JPH1093149A - Thermoelectric converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermoelectric converter, having high efficiency with as much reduced thermal transfer as possible, due to the heat radiation from a heat exchanger at a high temp. side to that at a low temp. side. SOLUTION: The converter has a pair of mutually opposed approximately flat plate-like two heat exchangers 1, 2 and a thermoelectric element 3 composed of P- and N-type semiconductors 4, 5, coupled in series through metal electrodes 6 between the exchangers 1, 2. Either of the adjacent electrodes 6 is connected to one of the exchangers 1, 2, and the other electrode 6 is connected to the other exchanger. The P- and N-type semiconductors 4, 5 are bridge-connected mutually at the upper or lower ends through the electrodes 6, and grooves 7 are cut into at least one surface of either heat exchanger 1 or 2, facing at the inner faces of the electrodes 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric converter for converting electricity into heat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a thermoelectric converter of this type,
There is one utilizing the Peltier effect as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-178554.

[0003] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, there are two substantially flat heat exchangers 1.2 arranged opposite to each other, and between the heat exchangers 1.2, Thermoelectric element 3 comprising at least one pair of P-type semiconductor 4 and N-type semiconductor 5
Consisting of In this conventional example, a plurality of P-type semiconductors 4 and N-type semiconductors 5 are alternately arranged.
The P-type semiconductor 4 and the N-type semiconductor 5 have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a metal electrode 6 is interposed to connect the two in series. The P-type semiconductor 4 and the N-type semiconductor 5 are connected by cross-linking at their upper ends or at their lower ends, and the outer surface of the electrode 6 alternately contacts the heat exchanger 1 or 2 to enhance the heat transfer effect. Connected to the heat exchanger 1 in the closed state.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, the heat exchanger 1 on the high heat side and the heat exchanger 2 on the low heat side are arranged so as to face each other. In addition, heat transfer from the high heat side to the low heat side due to heat radiation occurs, and as a result, there is a disadvantage that the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is reduced. In particular, when the thermoelectric conversion device is made thinner as in recent years, the distance between the two becomes smaller, and this problem is remarkable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to minimize heat transfer due to heat radiation from a heat exchanger on a high temperature side to a heat exchanger on a low temperature side. Another object of the present invention is to provide a highly efficient thermoelectric conversion device.

[0006]

The thermoelectric converter according to the present invention comprises a plurality of P-type semiconductors 4 between two substantially flat heat exchangers 1.2 arranged so as to oppose each other. And a thermoelectric element 3 formed by joining an N-type semiconductor 5 in series via a metal electrode 6, and connecting one of the adjacent electrodes 6 to one of the heat exchangers 1.2, In a thermoelectric converter in which one of the adjacent electrodes 6 is connected to the other of the heat exchanger 1.2, the P-type semiconductor 4 and the N-type
The type semiconductor 5 is such that upper end portions or lower end portions are connected to electrodes 6.
The heat exchanger 1 or 2 is provided with a concave groove 7 on at least one of opposing surfaces thereof with respect to the inner surface of the electrode 6.

As the heat exchanger 1.2, a metal plate having a large thermal conductivity, a thin plate-like package in which a heat storage material, a heat medium, or the like is sealed is used.

The groove 7 has a rectangular cross section, a V-shaped cross section, a semicircular cross section, or the like.

As described above, as a result of providing the concave groove 7 on the surface of the heat exchanger 1 or 2 facing the inner surface of the electrode 6, the distance between the high temperature side and the low temperature side heat exchanger 1.2 is reduced. And the amount of radiant heat exchange between the two decreases.

Here, the groove 7 is effective if provided in either one of the heat exchangers 1 and 2.
If it is provided on both sides, it will be more effective.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A thermoelectric converter according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

This thermoelectric conversion device has a plurality of substantially rectangular P-type semiconductors 4 and N-type semiconductors 5 between two substantially flat heat exchangers 1.2 arranged so as to oppose each other. Are arranged in series via a metal electrode 6, and one of the adjacent electrodes 6 is connected to one of the heat exchangers 1.2, and the adjacent electrodes 6 are connected. In the thermoelectric conversion device in which one of the two is connected to the other of the heat exchanger 1.2, the P-type semiconductor 4 and the N-type semiconductor 5 are connected by bridging the upper end portions or the lower end portions with the electrode 6. The heat exchangers 1 and 2 with respect to the inner surface of the electrode 6 are provided with concave grooves 7 on both opposing surfaces.

The heat exchanger 1.2 is formed of an aluminum plate, and has a concave groove 7 formed on its surface by cutting.

As a result of the provision of the concave groove 7 on the surface of the heat exchanger 1 or 2 facing the inner surface of the electrode 6, the distance between the high-temperature side heat exchanger 1.2 and the low-temperature side heat exchanger 1.2 is increased. Radiated heat exchange amount becomes smaller.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the groove 7 is rectangular in cross section. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the concave groove 7 has a V-shaped cross section. By adopting the concave groove 7 having a V-shaped cross section, the opposing surfaces between the heat exchangers 1.2 do not face each other in parallel, and the amount of radiant heat exchange between the two is further reduced as compared with the case shown in FIG. Become.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, since the concave groove 7 has a semicircular cross section, the amount of radiated heat exchange between the two is further reduced as compared with the case shown in FIG. (A curved surface that bends sharply)
The occurrence of stress concentration on the facing surface of the heat exchanger 1.2 can be prevented.

The groove 7 is provided with the electrode 6 of the heat exchanger 1.2.
It is needless to say that it is more effective if provided also in a portion that does not face (a portion where the heat exchanger 1 and the heat exchanger 2 directly face).

[0018]

According to the thermoelectric converter of the present invention, the electrode 6
Groove 7 is formed in the surface of heat exchanger 1 or 2 facing the inner surface of
As a result, the distance between the high-temperature side and the low-temperature side heat exchangers 1.2 increases, and the amount of radiant heat exchange between the two decreases. As a result, the thermoelectric conversion device of the present invention has an extremely high conversion efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat exchanger 2 Heat exchanger 3 Thermoelectric element 4 P-type semiconductor 5 N-type semiconductor 6 Electrode 7 Groove

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of P-type semiconductors 4 and N-type semiconductors 5 are connected to a metal electrode 6 between two substantially flat heat exchangers 1.2 arranged so as to oppose each other. The thermoelectric element 3 formed by joining in series through the interposer is arranged, and one of the adjacent electrodes 6 is connected to one of the heat exchangers 1.2,
In a thermoelectric conversion device in which one of the adjacent electrodes 6 is connected to one of the other ends of the heat exchanger 1.2, the P-type semiconductor 4 and the N-type semiconductor 5 are connected to each other at the upper end or the lower end by the electrode 6. A thermoelectric conversion device characterized in that a concave groove 7 is provided on at least one of opposing surfaces of the heat exchanger 1 or 2 with respect to the inner surface of the electrode 6. 2. The thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the concave groove has a rectangular cross section. 3. The thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the concave groove has a V-shaped cross section. 4. The thermoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the concave groove has a semicircular cross section.