JP2014212632A - Thermoelectric conversion module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a practical thermoelectric conversion module that implements improved thermoelectric conversion efficiency, and sources heat from, for example, waste heat of a compressible fluid, such as exhaust gas from various industrial apparatuses, automobiles and others.SOLUTION: The thermoelectric conversion module includes: a first case member housing a tubular pipe 11 for conducting a compressible fluid, a high temperature side electrode part, a thermoelectric conversion element and a low temperature side electrode part; a second case member disposed outside of the first case member so as to form, with the low temperature side electrode part, a refrigerant compartment for conducting a refrigerant, to house the first case member; and a passage guide plate 18 disposed in the refrigerant compartment so as to be constricted from an inlet of the refrigerant compartment toward the region where the thermoelectric conversion element is formed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermoelectric conversion module using, as a heat source, waste heat of a compressive fluid such as exhaust gas in various industrial equipment and automobiles.

  In the conventional thermoelectric conversion module, electrodes are arranged on the upper and lower surfaces of a plurality of p-type thermoelectric semiconductors and n-type thermoelectric semiconductors constituting the thermoelectric conversion elements, that is, the surface on the high-temperature heat source side and the surface on the low-temperature heat source side. In general, the structure further includes an electrical insulating plate such as ceramics on both outer surfaces of the electrode.

  On the other hand, in recent years, in the thermoelectric conversion module, it has been attempted to use waste heat of a compressive fluid such as exhaust gas in various industrial equipment and automobiles as a high-temperature heat source (see Patent Document 1).

  In order to improve the power generation efficiency of the thermoelectric conversion module, heat is efficiently received from the compressive fluid, the high temperature heat source side of the thermoelectric conversion element is heated to a higher temperature, and the low temperature heat source side of the thermoelectric conversion element is cooled to a lower temperature by flowing a refrigerant. Is required.

  In order to receive heat efficiently from the compressive fluid, the pipe body through which the compressive fluid of the thermoelectric conversion module flows, that is, the wall of the exhaust pipe may be thinned. On the other hand, in order to further lower the temperature on the low-temperature heat source side of the thermoelectric conversion element, a large amount of refrigerant is flowed into the refrigerant chamber formed in the thermoelectric conversion module and exposed to the low-temperature heat source of the thermoelectric conversion element, or extremely low. What is necessary is just to flow the refrigerant of temperature.

  However, since the extremely low temperature refrigerant is expensive, there is a problem that the cost of the thermoelectric conversion module increases. Further, when a general-purpose refrigerant is used, the refrigerant flows through the entire refrigerant chamber, so that it is difficult to further reduce the temperature on the low-temperature heat source side of the thermoelectric conversion element.

JP 2007-221895

  An object of the present invention is to provide a practical thermoelectric conversion module that improves thermoelectric conversion efficiency and uses waste heat of a compressive fluid such as exhaust gas in various industrial equipment and automobiles as a heat source.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A tubular tube for flowing a compressive fluid;
A high temperature side electrode portion disposed on each of an upper surface side and a lower surface side of the tube body and electrically insulated from the tube body;
A thermoelectric conversion element in which at least a pair of a p-type thermoelectric semiconductor and an n-type thermoelectric semiconductor are electrically connected in series on the high temperature side electrode portion;
On the thermoelectric conversion element, a low-temperature side electrode portion that electrically connects the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor in series;
A first case member that houses the tubular body, the high temperature side electrode portion, the thermoelectric conversion element, and the low temperature side electrode portion;
A refrigerant chamber is formed outside the first case member so as to allow a refrigerant to flow between the low temperature side electrode portion and the first case member. A second case member;
In the refrigerant chamber, a flow path guide plate disposed so as to be narrowed from the inlet of the refrigerant chamber toward the formation region of the thermoelectric conversion element;
It is related with the thermoelectric conversion module characterized by comprising.

  According to the present invention, a tubular body for flowing a compressive fluid, a high-temperature side electrode part, a thermoelectric conversion element including at least a pair of p-type thermoelectric semiconductor and n-type thermoelectric semiconductor, and a low-temperature side electrode part of the thermoelectric conversion module are accommodated. In the refrigerant chamber formed between the first case member that performs and the second case member that is outside the first case member and houses the first case member, from the inlet of the refrigerant chamber A flow path guide plate formed so as to be narrowed toward the formation region of the thermoelectric conversion element is provided. Therefore, the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant chamber is forcibly supplied to the formation region of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the region can be cooled more efficiently and effectively.

  Therefore, compared with the conventional case where the refrigerant flows through the entire refrigerant chamber, the cold heat from the refrigerant is efficiently transmitted to the low-temperature heat source side of the thermoelectric conversion element. Use efficiency improves. As a result, the Seebeck effect of the thermoelectric conversion element is improved, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is improved, and larger electric energy can be extracted from the thermoelectric conversion module.

  That is, according to the present invention, the refrigerant chamber formed between the first case member and the second case member is narrowed from the inlet of the refrigerant chamber toward the thermoelectric conversion element formation region. By the simple method of disposing the flow path guide plate, it is possible to improve the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric conversion element and take out large electric energy from the thermoelectric conversion module.

  In addition, although the structure itself is simple, the said invention is based on the idea obtained as a result of research and development over many years of the present inventors, and is based on the idea which did not exist conventionally.

  In one example of the present invention, the flow path guide plate is disposed so as to form a gap between at least part of the upper wall surface of the first case member or at least part of the lower wall surface of the second case member. be able to.

  If the region outside the region where the thermoelectric conversion element is formed is heated excessively by, for example, a high-temperature compressive fluid flowing in the tube, for example, voids may be generated due to local heating of the refrigerant, which may hinder the flow of the refrigerant. is there. However, as described above, the flow path guide plate is disposed so as to form a gap between at least part of the upper wall surface of the first case member or at least part of the lower wall surface of the second case member. By doing so, the refrigerant leaks slightly from the region defined by the flow path guide plate to the region outside the region where the thermoelectric conversion element is formed, so that excessive heating of the region is suppressed, and the above disadvantages are avoided. Can be resolved.

  The flow path guide plate may be joined to at least a part of the upper wall surface of the first case member or at least a part of the lower wall surface of the second case member. In this case, since the flow path guide plate is fixed to the first case member or the second case member, the flow path guide plate is not displaced by the refrigerant flowing through the inside, and as described above, the thermoelectric conversion is performed. The refrigerant can be stably supplied to the formation region of the elements 13 and 13. Further, the flow path guide plate can be reliably disposed so as to form a gap between at least a part of the upper wall surface of the first case member or at least a part of the lower wall surface of the second case member. it can.

  In an example of the present invention, a heat exchange member can be disposed in the refrigerant chamber. In this case, since the cold heat of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant chamber via the heat exchange member is more effectively transmitted to the low-temperature heat source side of the thermoelectric conversion element, the utilization efficiency of the refrigerant is further improved. As a result, since the Seebeck effect of the thermoelectric conversion element is further improved, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is further improved, and a larger electric energy can be extracted from the thermoelectric conversion module.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thermoelectric conversion module with high practicality that improves the thermoelectric conversion efficiency and uses waste heat of a compressive fluid such as exhaust gas in various industrial equipment and automobiles as a heat source. it can.

It is a perspective view showing roughly an example of the thermoelectric conversion module of a 1st embodiment. It is a perspective view in the state where the 2nd case member outside the thermoelectric conversion module shown in Drawing 1 was removed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state where a second case member outside the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG. 1 and a first case member that houses a thermoelectric conversion element and the like inside the second case member are removed. It is sectional drawing along the II line of the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing along the II-II line of the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the thermoelectric conversion module in 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows roughly an example of the thermoelectric conversion module of 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the state where the 2nd case member outside the thermoelectric conversion module shown in Drawing 7 was removed.

  Hereinafter, the details and other features of the thermoelectric conversion module of the present invention will be described based on embodiments.

(First embodiment)
1-5 is a figure which shows schematic structure of the thermoelectric conversion module in this embodiment, FIG. 1 is a perspective view which shows roughly an example of the thermoelectric conversion module of this embodiment, FIG. It is a perspective view in the state where the 2nd case member outside the thermoelectric conversion module shown in Drawing 1 was removed. 3 is a perspective view in a state where the second case member outside the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG. 1 and the first case member inside the second case member and housing the thermoelectric conversion element and the like are removed. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the thermoelectric conversion module 10 includes a tubular tube body 11 having a flat upper surface 11A and a lower surface 11B for flowing a compressive fluid, and an upper surface 11A side and a lower surface 11B of the tube body 11. It has high temperature side electrode parts 12 and 12 which are arranged on each side and are electrically insulated from tube 11. In addition, the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 131 and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 132 are arranged in a matrix on the high temperature side electrode portions 12 and 12 so as to be adjacent to each other, and are electrically connected in series. Conversion elements 13 are provided. Furthermore, on the thermoelectric conversion elements 13, 13, low temperature side electrode portions 14, 14 that electrically connect the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 131 and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 132 in series are disposed.

  2, 4, and 5, the tubular body 11, the high temperature side electrode portions 12 and 12, the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13, and the low temperature side electrode portions 14 and 14 are disposed in the first case member 16. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the first case member 16 has a second refrigerant chamber S formed between the first case member 16 and the second case member 16. Housed in the case member 17.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the second case member 17 is formed with an introduction port 17 </ b> A for introducing the refrigerant into the refrigerant chamber S. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, in the refrigerant chamber S, regions where the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 are disposed from the refrigerant introduction side (introduction port 17 </ b> A side) into the refrigerant chamber S. A flow path guide plate 18 is disposed so as to narrow toward the center. In this embodiment, the channel guide plate 18 is joined to the lower wall surface 17B of the second case member 17, and a gap g is formed between the upper wall surface 17A of the first case member. Further, fins 19 as heat exchange members are disposed in the refrigerant chamber S, specifically, in the region inside the flow path guide plate 18.

  Thus, the thermoelectric conversion element 13 including the tube 11 for flowing the compressive fluid in the thermoelectric conversion module 10 of the present embodiment, the high temperature side electrode portions 12 and 12, the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 131 and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 132, and It is formed between the first case member 16 that houses the low-temperature side electrode portions 14 and 14 and the second case member 17 that is outside the first case member and houses the first case member. In the refrigerant chamber S, a flow path guide plate 18 formed so as to be narrowed from the inlet of the refrigerant chamber S toward the formation region of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 is disposed. Therefore, the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant chamber S is forcibly supplied to the formation region of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13, and the region can be cooled more efficiently and effectively.

  Therefore, as compared with the conventional case where the refrigerant flows through the entire refrigerant chamber S, the cold heat from the refrigerant is efficiently transmitted to the low-temperature heat source side of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13. The utilization efficiency of the refrigerant is improved. As a result, the Seebeck effect of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 is improved, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is improved, and larger electric energy can be extracted from the thermoelectric conversion module 10.

  That is, according to the thermoelectric conversion module 10 of the present embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion element 13 from the inlet of the refrigerant chamber S into the refrigerant chamber S formed between the first case member 16 and the second case member 17. The thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 is improved by a simple method of disposing the flow path guide plate 18 that is formed so as to be narrowed toward the formation region 13. Big electric energy can be taken out.

  Note that the gap g may be formed over the entire flow path guide plate 18 or may be formed in a part of the flow path guide plate 18 as long as the above-described effects are exhibited.

  In the present embodiment, since the flow path guide plate 18 is fixed to the upper wall surface of the second case member 17, the flow path guide plate 18 is not displaced by the refrigerant flowing inside the flow guide plate 18. Thus, while being able to supply a refrigerant | coolant stably to the formation area of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13, the clearance gap g can be reliably formed between the 1st case members 16. FIG.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the fin 19 which is a heat exchange member is disposed in the refrigerant chamber S, the cold heat of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant chamber S via the fin 19 is more effectively used as the thermoelectric conversion element. Since the heat is efficiently transmitted to the low-temperature heat source 13 and 13, the utilization efficiency of the refrigerant is further improved. As a result, since the Seebeck effect of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 is further improved, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is further improved, and a larger electric energy can be extracted from the thermoelectric conversion module 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the thermoelectric conversion module 10 of the present embodiment, the high temperature side electrode portions 12, 12, the thermoelectric conversion elements 13, 13, and the low temperature side electrode portions 14, 14 are connected to the upper surface 11 </ b> A of the tubular body 11. Although the lower surface 11B is formed over a plurality of regions, the thermoelectric conversion elements 13, 13 and the like formed in each region include, for example, electrode portions 14A formed at the end portions of the low temperature side electrode portions 14, 14. The current (voltage) generated by the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 in each region is electrically connected via a wiring (not shown), and an electrode terminal 15 connected to the electrode portion 14C located at the lowermost left end. Is taken out (see FIG. 1).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion module is improved in thermoelectric conversion efficiency and uses heat from waste heat of compressible fluid such as exhaust gas in various industrial equipment and automobiles, etc. 10 can be provided.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the thermoelectric conversion module in the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 5 of the thermoelectric conversion module 10 of the first embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is used about the same or similar component as the component of the thermoelectric conversion module 10 shown in FIGS.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the flow path guide plate 18 is fixed to the upper wall surface 16A of the first case member 16, the flow path guide plate 18 is not displaced by the refrigerant flowing through the interior, and the above-described As described above, the refrigerant can be stably supplied to the formation region of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13, 13, and the gap g can be reliably formed between the second case member 17.

  Since other features and advantages are the same as those of the thermoelectric conversion module 10 in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

(Third embodiment)
7 and 8 are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of the thermoelectric conversion module 30 in the present embodiment, FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the thermoelectric conversion module of the present embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a state where a second case member outside the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG. 7 is removed.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is used about the same or similar component as the component of the thermoelectric conversion module 10 shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the thermoelectric conversion module 30 of the present embodiment is in a state as shown in FIG. 2 in which the first case member 16 of the thermoelectric conversion module 10 of the first embodiment is removed. An assembly 30X of five thermoelectric conversion modules is stacked via the flow path guide plate 18, and a second case member 37 is disposed so as to store the stacked body. Although not particularly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, as described in the first embodiment, the flow path guide plate 18 is a refrigerant formed between the first case member 16 and the second case member 37. It is arranged indoors.

  The second case member 37 is provided with flange portions 372 on both sides of the main portion 371 in which the refrigerant introduction port 37A is formed. Each assembly 30X of the thermoelectric conversion module 30 of the present embodiment is provided on the flange portion 372. An opening 37 </ b> A for introducing a compressive fluid is formed in the tube body 11.

  Also in the thermoelectric conversion module 30 of the present embodiment, each assembly 30X includes a thermoelectric conversion including a tube 11 for flowing a compressive fluid, high-temperature side electrode portions 12 and 12, a p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 131, and an n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 132. A first case member 16 that houses the element 13 and the low temperature side electrode portions 14, 14, and a second case member 37 that is outside the first case member 16 and houses the first case member 16; A flow path guide plate 18 formed so as to be narrowed from the inlet 37A of the refrigerant chamber toward the region where the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 are formed is disposed in the refrigerant chamber formed between the two. Therefore, the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant chamber is forcibly supplied to the formation region of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13, and the region can be cooled more efficiently and effectively.

  Therefore, compared to the conventional case where the refrigerant flows through the entire refrigerant chamber, the cold heat from the refrigerant is efficiently transmitted to the low-temperature heat source side of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13. The utilization efficiency of the refrigerant is improved. As a result, the Seebeck effect of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 is improved, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is improved, and larger electric energy can be extracted from the thermoelectric conversion module 30.

  That is, according to the thermoelectric conversion module 30 of the present embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 are inserted into the refrigerant chamber formed between the first case member 16 and the second case member 37 from the inlet 37A of the refrigerant chamber. The thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 is improved by a simple method of disposing the flow path guide plate 18 formed so as to be narrowed toward the formation region, and a large electric power is generated from the thermoelectric conversion module 30. Energy can be extracted.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 in each assembly 30X of a thermoelectric conversion module are connected substantially in parallel by taking the structure of a laminated body as shown in FIG. Therefore, much larger electric energy than the thermoelectric conversion module 10 shown in the first embodiment can be extracted from the thermoelectric conversion module 30 of the present embodiment.

  Since other features and advantages are the same as those of the thermoelectric conversion module 10 in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  While the present invention has been described in detail based on the above specific examples, the present invention is not limited to the above specific examples, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,20 Thermoelectric conversion module 11 Tubing body 111 Fin 12 High temperature side electrode part 13 Thermoelectric conversion element 14 Low temperature side electrode part 15 Electrode terminal 16 1st case member 17 2nd case member 18 Flow path guide plate 19 Fin

Claims (4)

A tubular tube for flowing a compressive fluid;
Thermoelectric conversion modules disposed on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the tubular body,
A first case member for housing the tubular body and the thermoelectric conversion module;
A refrigerant chamber is formed outside the first case member so as to allow a refrigerant to flow between the low temperature side electrode portion and the first case member. A second case member;
In the refrigerant chamber, a flow path guide plate disposed so as to be narrowed from the inlet of the refrigerant chamber toward the formation region of the thermoelectric conversion element;
A thermoelectric conversion module characterized by comprising:   The flow path guide plate is disposed so as to form a gap between at least part of the upper wall surface of the first case member or at least part of the lower wall surface of the second case member. The thermoelectric conversion module according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric conversion module is characterized.   The flow path guide plate is joined to at least a part of an upper wall surface of the first case member or at least a part of a lower wall surface of the second case member. The thermoelectric conversion module as described.   The thermoelectric conversion module according to claim 1, wherein a heat exchange member is disposed in the refrigerant chamber.

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