JPH04184020A - Thermoelectric converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the above device to be easily installed as an air cooler or the like at, for example, a ceiling part of a compartment of a passenger car, by providing a heat-absorbing heat exchanger and a heat-releasing heat exchanger projected in opposite directions so that the heat exchangers are thermally connected to a heat-absorbing electrode plate and a heat-releasing electrode plate, respectively. CONSTITUTION:A thermoelectric conversion unit 20 is installed in a cross-flow fan constructed in a cylindrical shape. The unit 20 comprises a plurality of heat-absorbing fins 21l-21n and a plurality of heat-releasing fins 22l-22n, which are formed of aluminum plate, for example, and are so set as to be extend in opposite directions. The heat-absorbing fins 21l-21n constitute a heat- absorbing heat exchanger 21, and the heat-releasing fins 22l-22n constitute a heat-absorbing heat exchanger 22. The fins 21l-23n and the fins 22l-22n are arranged alternately and in a spaced apart manner, along the axis shaft line of the cross-flow fan.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention uses a thermoelectric conversion unit constructed using an N-type thermoelectric element and a P-type thermoelectric element constructed of an N-type semiconductor and a P-type semiconductor. , relates to a thermoelectric conversion device that generates cooling air or heating air.

[Prior Art] It is known to configure a thermoelectric conversion unit by alternately arranging N-type thermoelectric elements and P-type thermoelectric elements and connecting them in series. That is, a DC power source is connected to this series circuit, and a low temperature section and a high temperature section are set at the NP junction and the PN junction by the Peltier effect. The low-temperature section and the high-temperature section are thermally coupled to an endothermic heat exchanger and an exothermic heat exchanger, so that heat exchange with the fluid brought into contact with these heat exchangers is performed.

When configuring an air conditioner that generates cooling air or heating air using such a thermoelectric conversion unit, the air flow is generated using various fan mechanisms, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-83521, for example. and a thermoelectric conversion unit is installed in the duct through which this airflow flows. However, in such a configuration, the air blowing mechanism using the fan is provided separately, so the size becomes large.

In particular, when such a thermoelectric conversion unit is used, it is desired to construct a device that can easily generate cooling air. For example, it is desired to attach the device to the ceiling of a passenger car as an auxiliary cooling device, but when used for this purpose, it is necessary to make the device more compact.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] This invention has been made in view of the above points, so it uses a thermoelectric conversion unit to make it more compact and can be easily installed, for example, in the ceiling of a passenger car. The present invention aims to provide a thermoelectric conversion device that can be installed as a cooling device or the like.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A thermoelectric conversion device according to the present invention has a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements and P-type thermoelectric elements arranged alternately, and these thermoelectric elements are sequentially arranged by a heat-absorbing electrode plate and a heat-radiating electrode plate. Connect in series. A thermoelectric conversion unit is constructed by providing an endothermic heat exchanger and a heat radiating heat exchanger that protrude in opposite directions so as to be thermally coupled to the endothermic electrode plate and the heat radiating electrode plate, respectively. Further, a cross-flow fan is provided to surround the outer periphery of this thermoelectric conversion unit, and only this cross-flow fan is rotationally driven.

[Function] In a thermoelectric conversion device configured in this way, when a DC power source is connected to the N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements connected in series, the heat-absorbing electrode plate portion becomes low temperature, and the heat-radiating electrode plate portion becomes high temperature. The heat is then transferred to the endothermic heat exchanger and the exothermic heat exchanger, respectively. Further, when the crossflow fan is driven to rotate in this state, the endothermic heat exchanger portion and the discharge air flow are divided into two and output. Therefore, one of the air streams cooled or heated in this way can be used selectively, for example as a cooling device. In this case, since the thermoelectric conversion unit section and the fan mechanism section are integrally constructed, the thermoelectric conversion unit section and the fan mechanism section can be configured to be sufficiently thin and compact, and the range of application thereof can be arbitrarily selected.

[Example] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a thermoelectric conversion device 10,
This device 10 includes a crossflow fan 11. This cross-flow fan 11 has side plates 1 made of synthetic resin discs arranged coaxially and facing each other at intervals.
2 and 13, and a large number of blades 14 are provided on the outer peripheries of these side plates 12 and 13 so as to connect the side plates 12 and 13 with each other. This blade 14 is set parallel to the common axis of the disc-shaped side plates 12 and 13.

The cross flow fan 11 configured in this manner is set inside a casing 15 made of synthetic resin, and the side plate 12 is rotatably supported by the side plate 151 of the casing 15 via a bearing mechanism 16. There is. Further, a rotation prevention member 17 made of synthetic resin is fitted and fixed in the center of the side plate 13, and this rotation prevention member 17
The rotating shaft 181 of the motor 18 passes through the center of the rotary shaft 181 of the motor 18. In this case, the rotation shaft 181 is driven into the rotation prevention member 17, and the rotational force of the motor 18 is transmitted to the rotation prevention member 17, and the cross flow fan 11 is rotationally driven within the casing 15 by the motor 18. do it like this. Here, the motor 18 is the other side plate 1 of the casing 15.
52 and fixed using adhesive as appropriate.

A thermoelectric conversion unit 20 is housed inside the crossflow fan 11 having a cylindrical shape as described above. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, this thermoelectric conversion unit 20 includes a plurality of heat absorption fins 211 to 2 inches and heat radiation fins 221 to 22n, each made of an aluminum plate and set to extend in opposite directions. The endothermic fins 211 to 2In constitute an endothermic heat exchanger 21, and the heat radiating fins 221 to 22ψ constitute an exothermic heat exchanger 22. Here, the heat absorbing fin 211
21n and the radiation fins 221 to 22n are alternately arranged along the axis of the cross flow fan 11 with intervals set between them.

In this embodiment, each of the heat absorption fins 2'll to 2 inches is configured in the shape of a semicircular plate that includes an area of one diametrical (horizontal) portion inside the cross flow fan 11, and each of the semicircular plates is Furthermore, two 1/4 arc plates 21a and 21 each are divided into two parts corresponding to a vertical line.
Constructed by b. Similarly, radiation fins 221 to 22
n is also configured in a semicircular shape including the area of the diameter line portion,
Each of these semicircular plates is further divided into two parts corresponding to a vertical line, and two 1/4 arc plates 22a1 and 22a, respectively.
2b.

Then, a reinforcing member 231 made of an insulator such as synthetic resin is set so as to commonly penetrate through the two divided parts of each of the heat absorbing fins 211 to 2 inches, and this reinforcing member 231 is connected to each of the heat absorbing fins. 211~2i
n 1/4 arc plates 21a and 21b are connected to each other, and each of the heat absorbing fins 211 to 21n is fixedly held at a predetermined spaced position.

Similarly, a reinforcing member 232 made of an insulator such as synthetic resin is set so as to commonly penetrate through the two divided parts of each of the heat dissipating fins 221 to 22n, and this reinforcing member 232 is connected to each of the heat dissipating fins. 221-22n
The 1/4 arc plates 22a and 22b are connected to each other, and each of the radiation fins 221 to 22n is fixedly held at a predetermined spaced position.

The heat absorption fins 211 to 2 inches and the heat radiation fins 221 to 22n configured in this way are arranged in such a manner that the portions corresponding to the sides corresponding to the semicircular diameter line overlap each other, and the overlapping area An N-type thermoelectric element 24 and a P-type thermoelectric element 25 are placed between each other.
are arranged alternately, and these alternately arranged N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements 24 and 25 are electrically connected in series via heat absorption fins and heat radiation fins, respectively.

In this case, the heat absorption fins 211 to 21n each act as a heat absorption electrode plate, and the heat radiation fins 221 to 22n act as a heat radiation electrode plate, and each thermoelectric element is electrically connected to these electrode plates by soldering or the like. I'm trying to make it happen.

Specifically, an N-type thermoelectric element 24 and a P-type thermoelectric element 25 are bonded to the surfaces of the quarter-arc plates 22a and 22b, which constitute the radiation fins 221, facing the heat-absorbing fins 211, respectively, and the N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements 25 are bonded. type thermoelectric elements 24 and 25
The other surface of each of the opposing heat absorbing fins 211 is
It is joined to the surfaces of the /4 arc plates 21a and 21b. That is, the thermoelectric element groups are arranged in two rows corresponding to the 1/4 arc plate portion of each fin, and the 1/4 arc plates 21a and 21b of the heat absorbing fin 21n are arranged on the opposite end surface.
are connected to each other by a rectangular electrode body 26, so that two rows of thermoelectric element groups are connected in series. Terminal electrode bodies 27 and 28 are attached to the 1/4 arc plates 22a and 22b of the radiation fin 221, respectively, and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements 24 and P-type thermoelectric elements 25 are connected between the terminal electrode bodies 27 and 28, respectively. are connected in series.

Since the thermoelectric conversion unit 20 configured in this way is configured by a combination of semicircular plates, it is configured in a cylindrical shape as a whole. Set to have matching axes. In this case, the electrode body 26 is set at a position where the diameter line of the cylindrical body passes through, and the bearing forms a recess corresponding to the center position, and the tip of the rotating shaft 181 of the motor 18 is fitted into the recess. make it possible to do so. That is, the thermoelectric conversion unit 20 is supported and set inside the cross-flow fan 11 so that the axes coincide with each other, and the cross-flow fan 11 is supported with respect to the thermoelectric conversion unit 20.
is configured so that it can rotate freely.

Further, on the surface where the terminal electrode bodies 27 and 28 of this thermoelectric conversion unit 20 are set, the thermoelectric conversion unit) 20
A joint member 29 made of synthetic resin is provided and extends along the central axis of the casing 15. The joint member 29 passes through the side plate 151 of the casing 15 and is fixedly connected to the side plate 151. Therefore, the thermoelectric conversion unit 20 is fixedly set, and the crossflow fan 11 is set to be rotationally driven by the motor 18 around the thermoelectric conversion unit 20.

Here, the terminal electrode bodies 27 and 28 of the thermoelectric conversion unit 20 are led out to the outside through the through hole formed in the side plate 151, and are connected to a DC power source.

The body portion 153 at the position sandwiched by the side plates 151 and 152 of the casing 15 has a
As shown in the figure and FIG. 7, an air intake opening 30 is formed, and on the opposite side, air discharge openings 311 and 312 are formed by dividing into upper and lower parts in the figure. In the thermoelectric conversion device configured as shown in FIG. 24 to P-type thermoelectric element 25
It combines the currents flowing in. In other words, this electrode plate portion forms an NP junction, and is kept at a low temperature due to the Beltier effect. In addition, the heat radiation fin 22
The heat dissipation electrode plate portion constituted by 1 to 22n combines the current flowing from the P-type thermoelectric element 25 to the N-type thermoelectric element 24, forming a PN junction, and is also brought into a high temperature state due to the Beltier effect. Ru. Therefore, the endothermic fins 211 to 2 inches act as an endothermic heat exchanger to cool the air that is the medium that comes into contact with them. In addition, the radiation fins 221 to 22n constitute a radiation heat exchanger, exchange heat with the air that comes into contact with them, and heat the air.
The radiation fins 221 to 22n are now cooled.

Furthermore, when the cross flow fan 11 is driven to rotate, air is sucked in through the openings 30 and the openings 311 and 812
It branches out and releases air. Therefore, the cooled air that has passed through the endothermic heat exchanger portion formed by the endothermic fins 211 to 21n is outputted from the opening 312. Further, the heated air that has passed through the heat dissipation heat exchanger portion formed by the heat absorption fins 221 to 22n is separated from the cooling air and released from the opening 311.

As shown in FIG. 8, the thermoelectric conversion device IO configured in this manner is installed, for example, on the ceiling inside the cabin of an automobile 40, and the heated air generated by the air flow A is discharged into the duct 41, and is configured as appropriate. Released outside the vehicle. Further, the cooling air indicated by air flow B is discharged into the vehicle interior to cool the interior of the vehicle. In this case, if the polarity of the power supplied to the thermoelectric conversion unit 20 of the thermoelectric conversion device IO is reversed, the interior of the vehicle will be heated.

Fig. 9 shows an example in which the casing 51 is installed vertically and used as a general-purpose spot cooler.
Air is sucked in from the back side of the machine, hot air is blown out from the outlet 521, and cooling air is blown out from the outlet 522.

In this device, a partition plate 53 is provided between the blow-off ports 521 and 522, so that, for example, warm air is discharged outside.

A container for storing condensed water is also housed in the bottom portion 54 of the device.

In such a device, for example, by installing a switch for changing the polarity of the power supply voltage, it can be used as a spot cooler and also as a spot heater as appropriate.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the thermoelectric conversion device according to the present invention, an electronic cooling device, for example, can be configured with a sufficiently miniaturized configuration, and in particular, a thermoelectric conversion unit and a blower mechanism can be integrated. Since it is constructed in a solid state, it can be used as a spot air-conditioning device, and it can also be easily installed on the ceiling of a passenger car, for example, greatly expanding its range of applications. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram seen from a plane explaining a thermoelectric conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram of FIG.
Figure 3 is a diagram showing the thermoelectric conversion unit corresponding to the line ■-■ in Figure 2, and Figures 4 and 5 are respectively 20 views from both sides of the thermoelectric conversion unit. 6 and 7 are respectively views of the casing of the thermoelectric conversion device as seen from the opposite direction, FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of application of this thermoelectric conversion device, and FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an application example of this thermoelectric conversion device. It is a figure explaining an example of. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Thermoelectric conversion device, 11... Cross flow fan, 14... Blade, 15... Casing, 18
...Motor, 20...Thermoelectric conversion unit, 21...
- Endothermic heat exchanger, 211-21n... Endothermic fin (also serves as endothermic electrode plate), 22... Endothermic heat exchanger, 221
~22n...Radiating fin (also serves as a heat dissipating electrode plate), 2
4...N-type thermoelectric element, 25...P-type thermoelectric element, 26
... Electrode body, 27.28... Terminal electrode body. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 2 J Figure 3 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A thermoelectric conversion unit configured by alternately arranging a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements and P-type thermoelectric elements and sequentially connecting them in series through heat-absorbing electrode plates and heat-radiating electrode plates; An endothermic heat exchanger and an endothermic heat exchanger configured to be thermally conductively coupled to a heat-absorbing electrode plate and a heat-radiating electrode plate, and projecting from both sides in the direction in which the N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements are arranged; , a cross-flow fan configured to surround the thermoelectric conversion unit including the heat absorption and heat dissipation heat exchanger, and including a large number of blades parallel to the direction in which the N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements are arranged; A thermoelectric conversion device, characterized in that the thermoelectric conversion unit including the heat absorption and heat radiation heat exchangers is fixedly set, and the cross flow fan is rotationally driven around the outer periphery of the thermoelectric conversion unit.