JP5988827B2 - Thermoelectric conversion module - Google Patents

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 from 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, that is, on the surface on the high-temperature heat source side and on the surface on the low-temperature heat source side. A structure having an electrical insulating plate such as ceramics on both outer sides is generally used.

  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 from various industrial equipment and automobiles as a high-temperature heat source (see Patent Document 1).

  In order to receive heat efficiently from the compressive fluid, the tube body through which the compressive fluid of the thermoelectric conversion module flows, that is, the tube wall of the exhaust tube, is preferably thin. However, when the tube wall of the tube body is thinned, the tube wall is deformed, so that the tube wall cannot be thinned. For this reason, the heat receiving from a compressive fluid worsened, and there existed a problem that the electric power generation efficiency of the said thermoelectric conversion module will fall.

  Furthermore, since the tube has a temperature distribution, the thermoelectric conversion module may not be expanded uniformly and may be broken.

JP 2007-221895

  It is an object of the present invention 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 from 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 case member for housing the tubular body, the high temperature side electrode portion, the thermoelectric conversion element, and the low temperature side electrode portion so as to provide a gap for flowing a refrigerant between the low temperature side electrode portion and With
A thermoelectric device characterized in that at least a part of an internal space of the tubular body that is substantially perpendicular to a flow direction of the compressive fluid and corresponds to a non-formation region of the thermoelectric conversion element is closed. Regarding the conversion module.

  According to the present invention, for example, at least a part of an internal space corresponding to a non-formation region of a thermoelectric conversion element of a tubular body in a thermoelectric conversion module that flows a compressive fluid such as exhaust gas of various industrial equipment and automobiles is blocked. I have to. Therefore, the compressive fluid flows only in the internal space corresponding to the lower and upper regions of the tube in which the thermoelectric conversion elements are formed, and corresponds to the non-formation region of the thermoelectric conversion element, for example, the tube It will not flow through the space located at the end of the. That is, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the heat exchange rate due to flowing through the internal space corresponding to the non-formation region of the thermoelectric conversion element.

  Therefore, as compared with the conventional case where the compressive fluid is caused to flow over the entire internal space of the tubular body, the waste heat from the compressive fluid is generated on the upper surface of the tubular body on which the thermoelectric conversion element is disposed. And since it comes to be efficiently transmitted only to a lower surface, the utilization efficiency of the said waste heat improves. As a result, the waste heat of the compressive fluid flowing in the pipe can be efficiently transferred to the lower part of the thermoelectric conversion element, so that the Seebeck effect of the thermoelectric conversion element is improved and the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is improved. Greater electrical energy can be extracted.

  That is, according to the present invention, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric conversion element can be improved and a large amount of electrical energy can be extracted from the thermoelectric conversion module by a simple method of constricting the flow path of the compressive fluid flowing in the tube. .

  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.

  The internal space of the tubular body can be closed by disposing a sealing member in the internal space of the tubular body, for example. Moreover, it can carry out by denting at least the side surface of a tubular body to the internal space side.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a practical thermoelectric conversion module that improves the thermoelectric conversion efficiency and uses waste heat of a compressive fluid such as exhaust gas from various industrial equipment and automobiles as a heat source. Can do.

It is a perspective view showing roughly an example of a thermoelectric conversion module of an embodiment. It is a top view of the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG. 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 a top view which shows schematic structure of the thermoelectric conversion module in 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the thermoelectric conversion module in 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the tubular body of the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG.

  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 top view of the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of the thermoelectric conversion module shown in FIG. Furthermore, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing only the tubular body of the thermoelectric conversion module of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the thermoelectric conversion module 10 includes a cylindrical tube body 21 having a flat upper surface 21 </ b> A and a lower surface 21 </ b> B for flowing a compressive fluid, and an upper surface 21 </ b> A side and a lower surface 21 </ b> B of the tube body 21. It has high temperature side electrode parts 12 and 12 which are arranged on each side and are electrically insulated from tube 21. 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 and 13, the low temperature side electrode portions 14 and 14 that electrically connect the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 131 and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 132 in series are disposed, and are electrically insulated from the tube body 21. Has been abutted.

  Further, fins 21D are disposed in the internal space corresponding to the upper and lower sides of the region of the tubular body 21 where the thermoelectric conversion elements 13, 13 are disposed, and both sides of the region of the tubular body 21 where the fins 21D are disposed. In other words, a sealing member 23 that seals the internal space 21S is disposed in the internal space 21S at the end of the tubular body 21 in front of the compressive fluid introduction direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing.

  When manufacturing the tubular body 21, the sealing member 23 can be incorporated into the internal space 21S simultaneously with the formation of the internal space 21S, or after the tubular body 21 is manufactured, the internal space can be obtained by performing post-processing. It can also be incorporated in 21S.

  In the present embodiment, the sealing member 23 is disposed in front of the compressive fluid introduction direction in the internal space 21S. However, as long as a part of the internal space 21S is closed and the following effects are obtained. An arrangement place is not limited, and may be arranged behind the compressive fluid in the internal space 21S in the introduction direction, or may be arranged at a substantially central portion of the internal space 21S.

  Moreover, the sealing member 23 does not need to be a bulk material, and may be a plate-like so-called lid. This lid may also be disposed at the front and rear in the direction of introduction of the compressive fluid in the internal space 21S, or may be disposed at a substantially central portion of the internal space 21S.

  As shown in FIG. 3, fins 21 </ b> D for efficiently transferring waste heat of the compressive fluid flowing in the pipe body 21 to the upper and lower surfaces 21 </ b> A and 21 </ b> B are formed inside the pipe body 21.

  The tube body 21, the high temperature side electrode parts 12 and 12, the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13, and the low temperature side electrode parts 14 and 14 are housed in a case member 15 that is kept airtight. Between the case member 15, the upper wall surface 15 </ b> A and the lower wall surface 15 </ b> B of the case member 15 are formed through the refrigerant inlet 18 and the outlet 19 provided outside the case member 15 (thermoelectric conversion module 10). A space 16 is formed to cool and cool the low temperature side electrode portions 14 and 14 by introducing and discharging the refrigerant into the space (see FIG. 3).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, on the side of the gap 16 facing the refrigerant inlet 18 and outlet 19, cooling for efficiently transmitting cold heat from the refrigerant to the low temperature side electrode portions 14, 14. Fins 16A are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the case member 15 accommodates the high temperature side electrode portions 12, 12, the thermoelectric conversion elements 13, 13, and the low temperature side electrode portions 14, 14 in the cross section in the II-II direction. In addition, the portion where the gap 16 for flowing the coolant is formed is the thickest, and is configured to be thinned stepwise from the portion toward the outside.

  The space of the case member 15 containing 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 is evacuated and held in a vacuum state.

  The high temperature side electrode portions 12 and 12 are in contact with the upper surface 21A and the lower surface 21B of the tube body 21, and the lower wall surface 15B that opposes the upper wall surface 15A that forms a space for flowing the refrigerant of the case member 15. Although the low temperature side electrode portions 14 and 14 are in contact with each other, either one may be joined with a brazing material or the like.

  At this time, the lower wall 15B of the case member 15 pressurizes the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 by evacuating the space containing the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 and the above-mentioned contact portion has a close adhesion. improves.

  It should be noted that a buffer material, a spare material, and the like are provided between the upper surface 21A and the lower surface 21B of the tubular body 11 and the high temperature side electrode portions 12 and 12 as well as the lower wall surface 15B of the case member 15 and the low temperature side electrode. It can also be disposed so as to be sandwiched between the portions 14 and 14.

  Furthermore, in the case member 15 (thermoelectric conversion module 10), electrode terminals 17 and 17 for taking out the current generated in the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 to the outside are provided via the lead wires (not shown). 13 is electrically connected.

  The pipe body 21 and the sealing member 23 are made of, for example, stainless steel so that a compressive fluid such as exhaust gas from various industrial equipment and automobiles can flow and resists corrosive gas contained in the compressive fluid. Consists of.

  The high temperature side electrode portions 12 and 12 and the low temperature side electrode portions 14 and 14 are required to exhibit excellent heat resistance and mechanical strength and relatively high conductivity. For example, Mo, Cu, W, Ti, Ni And alloys thereof or stainless steel. The electrode terminals 17 and 17 can also be made of the same material.

  The bridge-like electrode 25 is preferably made of a flexible electrode material such as a thin plate, a leaf spring-like electrode member, a copper wire, or a copper stranded wire.

  The p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 131 and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 132 constituting the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 are made of a material having low thermal conductivity, obtaining a large temperature difference between the high temperature side and the low temperature side, and generating a large potential difference by the Seebeck effect. For example, it is made of a semiconductor material such as Bi—Te, Pb—Te, Si—Ge, or Mg—Si.

  The case member 15 is made of, for example, Mg, Al, Mo, Cu, W, Ti, Ni, Fe, and stainless steel from the viewpoints of weight reduction, corrosion resistance, and rigidity of various industrial equipment and automobiles on which the thermoelectric conversion module 10 is mounted. Or it can comprise from these alloys.

  In addition, the lead wire demonstrated below which is not shown in figure can be comprised from an electrical good conductor, for example, Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Fe, these alloys, etc.

  In the thermoelectric conversion module 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a compressive fluid such as exhaust gas from various industrial equipment and automobiles is introduced into the tube body 21, and the upper surface 21 </ b> A of the tube body 21 is exhausted by waste heat of the compressive fluid. The lower surface 21B is heated. On the other hand, a refrigerant is introduced into the gap 16 of the case member 15. Heat that heats the upper surface 21A and the lower surface 21B of the tube body 21 is transmitted to the lower side of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 via the high temperature side electrode portions 12 and 12, and heats the lower portions of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13. On the other hand, cold heat from the refrigerant introduced into the gap 16 is transmitted to the upper side of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 via the low temperature side electrode portions 14 and 14, and cools the upper portions of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13.

  As a result, an electromotive force is generated in the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 by the Seebeck effect, and the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 131 and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 132 constituting the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 are electrically connected in series by this electromotive force. Through the high temperature side electrode portions 12 and 12 and the low temperature side electrode portions 14 and 14 connected to the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13, current flows through the lead wire (not shown). The electrode terminals 17 and 17 are taken out of the thermoelectric conversion module 10.

  At this time, as described above, the Seebeck effect, that is, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency increases as the temperature difference between the upper and lower sides of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 increases, so that waste heat of the compressive fluid flowing in the tubular body 21 is possible. It is necessary to use it as effectively as possible.

  In the thermoelectric conversion module 10 according to the present embodiment, the sealing member 21S is disposed in both sides of the internal space where the fins 21D of the tubular body 21 are disposed, that is, in the internal space 21S located at the end of the tubular body 21. The compressive fluid is prevented from flowing in the internal space 21S. Therefore, the compressive fluid flows only in the internal space in which the fins 21D are formed, corresponding to the lower and upper areas of the tube body 21 where the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 are formed. That is, the pressure loss of the compressive fluid caused by flowing through the internal space 21S corresponding to the non-formation region of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 can be suppressed.

  Therefore, as compared with the case where the compressive fluid is made to flow over the entire internal space of the tube body as in the prior art, the waste heat from the compressive fluid is the tube in which the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 are disposed. Since the heat is efficiently transmitted only to the upper surface 21A and the lower surface 21B of the body 21, the utilization efficiency of the waste heat is improved. As a result, the waste heat of the compressive fluid flowing in the tubular body 21 can be efficiently transmitted to the lower part of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13, so that the Seebeck effect of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 is improved and the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is increased. And more electrical energy can be extracted from the thermoelectric conversion module 10.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 is improved by a simple method of constricting the flow path of the compressive fluid flowing in the tube body 21, and the thermoelectric conversion module 10 is greatly increased. Electric energy can be taken out.

(Second Embodiment)
6-8 is a figure which shows schematic structure of the thermoelectric conversion module in this embodiment, and the thermoelectric conversion module of this embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is the figure of the thermoelectric conversion module 10 of 1st Embodiment. The thermoelectric conversion module of this embodiment shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3 of the thermoelectric conversion module 10 of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing only the tubular body of the thermoelectric conversion module of the present embodiment.

  In addition, since the schematic structure which shows the whole structure of the thermoelectric conversion module of this embodiment is the same as the structure shown in FIG. 1 of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

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

  The thermoelectric conversion module 30 of the present embodiment is different from the thermoelectric conversion module 10 of the first embodiment in that the sealing member 23 is disposed in the internal space 21S of the tube body 21 and closed, instead of the side surface of the tube body 31. The inner space 31S of the tubular body 31 is closed by processing a part of 31E and making it dent in the inner space 31S side and abut against the end of the fin 31D.

  Therefore, also in this embodiment, the compressive fluid introduced into the tube 31 forms fins 31D corresponding to the lower and upper regions of the tube 31 where the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 are formed. The internal space 31S corresponding to the non-formation region of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 does not flow.

  For this reason, compared with the case where a compressive fluid is made to flow over the whole interior space of a pipe body conventionally, the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 are arrange | positioned for the waste heat from a compressive fluid. Since the heat is efficiently transmitted only to the upper surface 31A and the lower surface 31B of the tubular body 31, the utilization efficiency of the waste heat is improved. As a result, the waste heat of the compressive fluid flowing in the tubular body 31 can be efficiently transmitted to the lower part of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13, so that the Seebeck effect of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 is improved and the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is increased. Thus, more electrical energy can be extracted from the thermoelectric conversion module 30.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric conversion elements 13 and 13 is improved by a simple method of constricting the flow path of the compressive fluid flowing in the tubular body 31, and the thermoelectric conversion module 30 is greatly increased. Electric energy can be taken out.

  Since other configurations and features are the same as those of the thermoelectric conversion module 20 in the second embodiment, the 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 10,30 Thermoelectric conversion module 21,31 Tube 21D, 31D (inside tube) 12 High temperature side electrode part 13 Thermoelectric conversion element 14 Low temperature side electrode part 15 Case member 16 (Between low temperature side electrode part and case member) 17 Electrode terminal 18 Refrigerant inlet 19 Refrigerant outlet 21S, 31S Internal space corresponding to non-formation region of tubular thermoelectric conversion element 23 Sealing member 31F Recessed processing

Claims (3)

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 case member for housing the tubular body, the high temperature side electrode portion, the thermoelectric conversion element, and the low temperature side electrode portion so as to provide a gap for flowing a refrigerant between the low temperature side electrode portion and With
A thermoelectric device characterized in that at least a part of an internal space of the tubular body that is substantially perpendicular to a flow direction of the compressive fluid and corresponds to a non-formation region of the thermoelectric conversion element is closed. Conversion module.   2. The thermoelectric conversion module according to claim 1, wherein the internal space is closed by disposing a sealing member in the internal space of the tubular body.   2. The thermoelectric conversion module according to claim 1, wherein the blocking of the internal space is performed by recessing at least a side surface of the tubular body toward the internal space.

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