JP3139090B2 - Thermoelectric converter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dehumidifying and cooling device for a vehicle, and more particularly to a thermoelectric conversion device using an N-type semiconductor device and a P-type thermoelectric device. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a thermoelectric conversion unit in which N-type thermoelectric elements and P-type thermoelectric elements are alternately arranged and connected in series, and a DC power supply is connected to this series circuit.
In the thermoelectric conversion unit having such a configuration, the temperature of the electrode part constituting the NP junction at which current flows from the N-type thermoelectric element toward the P-type thermoelectric element is lowered by the Peltier effect, and conversely, the P-type thermoelectric element Then, the temperature of the electrode part forming the PN junction at which current flows to the N-type thermoelectric element becomes high.

Accordingly, an endothermic heat exchanger composed of heat absorbing fins is connected to the heat absorbing electrode portion which becomes low temperature, and a heat radiation heat exchanger formed of heat radiating fins is connected to the heat dissipating electrode portion which becomes high temperature. An electronic air conditioner that performs cooling or the like is configured by flowing an airflow generated by a fan or the like through the heat exchanger and the heat radiation heat exchanger unit.

In this case, in the endothermic heat exchanger,
This cools the air passing through the heat exchanger and condenses the moisture contained in the air to perform a dehumidifying action. The condensed water for the dehumidification is dropped into a tray or discharged through a duct or the like.In order to further improve the heat exchange efficiency in the endothermic heat exchanger section, the condensed water is removed from the radiating heat exchanger section. To improve the heat radiation efficiency of the heat radiation fins constituting the heat radiation heat exchanger.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-85010 discloses a cooling device for cooling such a heat-radiating heat exchanger with condensed water. In this cooling device, the cooling device is provided between a heat-absorbing side and a heat-radiating side. A condensed water introduction port is formed by a through-hole so that condensed water condensed on the heat absorbing side is guided to the heat radiating side.

In this case, air to be subjected to heat exchange flows on the heat-absorbing side and the heat-dissipating side. Therefore, the cool air flowing on the heat-absorbing side and the warm air flowing on the heat-dissipating side are mixed at the condensed water inlet. On the contrary, heat exchange efficiency may be reduced. Further, when the condensed water introduction port is used for a long period of time, the condensed water introduction port may be clogged with dust or the like, and the condensed water is not efficiently used.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the water condensed in the endothermic heat exchange section is efficiently guided to the heat radiation heat exchange section, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermoelectric conversion device that is acted on for cooling and that performs a heat exchange operation efficiently without mixing cool air and warm air of an endothermic heat exchange unit and a heat radiation heat exchange unit. .

[0008]

A thermoelectric converter according to the present invention includes a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements connected in series by an endothermic electrode plate and a radiating electrode plate, respectively.
A plurality of heat-absorbing heat exchange means coupled to the heat-absorbing electrode plate are set upward, and a plurality of heat-radiating heat exchange means coupled to the heat-dissipating electrode plate are set downward. And a partition plate for partitioning the heat-absorbing heat exchanging means and the heat-dissipating heat exchanging means between the thermoelectric converting units, and an opening vertically communicating with the partition plate is formed. The open-cell body is inserted into the setting.

[0009]

In the thermoelectric converter configured as described above,
N connected in series by a heat-absorbing electrode plate and a heat-dissipating electrode plate
By connecting a DC power supply to the type thermoelectric element and the P-type thermoelectric element, the heat absorbing electrode plate part forming the NP junction is set to a low temperature, and the heat radiation electrode plate part forming the PN junction is set to a high temperature,
These heats are transmitted to the endothermic heat exchanging means and the radiated heat exchanging means, respectively, and heat exchange with air is performed. In this case, the moisture contained in the air that contacts the low-temperature endothermic heat exchange means is condensed, and the condensed water accumulates in the endothermic heat exchange means, but this condensed water drops on the partition plate by gravity. Then, it passes through the open-cell body and is led to the heat-radiating heat exchange means. Therefore, the heat radiation heat exchange means is cooled by the condensed water, and the heat exchange efficiency of the heat absorption heat exchange means is effectively improved. Further, the cold air in the heat absorbing heat exchanging means and the warm air in the heat radiating heat exchanging means are surely partitioned by the partition plate and are not mixed.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the structure. In this embodiment, first and second heat exchange units 11 and 12 are provided, and the first and second heat exchange units 11 and 12 are provided.
And 12 are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals. Here, the first and second thermoelectric conversion units 11 and 12
Have the same structure. In the following description, the structure of the thermoelectric conversion unit 11 will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 3, the thermoelectric conversion unit 11 includes a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements 131 and 132, each composed of an N-type semiconductor element and a P-type semiconductor element.
, And P-type thermoelectric elements 141, 142,..., And these N-type thermoelectric elements 131, 132,.
Are arranged so as to extend alternately in the horizontal direction so that a thermoelectric element row is formed.

The heat absorbing electrode plates 151, 152,... And the heat radiating electrode plate 16 are located between these thermoelectric elements.
, 162 are interposed and connect the thermoelectric elements to each other. A series circuit of a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements 131, 132,... And P-type thermoelectric elements 141, 142,. Terminal electrodes 171 and 172 are provided at both ends of the.

A DC power supply (not shown) is connected between the terminal electrodes 171 and 172, and N-type thermoelectric elements 131 and 13 are connected.
,... The heat absorbing electrode plates 151, 152,... Constituting the NP junction through which current flows from the P-type thermoelectric elements 141, 142,. Further, the temperature of the other heat radiation electrode plates 161, 162,... Forming the PN junction is low.

Here, the heat absorbing electrode plate 151 is formed by laminating two metal plates, and the two metal plates are extended upward from the thermoelectric element row portion and located at a position away from the thermoelectric element row. Bend horizontally on both sides with the first bent piece
181 and 191 are formed. And this first
Bent pieces 181 and 191 are heat dissipation electrode plates 141 and 142, respectively.
Is bent upward in accordance with the position of the second bent piece 182, 1
92, respectively, and this second bent piece 182 is formed.
, 192 form radiation fins that constitute the heat exchanger 20 on the heat absorption side. And this second bent piece 182 and 19
2, a corrugated fin 21 formed by bending a thin metal plate into a corrugated shape is interposed, and is appropriately brazed and fixed.

The other endothermic electrode plates 152,...
The heat absorbing electrode plates 151, 152
Each of the heat absorbing electrode plates 152, 153,.
The rear surfaces of the respective second bent pieces 182 and 192 are set to face each other, and the respective second bent pieces 182 and 192 are joined to each other by insulating adhesives 221, 222,.

The heat dissipating electrode plate 161 is formed by laminating two metal plates like the heat absorbing electrode plate 151, and extends downward from the thermoelectric element row.
Each of the metal plates has first bent pieces 231 and 241 bent in parallel with the thermoelectric element row, and is bent downward from each of the first bent pieces 231 and 241. The second bent pieces 232 and 242 are provided, and the second bent pieces 232 and 242 constitute a radiation fin that constitutes the heat exchanger 25 on the radiation side. And this second bent piece
The corrugated fin 26 is interposed between 232 and 242.

The heat dissipating electrode plates 162,.
The heat radiation electrode plates 161, 162,
.. Are joined by insulating adhesives 271, 272,... Corresponding to the second bent pieces 231, 241 corresponding to each other.

Here, the first bent pieces 181 and 191 which are extended and bent from the heat absorbing electrode plates 151, 152,.
On the upper side of the thermoelectric element row, a partition wall 28 is formed in parallel with the element row, and the first bent pieces 231 and 241 extended and bent from the heat radiation electrode plates 161, 162,.
A partition wall 29 is formed below the thermoelectric element row.

Although not shown in detail, the endothermic heat exchanger 20
The part and the heat radiation heat exchanger 25 form a duct for cold air and a duct for hot air separated by the partition walls 28 and 29, and air is appropriately circulated by a blowing mechanism. That is, the partition walls 28 and 29 function as walls that partition cold and warm air.

The first and second heat exchange units 11 and 12 thus configured are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. here,
The heat absorbing electrode plates 151 (152,...) Have cutouts 301, 302 formed on both left and right sides as shown in an exploded view in FIG. 5, and are sandwiched between the cutouts 301, 301. Thermoelectric elements 151 and 161 are joined to the region by solder or the like. Then, a partition plate 31 made of an insulator made of a resin material having poor heat conductivity is sandwiched and fixed in the notch located at the space between the first and second thermoelectric conversion units 11 and 12.

As shown in the cross section of FIG. 2, the partition plate 31 is formed with an opening 32 vertically penetrating corresponding to the interval between the first and second thermoelectric conversion units 11 and 12,
An open-cell sponge 33 is fitted into the opening 32 and set. That is, the flow of air is prevented between the two surfaces of the partition plate 31, and the moisture existing on the upper surface of the partition plate 31 penetrates the open-cell sponge 33 and is guided to the lower side of the partition plate 31. Like that.

That is, in the thermoelectric converter constructed as described above, the water condensed in the endothermic heat exchanger 20 is blown off from the endothermic fins by its own gravity and cooling air, and falls downward. I do. The water drops on the partition wall 30 and is guided from between the first and second heat exchange units 11 and 12 to the open-cell sponge 33 of the partition plate 31, and penetrates the cavity of the sponge 33. The heat radiation heat exchanger 25 is guided to the heat radiation heat exchanger 25 side to cool the heat radiation heat exchanger 25.

In this case, the water permeates through the open-cell sponge 33, but has a large ventilation resistance against the cooling air flowing through the heat-absorbing heat exchanger 20, and the water permeates. Therefore, the cooling air does not pass through the open-cell sponge 33. Therefore, the cooling air flowing through the heat absorbing heat exchanger 20 and the warm air flowing through the heat radiating heat exchanger 25 are not mixed.

The cold condensed water is introduced into the radiating heat exchanger 25 in this manner, so that the radiating heat exchanger 25
Is improved, and the entire heat exchange device operates with high efficiency. In addition, the endothermic heat exchanger 20
The condensed water generated by the dehumidifying action in the section
Therefore, the condensed water treatment mechanism such as a tray and a water discharge pipe, which is inevitably required in the dehumidifying mechanism, is not required.

Although the thermoelectric conversion units are shown in two rows in the embodiment, it is needless to say that the thermoelectric conversion units can be configured in more rows, and in this case, the thermoelectric conversion units adjacent to each other can be arranged between each other. Set the partition plate.

[0026]

As described above, according to the thermoelectric converter according to the present invention, the condensed water generated in the endothermic heat exchanging section is effectively guided to the radiating heat exchanging section, and the cooling of the radiating heat exchanging section is performed. To be used for. Therefore, the heat radiation efficiency in the heat radiation heat exchange unit is improved, and the overall efficiency of the heat exchange device is improved. Condensed water generated in the heat absorption heat exchange unit is also processed at the same time. Can be used effectively as a heat exchange system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a thermoelectric converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a partition plate used in the thermoelectric conversion device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a thermoelectric conversion unit included in the thermoelectric conversion device as viewed from the front.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the thermoelectric conversion unit.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing one electrode plate part and a heat absorbing (radiating) mechanism part constituting the thermoelectric conversion unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 12: thermoelectric conversion unit, 131, 132,... N-type thermoelectric element, 141, 142,... P-type thermoelectric element, 151, 152,. Heat exchangers, heat exchangers, 28, 29 ... partition walls, 301, 302 ...
Notch, 31 ... partition plate, 32 ... opening, 33 ... open cell sponge.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-263382 (JP, A) JP-A-3-91272 (JP, A) JP-A-46-839 (JP, A) JP-A-2-103969 (JP) , A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01L 35/30

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endothermic electrode plate and a radiating electrode plate for sequentially connecting a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements and P-type thermoelectric elements which are alternately arranged in series, and are thermally conductively coupled to the heat-absorbing electrode plate and extend upward. Endothermic heat exchange means set in such a manner as to be thermally conductively coupled to the heat dissipation electrode plate and set to extend downward, and between the endothermic heat exchange means and the heat dissipation heat exchange means. A plurality of thermoelectric conversion units each including a partition wall, and arranged in a horizontal direction with an interval set therebetween; and a heat absorption / heat exchange means and a heat radiation unit located between the plurality of thermoelectric conversion units. A partition plate having an opening which is set so as to partition between the heat exchange means and communicates with the upper and lower sides, and an open-cell body which is set by being fitted into the opening of the partition plate; Endothermic heat exchange The water condensed by the means is led to the heat radiation heat exchange means side.