JPH05160441A - Thermoelectric converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a thermoelectric converter in which processing means of condensed water, produced in a heat absorption heat exchanger is improved and a heat exchange efficiency is improved. CONSTITUTION:First and second thermoelectric conversion units 11, 12 formed with a heat absorption heat exchanger above and a heat radiation heat exchanger below are aligned laterally at a predetermined interval and set. A partition plate 31 made of an insulator having low thermal conductivity is interposed between a heat absorption heat exchanger 20 and a heat radiation heat exchanger 25 between the units 11 and 11. An opening passing vertically through the plate 31 is formed, and continuous-foam sponge 33 for infiltrating moisture on the plate 31 and guiding it to the exchanger 25 is fitted to and set in the opening.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a dehumidifying and cooling device for a vehicle, and in particular, an N-type thermoelectric conversion element using an N-type semiconductor element and a P-type thermoelectric element and a thermoelectric conversion apparatus using the P-type thermoelectric element. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A thermoelectric conversion unit is known in which N-type thermoelectric elements and P-type thermoelectric elements are alternately arranged and sequentially connected in series, and a DC power source is connected to the series circuit.
In the thermoelectric conversion unit having such a configuration, the electrode portion forming the NP junction, in which the current flows from the N-type thermoelectric element to the P-type thermoelectric element, has a low temperature due to the Peltier effect, and conversely, the P-type thermoelectric element. To the N-type thermoelectric element, the temperature of the electrode portion forming the PN junction becomes high.

Therefore, an endothermic heat exchanger composed of heat-absorbing fins is connected to the heat-absorbing electrode portion which becomes low temperature, and a heat-dissipating heat exchanger composed of heat-dissipating fins is joined to the heat-dissipating electrode portion which becomes high-temperature and heat-absorbing By flowing an air flow generated by a fan or the like through the heat exchanger and the radiant heat exchanger section, an electronic air conditioner for cooling or the like is configured.

In this case, in the endothermic heat exchanger part,
The air passing through the heat exchanger section is cooled, and the moisture contained in the air is condensed to perform a dehumidifying action. The condensed water for this dehumidification is dropped on a tray or guided to a duct or the like and discharged, but in order to further improve the heat exchange efficiency in the endothermic heat exchanger section, this condensed water is radiated by the radiant heat exchanger section. It is conceivable to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat dissipation fins that form the heat dissipation heat exchanger.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2-85010 discloses a cooling device for cooling such a radiant heat exchanger section with condensed water. In this cooling device, a space between a heat absorbing side and a heat radiating side is provided. A condensed water inlet is formed by a through-hole to guide condensed water condensed on the heat absorbing side to the heat radiating side.

In this case, the heat-exchanged air flows on the heat-absorbing side and the heat-radiating side, respectively, so that the cold air flowing on the heat-absorbing side and the hot air flowing on the heat-radiating side are mixed at the condensed water inlet. On the contrary, there is a possibility that the heat exchange efficiency may be lowered. In addition, when used for a long period of time, the condensed water inlet may be clogged with dust or the like, and the condensed water cannot be used efficiently.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the moisture condensed in the endothermic heat exchange section is efficiently guided to the radiant heat exchange section, so An object of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric conversion device that acts on cooling, and that the heat exchange action is efficiently performed without the cold air and the hot air of the heat absorption heat exchange unit and the heat radiation heat exchange unit being mixed. ..

[0008]

In a thermoelectric conversion device according to the present invention, a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements are connected in series by a heat absorbing electrode plate and a heat radiating electrode plate, respectively.
A plurality of endothermic heat exchange means coupled to the endothermic electrode plate are set upward, and a plurality of heat radiating heat exchange means coupled to the heat radiating electrode plate are set downward, respectively, and are arranged at intervals in the lateral direction. The thermoelectric conversion unit is provided, and a partition plate for partitioning the endothermic heat exchange means and the radiant heat exchange means is set between the thermoelectric conversion units, and an opening vertically communicating with the partition plate is formed. It is designed to be fitted with an open cell body.

[0009]

In the thermoelectric conversion device having the above structure,
N connected in series by a heat absorbing electrode plate and a heat radiating electrode plate
By connecting a DC power source to the P-type thermoelectric element and the P-type thermoelectric element, the heat-absorbing electrode plate portion forming the NP junction has a low temperature, and the heat-dissipating electrode plate portion forming the PN junction has a high temperature.
These heats are transferred to the endothermic heat exchanging means and the heat radiating heat exchanging means, respectively, and heat is exchanged with the air. In this case, the water contained in the air contacting the low temperature endothermic heat exchange means is condensed, and the condensed water is collected in the endothermic heat exchange means part, but this condensed water is dropped to the partition plate part by gravity. After passing through the open cell body, it is guided to the radiant heat exchange means. Therefore, the 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-absorption heat exchange means and the hot air in the heat-radiation heat exchange means are reliably partitioned by the partition plate and are not mixed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration thereof, and in this embodiment, it is provided with first and second heat exchange units 11 and 12, and the first and second heat exchange units 11 are provided.
And 12 are arranged laterally side by side at a predetermined interval. Here, the first and second thermoelectric conversion units 11 and 12
Have the same structure, and in the following description, one of the thermoelectric conversion units 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 of which is 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, ... and P-type thermoelectric elements 141,
142, ... are alternately arranged so as to extend in the lateral direction so that a thermoelectric element array is formed.

Between the thermoelectric elements, the heat absorbing electrode plates 151, 152, ... And the heat radiating electrode plate 16 are provided.
, Which interpose thermoelectric elements, form a series circuit of a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements 131, 132, ... And P-type thermoelectric elements 141, 142 ,. The terminal electrodes 171 and 172 are provided at both ends of the.

A DC power source (not shown) is connected between the terminal electrodes 171 and 172, and N type thermoelectric elements 131 and 13 are connected.
The parts of the endothermic electrode plates 151, 152, ... Constituting NP junctions in which electric currents flow from the respective P-type thermoelectric elements 141, 142 ,. Further, the heat radiation electrode plates 161, 162, ... Forming the other PN junctions are kept at a low temperature.

Here, the endothermic electrode plate 151 is constructed by laminating two metal plates, and these two metal plates extend upward from the thermoelectric element array portion and are separated from the thermoelectric element array. Bend horizontally on both sides with the first bent piece
181 and 191 are formed. And this first
The bent pieces 181 and 191 of the heat dissipation electrode plates 141 and 142, respectively.
The second bent piece 182, 1
This second bent piece 182 forms each 92.
, 192 form a radiation fin that constitutes the heat exchanger 20 on the heat absorption side. And this second bent piece 182 and 19
A corrugated fin (21) formed by bending a thin metal plate into a corrugated shape is interposed between (2) and (2) and fixed by brazing as appropriate.

The other endothermic electrode plates 152, ...
The structure is similar to that of 151, and the heat absorbing electrode plates 151, 152
, ... and the adjacent heat absorbing electrode plates 152, 153, ...
The back surfaces of the respective second bent pieces 182 and 192 are set to face each other, and the respective second parts are joined by insulating adhesives 221, 222, ....

The heat radiating electrode plate 161 is constructed by laminating two metal plates together like the heat absorbing electrode plate 151, and is constructed by extending downward from the thermoelectric element array.
Then, each of the metal plates includes first bent pieces 231 and 241 that are bent in parallel with the thermoelectric element array, and is bent downward from each of the first bent pieces 231 and 241. The second bent pieces 232, 242 are provided, and the second bent pieces 232, 242 constitute a heat radiation fin which constitutes the heat exchanger 25 on the heat radiation side. And this second bent piece
A corrugated fin 26 is interposed between 232 and 242.

The heat radiating electrode plates 162, ... Are also the heat radiating electrode plates 161.
The heat radiation electrode plates 161, 162,
... The facing back surfaces of the second bending pieces 231, 241 corresponding to each other are joined by insulating adhesives 271, 272 ,.

Here, the first bent pieces 181, 191 extended and bent from the heat absorbing electrode plates 151, 152, ...
The first partition strips 231 and 241 extended from the heat dissipating electrode plates 161, 162, ...
A partition wall 29 is formed below the thermoelectric element array.

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

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the first and second heat exchanging units 11 and 12 thus constructed are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals. here,
The heat absorbing electrode plate 151 (152, ...) Has notches 301 and 302 formed on both left and right sides as shown in an exploded view in FIG. 5, and is sandwiched between the notches 301 and 301. Thermoelectric elements 151 and 161 are joined to the regions by soldering or the like. Then, a partition plate 31 made of an insulator made of a resin material having poor thermal conductivity is sandwiched and fixed in the notch located in the interval between the first and second thermoelectric conversion units 11 and 12.

As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 2, the partition plate 31 is formed with an opening 32 which vertically penetrates corresponding to the space between the first and second thermoelectric conversion units 11 and 12.
An open-cell sponge 33 is fitted and set in the opening 32. That is, the flow of air is blocked between the both surfaces of the partition plate 31, and the moisture existing on the upper surface of the partition plate 31 permeates the continuous foam sponge 33 and is guided to the lower side of the partition plate 31. I am trying.

That is, in the thermoelectric conversion device having such a structure, the moisture condensed in the endothermic heat exchanger 20 is blown off from the endothermic fin portion by its own gravity and further by the cooling air, and falls downward. To do. This water falls to the partition wall 30 and is guided to the open cell sponge 33 of the partition plate 31 from between the first and second heat exchange units 11 and 12, and penetrates the cavity of the sponge 33. And is guided to the radiant heat exchanger 25 side to cool the radiant heat exchanger 25.

In this case, the moisture penetrates into the open-cell sponge 33, but the ventilation resistance to the cooling air flowing through the endothermic heat exchanger 20 is large and the moisture penetrates. Therefore, the cooling air does not pass through the open cell sponge 33. Therefore, the cooling air flowing through the heat-absorption heat exchanger 20 is not mixed with the hot air flowing through the heat-radiation heat exchanger 25.

By introducing the cold condensed water into the radiant heat exchanger 25, the radiant heat exchanger 25 is cooled.
The heat dissipation efficiency in the heat exchanger is improved, and the entire heat exchange device can be operated with high efficiency. In addition, the endothermic heat exchanger 20
Condensed water generated by the dehumidifying action in the
Therefore, the condensed water treatment mechanism, such as the saucer and the water discharge pipe, which is inevitably required in the dehumidification mechanism, is unnecessary.

In addition, although the thermoelectric conversion units are shown in two rows in the embodiment, it is of course possible to configure the thermoelectric conversion units in more rows, and in that case, the thermoelectric conversion units adjacent to each other may be arranged between each other. Make sure the partition board is set.

[0026]

As described above, according to the thermoelectric conversion device of the present invention, the condensed water generated in the endothermic heat exchange section is effectively guided to the radiant heat exchange section to cool the radiant heat exchange section. To be used for. Therefore, the heat radiation efficiency in the heat radiation heat exchange section is improved, and the overall efficiency of the heat exchange apparatus is improved. Condensed water generated in the heat absorption heat exchange section is also processed at the same time, for example for vehicles. Can be effectively used as a heat exchange system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a thermoelectric conversion device 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 front view of a thermoelectric conversion unit that constitutes the thermoelectric conversion device.

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

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing one electrode plate part and a heat absorption (heat dissipation) mechanism part which constitute 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, ... Endothermic electrode plate, 161, 162, ... Radiating electrode plate, 20 ... Endothermic heat Exchanger, 25 ... Radiant heat exchanger, 28, 29 ... Partition wall, 301, 302 ...
Notch, 31 ... partition plate, 32 ... opening, 33 ... open cell sponge.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A heat-absorbing electrode plate and a heat-dissipating electrode plate, in which a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements and P-type thermoelectric elements, which are alternately arranged, are sequentially connected in series, are heat-conductively coupled to the heat-absorbing electrode plates, and extend upward. The endothermic heat exchange means set as described above, the radiant heat exchange means thermally coupled to the radiating electrode plate and set to extend downward, and between the endothermic heat exchange means and the radiant heat exchange means. A plurality of thermoelectric conversion units each of which has partition walls and are arranged side by side in a lateral direction with a space between them, and between the plurality of thermoelectric conversion units, the endothermic heat exchange means and the heat radiation unit are disposed. The partition plate is provided with a partition plate having an opening formed so as to partition from the heat exchange means and vertically communicating with each other, and an open cell body fitted and set in the opening portion of the partition plate. By endothermic heat exchange The thermoelectric conversion device, wherein the water condensed by the means is introduced to the heat radiation heat exchange means side.