JPH11135845A - Thermoionic module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a connecting work with other modules or devices, by preparing lead wires in alignment with the distance to the other thermoionic modules or devices to be connected. SOLUTION: P-type thermoionic elements 21 and n-type thermoionic elements 22 are arranged in a grid pattern in a flat base body 11 formed of electrically insulating material. The thermoionic elements are connected so as to obtain the electrically serial connection. In this thermoionic module, a lead-wire attaching member 44 formed of a conducting material is electrically connected to a respective electrode plate 18, which becomes a base end and a terminating end of the thermoionic element in electrically serial line. At the outer end part of each lead-wire attaching member, a screw hole 45 that can be screwed with a screw member 42, to which the lead wire 22 is to be attached, is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermoelectric module.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A thermoelectric module is formed by joining a p-type thermoelectric element and an n-type thermoelectric element via an electrode plate so as to be electrically connected in series. When a current flows between the junctions, heat is absorbed or heat is generated depending on the direction of the current. The former property is called the Seebeck effect, and has been developed for thermoelectric power generation, such as power generation by waste heat from refuse incinerators,
The latter property is called a Peltier effect, and is widely used for thermoelectric cooling such as cooling of a thermostat or an electronic device in a semiconductor manufacturing process.

FIG. 3 shows a typical example of this thermoelectric module.
As shown in the figure, a p-type thermoelectric material (90) and an n-type thermoelectric material (91) are provided between the facing ceramic substrates (96) and (96).
Are electrically connected in series via a.
The method of manufacturing the thermoelectric module will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, Ni plating layers (92) and (92) for improving the bonding property are applied to both sides of the p-type thermoelectric material (90) and the n-type thermoelectric material (91), and A solder plating layer (94) (94) is further applied. Next, the electrode (98) is formed by directly patterning Cu on the electrically insulating ceramic substrate (96). On the Cu electrode (98) of the ceramic substrate (96), p-type thermoelectric material (90) corresponding to the patterning position
After the n-type thermoelectric material (91) and the n-type thermoelectric material (91) are alternately arranged, a ceramic substrate (96) on which a Cu electrode (98) is patterned is placed on the thermoelectric material (90) (91). When this is put in a heating device and heated, the solder (94) (94) melts, and the Ni plating layers (92) (92) of the thermoelectric materials (90) (91) and the ceramic substrates (96) (96) ) Are joined to the Cu electrodes (98) and (98).

However, in this thermoelectric module, the ceramic substrate (96) must be made thick in order to secure a desired mechanical strength, and this ceramic substrate interferes with heat conduction, resulting in poor thermoelectric efficiency. . Then, the applicant previously made a pair of opposed electrode plates (18) (1) as shown in FIG.
8) a p-type thermoelectric element (2) with a p-type thermoelectric material (16)
1) and an n-type thermoelectric element (22) in which an n-type thermoelectric material (17) is joined between a pair of opposed electrode plates (18) and (18) are made of an electrically insulating material. The adjacent electrode plates (18) (18) are connected so that the thermoelectric elements (21) and (22) are electrically connected in series as a whole in a flat plate-shaped base (11). Suggested what was. In this thermoelectric module, it is only necessary to interpose a thin electric insulating film such as alumina between the heat exchange member to be brought into close contact with the heat exchange member, so that the thermal conductivity is significantly improved.

By the way, the production of this thermoelectric module is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 6, the p-type thermoelectric element (21) and the n-type thermoelectric element (2
2), are arranged alternately at a predetermined interval in a grid pattern, and are electrically connected in series so that the upper electrode plates (18) and (18) adjacent to each other with a gap therebetween, the lower electrode plate ( 18) (18) After soldering each other with a brazing material (25) such as solder, the lead wires (32) and (32) are attached to the electrode plates serving as the base and end of the thermoelectric element in electrical series. A bottomed formwork (not shown)
And a semi-liquid cement material is poured and solidified to form a base of the thermoelectric module, and thereafter, surface grinding is performed until the electrode plate is exposed.

[0006]

However, in this method, since the semi-liquid cement material is poured after the thermoelectric elements are electrically connected in series, a part of the lead wire (32) is partially
Since it is embedded in (11) and protrudes from the base (11), workability is poor, and it is difficult to change the length of the lead wire later. For example, when the distance to another thermoelectric module or device to be connected changes, the lead wire (32) has to be cut or extended with an additional lead wire according to the distance.

[0007]

According to the thermoelectric module of the present invention, a p-type thermoelectric element in which a p-type thermoelectric material is joined between a pair of opposed electrode plates and an n-type thermoelectric material are joined between a pair of opposed electrode plates. N-type thermoelectric elements are arranged in a grid in a flat substrate made of an electrically insulating material, and adjacent electrode plates such that the thermoelectric elements as a whole are electrically in series. In a thermoelectric module in which the thermoelectric elements are connected to each other, a lead wire mounting member made of a conductive material is electrically connected to each of the electrode plates serving as a base end and an end of an electric series of the thermoelectric element. At the outer end of the lead wire mounting member, a screw hole is formed which can be screwed with a screw member to which the lead wire is to be mounted.

[0008]

The lead wire and the thermoelectric module are electrically connected to each other by inserting the lead wire between the screw member and the lead wire mounting member and screwing the screw member into the screw hole.
According to the configuration of the present invention, since the lead wire can be prepared according to the distance to another thermoelectric module or device to be connected, the connection operation with another thermoelectric module or device is simplified.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric module of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a plan view of the thermoelectric module, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 1 and 2
Referring to, two types of thermoelectric elements, a p-type thermoelectric element (21) and an n-type thermoelectric element (22), are alternately arranged via a partition (13) in a rectangular plate-shaped base (11). Are arranged in a lattice. The p-type thermoelectric element (21) and the n-type thermoelectric element (22) are adjacent to each other so that they are electrically connected in series.
(18) The lower electrode plates (18) and (18) are alternately connected to each other via a brazing material (25) such as solder. This connection state is shown most clearly in FIG. It should be understood that the number of thermoelectric elements should be appropriately selected according to the desired power generation capacity, and is not limited to the number of the illustrated embodiment. Substrate
(11) is made of an electrically insulating material such as ceramic or cement, can be cited as a preferred material, for example cordierite the _{(2MgO · 2Al 2 O 3 ·} 5SiO 2).

The p-type thermoelectric element (21) has a p-type thermoelectric material (16) previously bonded between a pair of opposing electrode plates (18), (18), and the n-type thermoelectric element (22) has A pair of opposing electrode plates (18) (1
An n-type thermoelectric material (17) is previously bonded between 8). These thermoelectric elements are manufactured by placing an electrode plate in a mold, filling a thermoelectric material powder thereon, placing the electrode plate, and hot pressing. As an example of a p-type thermoelectric material, (Bi ₂ Te ₃ ) _{1 -x} (Sb ₂ Te ₃ ) _x where x is 0.7
(Bi ₂₎
Te ₃ ) _1-x (Bi ₂ Se ₃ ) _x where x is 0.05 to 0.15
However, the present invention is not limited to these. The composition ratio is a ratio of the number of atoms. Electrode plate (18)
Although a Cu plate is used, in order to improve the bondability with the thermoelectric material, a surface that is in contact with the thermoelectric material may be plated with Ni or vapor-deposited with Mo or Ti. More desirable.

In the illustrated embodiment, the p-type thermoelectric element (21) at the position indicated by the reference numeral in FIG. 2 (a) is the base end of the electric series, and is connected in a zigzag manner so as to be electrically connected in series. And
The n-type thermoelectric element (22) at the position indicated by the reference numeral is the end of the electrical series.

A groove (34) for accommodating a lead wire mounting member (44), which will be described later, is formed on a side portion of each of the thermoelectric elements serving as the base end and the end of the electrical series. The groove (34) is desirably an elongated shape having a rectangular cross section, and the depth of the groove (34) should be such that the lead wire mounting member (44) fits in the thermoelectric module in the final shape. desirable. When manufacturing the thermoelectric module, a thermoelectric element is arranged in the hole by using a base in which holes for accommodating the thermoelectric element are previously opened in a lattice shape, and adjacent thermoelectric elements are electrically connected in series. You can also connect. In this case, since the groove (34) can be formed in the base in advance, the manufacturing process can be simplified.

A lead wire mounting member (44) made of a conductive material such as Cu is provided in the groove (34). Desirable lead wire attaching member (44) is in the shape of an elongated rectangular bar, and its size is almost equal to the size of groove (34), and is separated by the gap required for soldering with electrode plate (18). It is arranged. The lead wire mounting members (44) (44) and the thermoelectric elements (21) (22) at the positions indicated by the reference numerals are solder materials (46) (46) such as solder.
And are electrically connected.

A screw hole (45) is formed at the outer end of the lead wire mounting member (44), and the screw hole can be screwed with a screw member (42) to which the lead wire (32) is to be mounted. It is.

However, the screw member (42) and the lead wire attaching member
By screwing the screw member (42) into the screw hole (45) with the lead wire (32) interposed therebetween (44), the lead wire (32) is electrically connected to the thermoelectric module. If a crimp terminal is attached to the end of the lead wire (32), electrical connection to the thermoelectric module by the screw member (42) can be performed more easily.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric module of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the thermoelectric module of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional thermoelectric module.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a conventional thermoelectric module.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric module in which a lead wire is embedded in a base.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an arrangement state of thermoelectric elements before forming a base in the thermoelectric module of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 (11) Base (21) p-type thermoelectric element (22) n-type thermoelectric element (25) (46) brazing material (32) lead wire (34) groove (42) screw member (44) lead wire mounting member (45) Screw hole

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A p-electrode between a pair of opposed electrode plates (18) (18).
P-type thermoelectric element (21) to which the type-type thermoelectric material (16) is joined, and an n-type thermoelectric element (to which an n-type thermoelectric material (17) is joined between a pair of opposed electrode plates (18) and (18)) 22) are arranged in a grid in a flat substrate (11) made of an electrically insulating material so that the thermoelectric elements (21) and (22) are electrically in series as a whole. A thermoelectric module in which electrode plates (18) and (18) adjacent to each other are connected to each other, and each of the electrode plates (18) serving as a base end and an end of an electric series of the thermoelectric element is formed of a conductive material. The lead wire mounting member (44) is electrically connected, and a screw hole (45) that can be screwed with a screw member (42) to which the lead wire (32) is to be mounted is provided at the outer end of each lead wire mounting member. ) Has been established.