoor heat medium is supplied from the second inflow portion 3i1 to the second flow path 3i as shown in FIG. The outdoor heat medium flows through the second flow path 3i and receives cold from the second substrate 2c and the second fin 2e. The outdoor heat medium is discharged out of the second flow path 3i from the second outflow portion 3i2.

  The first flow path 3h of the thermoelectric conversion unit 1 is connected to the pipe 22 as shown in FIG. The indoor heat medium is supplied to the first flow path 3 h by the pump 15 via the pipe 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the indoor heat medium flows through the first flow path 3h from the first inflow portion 3h1, and receives heat from the first substrate 2b and the first fin 2d. The indoor heat medium is discharged out of the first flow path 3h from the first outflow portion 3h2. The indoor heat medium flows through the indoor heat exchanger 14 shown in FIG. 1 and releases warm heat to the indoor air.

  As described above, the thermoelectric conversion unit 1 includes the first substrate 2b, the second substrate 2c facing the first substrate 2b, and the thermoelectric provided between the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c, as shown in FIG. A conversion element 2a, a sealing member 4, a first substrate 2b, and a second substrate 2c are provided with a case 3 that accommodates the internal space. The seal member 4 has an inner peripheral portion 4 h that is in close contact with the outer peripheral portion of the first substrate 2 b and the outer peripheral portion of the second substrate 2 c, and an outer peripheral portion 4 i that is in close contact with the inner side surface of the case 3. The internal space of the case 3 includes a first flow path 3 h that is partitioned by the first substrate 2 b and the seal member 4, and a second flow path 3 i that is partitioned by the second substrate 2 c and the seal member 4. The case 3 includes a first inflow portion 3h1 and a first outflow portion 3h2 that communicate with the first flow path 3h, and a second inflow portion 3i1 and a second outflow portion 3i2 that communicate with the second flow path 3i.

  Therefore, one end of the thermoelectric conversion element 2a can exchange heat with the heat medium in the first flow path 3h via the first substrate 2b. The other end of the thermoelectric conversion element 2a can exchange heat with the heat medium in the second flow path 3i through the second substrate 2c. The seal member 4 seals between the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c, and forms the first flow path 3h and the second flow path 3i in the internal space of the case 3 in cooperation with the substrates 2b and 2c. Therefore, the number of seal members 4 of the thermoelectric conversion unit 1 can be reduced. For example, a member for sealing between the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c, a member for sealing between the first substrate 2b and the inner surface of the case 3, and a member for sealing the second substrate 2c and the inner surface of the case The number of seal members can be reduced as compared with the structure separately provided. The outer peripheral portion 4i of the seal member 4 is located on the back side of the inner peripheral portion 4h. Therefore, the force by which the outer peripheral portion 4i presses the inner surface of the case 3 and the force by which the inner peripheral portion 4h presses the substrates 2b and 2c are intensified, and the sealing performance by the seal member 4 can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the inner peripheral portion 4h of the seal member 4 protrudes toward the outer peripheral portion of the first substrate 2b and comes into close contact with the first substrate 2b, and the first inner protrusion 4a Separately, it has a second inner protrusion 4b that protrudes toward the outer periphery of the second substrate 2c and is in close contact with the second substrate 2c. Therefore, the first inner protrusion 4a and the second inner protrusion 4b can be in close contact with the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c without mutual interference or with little interference. Therefore, the sealing performance of the sealing member 4 is improved.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the inner peripheral portion 4h of the seal member 4 protrudes between the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c and is in contact with the inner surfaces of the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c. 4c. Therefore, the intermediate protrusion 4c can determine the position of the seal member 4 with respect to the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c by contacting the inner surfaces of the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c. As a result, the seal member 4 can be reliably brought into close contact with the substrates 2b and 2c or the case 3.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the outer peripheral portion 4 i of the seal member 4 protrudes in the opposite direction to the first inner protrusion 4 a and comes into close contact with the inner surface of the case 3, and the second inner protrusion 4 b A second outer protrusion 4e that protrudes in the opposite direction and is in close contact with the inner surface of the case 3 is provided. Therefore, the first outer protrusion 4d can surely come into close contact with the inner surface of the case 3 using the force received by the first inner protrusion 4a from the first substrate 2b. The second outer protrusion 4e can surely come into close contact with the inner surface of the case 3 using the force received by the second inner protrusion 4b from the second substrate 2c.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the thermoelectric conversion unit 1 includes a plurality of first substrates 2b arranged along the first flow path 3h and a plurality of second substrates 2c arranged along the second flow path 3i. Have. The seal member 4 is the same as the plurality of first substrates 2b or is positioned closer to the second substrate 2c than the first substrate 2b, and is the same as the second substrate 2c or positioned closer to the first substrate 2b than the second substrate 2c. . That is, the seal member 4 does not protrude into the first flow path 3h and the second flow path 3i. Therefore, the heat medium in the first flow path 3h can smoothly flow along the plurality of first substrates 2b, and the heat medium in the second flow path 3i can flow smoothly along the plurality of second substrates 2c.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the seal member 4 does not protrude from the outer surfaces 2b1 and 2c1 of the substrates 2b and 2c. Therefore, the height of the fins 2 d and 2 e provided on the outer surfaces 2 b 1 and 2 c 1 is not limited by the seal member 4.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be the following form. For example, the thermoelectric conversion unit 1 may have a case 5 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 instead of the case 3 shown in FIG. The case 5 has a cylindrical shape, and an internal space is formed in the case 5. The internal space includes a top plate 5a, a bottom plate 5b, and side plates 5c and 5d. A front plate 5e is provided between the front portions of the side plates 5c and 5d, a rear plate 5f is provided between the rear portions of the side plates 5c and 5d, and a central plate 5g is provided between the central portions of the side plates 5c and 5d.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the front plate 5e, the rear plate 5f, and the central plate 5g are positioned between the top plate 5a and the bottom plate 5b, and the two flow paths 5h and 5i are provided between the top plate 5a and the bottom plate 5b. Located so that it can be partitioned. Rails 5j and 5k are provided on the inner surfaces of the side plates 5c and 5d. The rails 5j and 5k extend along the upper edge and the lower edge of the side plate 5c, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 5, one of the thermoelectric conversion modules 2 is inserted into the case 5 from the front with the front plate 5e removed, and the case 5 of the thermoelectric conversion module 2 with the rear plate 5f removed. One is inserted from the back. The thermoelectric conversion module 2 is slid and inserted into the case 5 using the rails 5j and 5k. The thermoelectric conversion module 2 is inserted into the case 5 to partition the internal space of the case 5 into two flow paths 5 h and 5 i in cooperation with the seal member 4. The front plate 5e and the rear plate 5f are attached to the case body, and the thermoelectric conversion module 2 is held by the case 5.

  The thermoelectric conversion unit 1 may have a seal member 6 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 instead of the seal member 4 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the seal member 6 integrally includes a seal body 6f, an inner peripheral portion 6h, and an outer peripheral portion 6i. The seal body 6f includes an annular outer frame portion 6f1 and an extending portion 6f2 extending so as to partition the inside of the outer frame portion 6f1 into a plurality of regions. A plurality of openings 6g are formed in the sealing member 6 by the outer frame portion 6f1 and the extending portion 6f2. The thermoelectric conversion module 2 is attached to each opening 6g.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the inner peripheral portion 6h has a first inner protrusion 6a, a second inner protrusion 6b, and an intermediate protrusion 6c. The first inner protrusion 6a, the second inner protrusion 6b, and the intermediate protrusion 6c protrude from the outer frame portion 6f1 and the extension portion 6f2 of the seal body 6f. The first inner protrusion 6a is in close contact with the first substrate 2b, and the second inner protrusion 6b is in close contact with the second substrate 2c. The intermediate protrusion 6c protrudes between the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c and contacts the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the first inner protrusions 6a are provided on both surfaces of the extending part 6f2, and each first inner protrusion 6a protrudes in the opposite direction and comes into contact with each first substrate 2b. Therefore, the first inner protrusion 6a provided on one surface of the extension 6f2 pushes the first substrate 2b, and the first inner protrusion 6a provided on the other surface of the extension 6f2 moves the first substrate 2b. The pressing force strengthens each other. The second inner protrusions 6b are provided on both surfaces of the extension part 6f2, and each second inner protrusion 6b protrudes in the opposite direction and comes into contact with each second substrate 2c. Therefore, the second inner protrusion 6b provided on one surface of the extension 6f2 pushes the second substrate 2c, and the second inner protrusion 6b provided on the other surface of the extension 6f2 deforms the second substrate 2c. The pressing force strengthens each other.

  The outer peripheral part 6i has the 1st outer protrusion part 6d and the 2nd outer protrusion part 6e, as shown in FIG. The first outer protrusion 6d and the second outer protrusion 6e protrude from the seal body 6f toward the inner surface of the case 5 (front plate 5e, rear plate 5f, side plates 5c and 5d in FIG. 7). The case 5 does not have the central plate 5g shown in FIG. A plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules 2 are inserted into the case 5 together with the seal member 6 with the front plate 5e or the rear plate 5f removed. The thermoelectric conversion module 2 and the seal member 6 are held with respect to the case 5 by attaching the front plate 5e and the rear plate 5f to the case body.

  The sealing member 4 may have claw portions 4j and 4k shown in FIG. 9 instead of the intermediate protrusion 4c shown in FIG. The claw portion 4j extends from the upper part of the seal body 4f and contacts the outer surface 2b1 of the first substrate 2b. The claw portion 4k extends from the lower portion of the seal body 4f and contacts the outer surface 2c1 of the second substrate 2c. The claw portions 4j and 4k are elastically deformable and elastically contact the substrates 2b and 2c. The claw portions 4j and 4k abut on the substrates 2b and 2c, whereby the seal member 4 is positioned with respect to the first substrate 2b and the second substrate 2c.

  The thermoelectric conversion unit 1 may have two thermoelectric conversion modules 2, or may have only one or three or more.

  The case 3 may have a cylindrical shape, or may have a pair of divided bodies in which channels having an open structure are formed, the openings of the respective channels are covered by the respective substrates, and the pair of divided bodies are coupled by a coupler. It may be a configuration.

  The inner peripheral portion 4 h of the seal member 4 may have a first inner protrusion 4 a and a second inner protrusion 4 b that protrude toward the substrates 2 b and 2 c, and the substrates 2 b and 2 c Even if it has a board | substrate side protrusion part which protrudes toward the inner peripheral part 4h and the inner peripheral part 4h of the sealing member 4 has a contact part which contact | abuts to a board | substrate side protrusion part or a recessed part which receives a board | substrate side protrusion part good.

  The outer peripheral portion 4 i of the seal member 4 may have outer protrusions 4 d and 4 e that protrude toward the inner surface of the case 3, and the case 3 protrudes toward the outer peripheral portion 4 i of the seal member 4. The outer peripheral part 4i of the sealing member 4 may have a side protrusion, or a contact part that contacts the case side protrusion or a recess that receives the case side protrusion.

  The thermoelectric conversion element 2a may be a Peltier element that exhibits the Peltier effect, or may be an element that exhibits the Seebeck effect or the Thomson effect.

  The heat exchange system 10 may be used for heating the interior of the vehicle or may be used for cooling. When used for cooling, the first flow path 3 h is connected to the pipe 21 and the second flow path 3 i is connected to the pipe 22. The heat exchange system 10 may be used for air conditioning in a vehicle interior, may be used for cooling or heating a vehicle component such as a battery, or may be used for cooling or heating a product other than the vehicle. May be.

  The first outer protrusions 4d, 6d may be located on the back side of the first inner protrusions 4a, 6a, and the second outer protrusions 4e, 6e may be located on the back side of the second inner protrusions 4b, 6b, Positions where the first outer protrusions 4d, 6d are displaced from the first inner protrusions 4a, 6a, and positions where the second outer protrusions 4e, 6e are displaced from the second inner protrusions 4b, 6b. May be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermoelectric conversion unit 2 Thermoelectric conversion module 2a Thermoelectric conversion element 2b 1st board | substrate 2c 2nd board | substrate 2d 1st fin 2e 2nd fin 3 Case 3h, 5h 1st flow path 3h1 1st inflow part 3h2 1st outflow part 3i, 5i 1st Two flow paths 3i1 Second inflow part 3i2 Second outflow part 4,6 Seal members 4a, 6a First inner protrusions 4b, 6b Second inner protrusions 4c, 6c Intermediate protrusions 4d, 6d First outer protrusions 4e, 6e 2nd outer projection part 4h, 6h Inner peripheral part 4i, 6i Outer peripheral part 10 Heat exchange system 11 Radiator 12 Engine 13, 15 Pump 14 Indoor heat exchanger

Claims (5)

A thermoelectric conversion unit,
A first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a thermoelectric conversion element provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, a sealing member, the first substrate, and the second substrate Having a case for accommodating the internal space,
The seal member has an inner peripheral portion in close contact with the outer peripheral portion of the first substrate and the outer peripheral portion of the second substrate, and an outer peripheral portion in close contact with the inner side surface of the case.
The internal space of the case has a first flow path partitioned by the first substrate and the seal member, and a second flow path partitioned by the second substrate and the seal member,
The said case is a thermoelectric conversion unit which has the 1st inflow part and 1st outflow part which are connected to said 1st flow path, and the 2nd inflow part and 2nd outflow part which are connected to said 2nd flow path. The thermoelectric conversion unit according to claim 1,
The inner peripheral portion of the seal member protrudes toward the outer peripheral portion of the first substrate and contacts the first substrate, and the outer periphery of the second substrate separately from the first inner protrusion. A thermoelectric conversion unit having a second inner protrusion protruding toward the portion and in close contact with the second substrate. The thermoelectric conversion unit according to claim 1 or 2,
The thermoelectric conversion unit, wherein the inner peripheral portion of the seal member has an intermediate protrusion that protrudes between the first substrate and the second substrate and contacts the inner surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate. The thermoelectric conversion unit according to claim 2,
The outer peripheral portion of the seal member protrudes in a direction opposite to the first inner protrusion and protrudes in a direction opposite to the second inner protrusion. A thermoelectric conversion unit having a second outer protrusion closely contacting the inner surface of the case. The thermoelectric conversion unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
A plurality of the first substrates arranged side by side along the first flow path, and a plurality of the second substrates arranged side by side along the second flow path,
The seal member is a thermoelectric conversion unit that does not protrude from the first flow path and the second flow path.

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