KR102050920B1 - Thermoelectric Generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a thermoelectric generator capable of generating power using waste gas. The thermoelectric generator is connected to a waste gas pipe through which waste gas flows, a housing having a space in which waste gas flows therein, a plurality of cooling plates arranged in a direction parallel to the flow direction of the waste gas inside the housing, and a high temperature portion of the waste gas. And the low temperature part contacts the cooling plate to produce electric power by the temperature difference between the waste gas and the cooling plate, and connects the plurality of thermoelectric elements arranged so that the high temperature parts face each other, and the high temperature parts of the thermoelectric elements facing each other, and heats heat from the waste gas to the high temperature part. It includes a plurality of heat transfer pins to deliver.

Description

Thermoelectric Generation Device

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric generator, and more particularly, to a thermoelectric generator capable of producing power using waste gas.

In general, the heat energy of the waste gas is recovered and utilized as a driving force or reused as another energy source to increase energy efficiency. For example, the waste heat may be utilized in various ways, such as recovering heat energy of the waste gas and exchanging it through a boiler to use hot water, or to generate electricity using the heat energy of the waste gas.

The thermoelectric generator generates electricity by using thermal energy of waste gas, and in particular, may generate electrical energy from thermal energy by using a seebeck effect of a thermoelement. That is, the waste gas having high temperature thermal energy is transferred to the high temperature side of the thermoelectric element, and the low temperature side of the thermoelectric element is artificially cooled to produce electrical energy by the temperature difference between the high temperature portion and the low temperature portion.

However, when the waste gas is used in the thermoelectric generator, there is a problem that the back pressure of the space inside the passage through which the waste gas flows is high. In addition, there is a problem that the heat transfer efficiency of the heat sink is disposed in the interior space of the passage to absorb the high temperature heat source from the waste gas.

Therefore, there is a need for a power generation apparatus capable of adjusting the back pressure generated by the heat exchanger and increasing the heat exchange efficiency.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0050982, (2017.05.11)

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to solve this problem, and to provide a thermoelectric power generation apparatus capable of producing power using waste gas.

Technical problem of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned problems, another technical problem that is not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

The thermoelectric generator according to the technical problem of the present invention is connected to a waste gas pipe through which waste gas flows, and a housing having a space in which the waste gas flows is formed, and arranged in a direction parallel to the flow direction of the waste gas inside the housing. A plurality of cooling plates and a plurality of thermoelectric elements in which a high temperature portion is in contact with the waste gas and a low temperature portion is in contact with the cooling plate to produce electric power at a temperature difference between the waste gas and the cooling plate, and the high temperature portions are disposed to face each other. The beam includes a plurality of heat transfer fins connected between the high temperature portions of the thermoelectric element and transferring heat from the waste gas to the high temperature portion.

The heat transfer fin may have a flow path in which a heat transfer fluid is sealed inside or on one surface thereof.

The heat transfer fluid may maintain a saturation state in the passage.

The flow path may be formed in a serpentine structure that reciprocates between the high temperature portions of the thermoelectric element.

The flow path may be formed in a closed tube shape and attached to the heat transfer fins.

The thermoelectric element may have a flow path in which a heat transfer fluid is sealed inside or on one surface thereof.

The flow path may be engraved and engraved in the heat transfer fin formed of a plurality of plates in close contact with each other.

The heat transfer fins may be spaced apart from each other so that the convex portion and the concave portion face each other.

The heat transfer fins may be spaced apart from each other and disposed in parallel to the thermoelectric elements, and the heat transfer fins may be connected to a plurality of connection members connecting the high temperature portions, respectively, to transfer heat of the waste gas to the thermoelectric elements.

The thermoelectric generator according to the present invention may be disposed on a passage through which waste gas flows to heat exchange using waste heat, and may be used as a power generator using the waste gas.

In particular, the thermoelectric generator can reduce the internal space by placing a plurality of heat transfer fins in a space where high temperature waste gas flows, and reduce the back pressure of the heat source, and a heat transfer medium is formed in the heat transfer fins so that heat transfer is more efficient. It consists of features that can increase the power generation efficiency.

1 is a partial cutaway perspective view of a thermoelectric generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the thermoelectric generator of FIG. 1.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of the thermoelectric generator of FIG. 1.
4 is a perspective view of the heat transfer fin of FIG. 1.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B 'of the heat transfer fin of FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the heat transfer fin of FIG. 4.
7 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the heat transfer fin of FIG. 4.
8 is an operation diagram showing the operation of FIG.
9 is an operation diagram showing the operation of the heat transfer fin having a flow path of another shape.
10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the thermoelectric generator of FIG. 1.
11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of the thermoelectric generator of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a diagram illustrating an example of use of the thermoelectric generator of FIG. 1.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various forms, and only the embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the present invention complete and have ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to fully inform the scope of the invention, and the invention is only defined by the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

In the present specification, 'upper' and 'lower' are expressed on the basis of a case in which waste gas flows from below to upward, as shown in FIG. 1, and specifically, 'lower' means a side into which waste gas is introduced or a portion connected thereto. And, 'top' refers to the side or the portion connected to the waste gas is discharged. However, the 'upper' and 'lower' are provided for convenience of description in this specification, and the portions indicated as 'upper' and 'lower' may be interchanged. For example, even when the flow direction of the waste gas flows from one side to the other side, 'lower' means the side where the waste gas is introduced or connected thereto, and 'upper' means the side where the waste gas is discharged or connected thereto. Can mean.

Hereinafter, the thermoelectric generator of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

The thermoelectric generator 1 of the present invention is connected to a waste gas pipe 100 through which waste gas flows, and is an apparatus for producing electric power using heat of waste gas. The thermoelectric generator 1 may increase heat transfer efficiency by using a plurality of heat transfer fins 40 disposed in a space in which waste gas flows.

Hereinafter, the thermoelectric generator will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a thermoelectric generator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the thermoelectric generator of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a line A-A 'of the thermoelectric generator of FIG. 1. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heat transfer fin of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the heat transfer fin of FIG. 4 taken along line BB ′.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the thermoelectric generator 1 is connected to a waste gas pipe (see 100 of FIG. 12) through which waste gas flows, and has a housing 10 in which a space through which waste gas flows is formed. The temperature difference between the waste gas and the cooling plate 20 by the plurality of cooling plates 20 arranged in a direction parallel to the flow direction of the waste gas in the housing 10, and the hot portion contacting the waste gas and the low temperature portion contacting the cooling plate 20. Furnace to produce power, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements 30 disposed so that the high temperature portions face each other, and a plurality of heat transfer fins 40 connecting the high temperature portions of the thermoelectric elements 30 facing each other and transferring heat from the waste gas to the high temperature portions 40. ).

The housing 10 forms a main body of the thermoelectric generator 1, and an empty space through which waste gas passes may be formed therein. The housing 10 is formed in the shape of a rectangular cylinder having four upper and lower sides and forming four sides, and disposed so that the upper and lower portions communicate with the waste gas pipe (see 100 of FIG. 12) through which the waste gas flows. Can flow. At this time, the waste gas may be introduced through the lower portion of the housing 1 and discharged through the upper portion. The heat transfer fin 40, the heat transfer plate 42, the thermoelectric element 30, and the cooling plate 20 are disposed on the inner side of the housing 10, and the cooling plate faces toward the center from the inner side of the housing 10. 20, the thermoelectric element 30, the heat transfer plate 42, and the heat transfer fin 40 may be sequentially disposed. The waste gas is introduced into the lower portion of the housing 10 to release heat while passing through the internal space, and the heat transfer fin 40 disposed inside the housing 10 may absorb thermal energy from the waste gas.

The heat transfer fins 40 are heat transfer elements that receive heat from the waste gas and transfer the heat to the heat transfer plate 42 to be described later. The heat transfer fins 40 are spaced apart from each other in the inner space of the housing 10 which is a flow passage of the waste gas. In the present specification, the heat transfer fin 40 is described as an example of transferring the heat received from the waste gas to the heat transfer plate 42, but is not limited thereto, for example, the heat transfer plate 42 is omitted, the heat transfer pin 40 may transfer heat directly to the high temperature portion of the thermoelectric element 30. The plurality of heat transfer fins 40 are disposed in parallel to be spaced apart in contact with the waste gas in the inner space of the housing 10, and as shown in FIG. 1, the heat transfer fins 40 may be disposed perpendicularly to the lower portion of the housing 10 and the heat transfer plate 42. Can be. In other words, the plurality of heat transfer fins 40 may be disposed vertically on one surface of the heat transfer plate 42.

2 to 5, the heat transfer fin 40 will be described in more detail. The heat transfer fin 40 is made of a material having high heat transfer efficiency, and the convex portion and the concave portion are formed in a curved shape. Can be. That is, the heat transfer fins 40 are formed in a wave shape in which the cutting planes in the horizontal direction form a continuous wave shape. The area of contact with the waste gas can be increased. By increasing the contact area between the heat transfer fins 40 and the waste gas, the heat transfer efficiency is improved, and at the same time, the amount of heat energy absorbed by the waste gas can also be increased. The heat transfer fin 40 includes a flow path 50 in which a heat transfer fluid 51 is formed, and thus the heat transfer efficiency transferred to the heat transfer plate 42 may be increased. However, the heat transfer fin 40 is not limited to the convex portion and the concave portion formed in the form of a curved plate, for example, the heat transfer fin 40 may be formed in a flat plate form.

The flow path 50 is formed inside or on one surface of the heat transfer fin 40 to efficiently conduct heat, and is formed in the form of a pipe to enclose a heat transfer fluid 51 therein. As shown in FIG. 3, the flow path 50 may be formed in a serpentine structure having a serpentine shape and may be disposed in the heat transfer fin 40. The flow path 50 may be integrally formed with the heat transfer fins 40 as needed, and may be formed in different sizes within the plurality of heat transfer fins 40. In other words, the flow path 50 forms different diameters of the inner conduits through which the heat transfer fluid 51 flows, and arrangement intervals of the portions in which the heat transfer fluids flow, respectively, such that the temperature between the center of the flow path 50 and the heat transfer fins 40 is different. This has the advantage of reducing the gradient. The flow path 50 formed as described above is enclosed with a heat transfer fluid 51 maintaining a saturation state therein, and is sealed in the heat transfer fin 40, thereby forming a kind of oscillating heat pipe. The heat transfer fluid 51 may be, for example, a fluid having high heat transfer efficiency, such as freon, ammonia, water, and the like, and may be sealed in a state in which air is removed after being enclosed in the flow path 50. The flow path 50 may be formed in a continuous curved form along the convex portion and the concave portion of the heat transfer fin 40 in the heat transfer fin 40. In FIG. 3, only a part of the plurality of heat transfer fins 40 flow path. Although 50 is illustrated as being formed, this is only a brief illustration, and all the heat transfer fins 40 may be formed with respective flow paths 50. The plurality of heat transfer fins 40 are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval, and as shown in FIG. 1, the convex portions of the heat transfer fins 40 adjacent to the convex portions of the heat transfer fins 40 may be arranged side by side to face each other. have.

The heat transfer fin 40 is not made of a material such as copper having a high simple thermal conductivity, and can efficiently conduct heat therein and forms a flow path 50 having a higher thermal conductivity than copper, thereby efficiently transferring heat of waste gas. Can be. The heat transfer fin 40 may be formed to include the flow path 50 therein by being hardened on the outside of the flow path 50 after the flow path 50 containing the heat transfer fluid 51 is formed therein. . The heat transfer fin 40 in the present specification is described with an example in which the flow path 50 in which the heat transfer fluid 51 is enclosed is described as an example, but is not limited thereto, and is attached to one surface of the heat transfer fin 40, One surface may be formed in various ways, such as to form a flow path 50 by closely contacting a pair of heat transfer fins 40 formed in an intaglio, which will be described later in detail.

Subsequently, the heat transfer fins 40 are disposed inside the housing 10 to absorb high temperature heat from the waste gas when the waste gas flows, and transfer heat to the heat transfer plates 42 disposed on both sides.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 to 3, the heat transfer plate 42 is a heat transfer element for efficiently transferring heat received from the heat transfer fin 40 to the surface of the high temperature portion of the thermoelectric element 30. The heat transfer plate 42 may be made of a material having high thermal conductivity and may be formed in a flat rectangular plate shape such as the thermoelectric element 30 to be in contact with the high temperature portion of the thermoelectric element 30. The heat transfer plate 42 may be disposed between the heat transfer fin 40 and the thermoelectric element 30 and form a flow path 43 therein to efficiently transfer high temperature heat from the waste gas. The flow path 43 formed in the heat transfer plate 42 may be formed in the same shape as the flow path 50 formed in the heat transfer fin 40. The flow path 43 may be formed in the same shape and structure as the flow path 50 except that the flow path 43 is disposed inside the heat transfer plate 42, and thus the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The heat transfer plate 42 is disposed in contact with the high temperature portion of the thermoelectric element 30 and forms a flow path 43 therein, so that the heat transferred from the heat transfer fin 40 can be efficiently applied to one side of the thermoelectric element 30. I can deliver it. In particular, the heat transfer plate 42 and the flow path 43 is made of a material having high thermal conductivity, the flow path 43 is made of a kind of oscillating heat pipe has an advantage that can exhibit a higher thermal conductivity efficiency. The heat transfer plate 42 may be selectively disposed between the heat transfer fin 40 and the thermoelectric element 30, and may directly transfer high temperature heat from the heat transfer fin 40 to the high temperature portion of the thermoelectric element 30. The heat transfer fin 42 is disposed between the heat transfer fin 40 and the thermoelectric element 30 to efficiently transfer heat to the entire surface of the high temperature portion of the heat transfer element 30 that receives the high temperature heat from the heat transfer fin 40. This has the advantage of reducing the temperature gradient. In FIG. 2, the heat transfer plate 42 is described as an example disposed between the heat transfer fin 40 and the thermoelectric element 30, but may be selectively disposed or omitted.

The thermoelectric element 30 is a semiconductor device that generates electric power by a temperature difference between a high temperature part and a low temperature part of both sides, and the other side of the heat transfer plate 42 facing one end of the heat transfer plate 42 in contact with the heat transfer fin 40. It is arranged to abut the end. The thermoelectric element 30 may be formed in plural and in contact with the plurality of heat transfer plates 42 spaced apart from each other, and may receive high-temperature heat energy from the heat transfer plate 42. The thermoelectric element 30 may be disposed such that one side thereof is in contact with the heat transfer plate 42 and the other side thereof is in contact with the cooling plate 20, thereby producing power by a temperature difference between the waste gas and the cooling plate 20. In other words, the thermoelectric element 30 is disposed such that the high temperature portion is in contact with the heat transfer plate 42, and the low temperature portion is disposed in contact with the cooling plate 20, thereby producing power by the temperature difference between the high temperature portion and the low temperature portion. In particular, the flow path 43 of the thermoelectric element 30 has an advantage of efficiently distributing high-temperature heat transmitted from the heat transfer plate 42 to efficiently produce power.

The cooling plate 20 is a module for cooling the low temperature part of the thermoelectric element 30, and a plurality of cooling plates 20 may be disposed in a direction parallel to the flow direction of the waste gas. Each cooling plate 20 is disposed so as to be in contact with the low temperature portion, which is the other side of the thermoelectric element 30, respectively. In the present specification, the direction parallel to the flow direction of the waste gas may mean a direction extending in parallel with the direction in which the waste gas flows, and may be disposed to be parallel to the side of the housing. The cooling plate 20 may include various cooling modules capable of lowering the temperature of the low temperature portion of the thermoelectric element 30. For example, the cooling plate 20 may include a cooling plate 20 having a cooling flow path therein, and may be formed of a cooling fan. As the cooling plate 20 is disposed to be in contact with the other side of the thermoelectric element 30 to form a low temperature portion, the thermoelectric element 30 is characterized in that it can produce power by the temperature difference between the high temperature portion and the low temperature portion.

In the thermoelectric generator 1, a thermoelectric element 30 and a cooling plate 20 may be disposed at both ends of the plurality of heat transfer fins 40, respectively, to form a thermoelectric generator module, as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, a plurality of thermoelectric generator modules may be arranged side by side to increase heat exchange efficiency. Such a thermoelectric power module may be disposed on the waste gas pipe 100 through which waste gas flows, without being limited to an arrangement structure or quantity.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of a heat transfer fin including a flow path formed in different ways will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

6 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the heat transfer fin of Figure 4, Figure 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the heat transfer fin of FIG.

6 and 7 are substantially the same as the heat transfer fin of FIG. 3 described above except for the arrangement of the heat transfer fin and the flow path of FIGS. 1 to 5. Therefore, the detailed description of the heat transfer fins to the components already described will be omitted.

First, referring to FIG. 6, the heat transfer fins 40 do not form a separate flow path 50, and the first heat transfer fins 40a and the second heat transfer fins 40b including the indentations formed in the intaglio are coupled to each other. The flow path 50 can be formed. In detail, the heat transfer fin 40 may include a first heat transfer fin 40a and a second heat transfer fin 40b including an indentation formed in a recess on one surface thereof. The indentation may have a serpentine structure having the same shape as that of the flow path 50 in FIG. 4, and may be formed in an intaglio by a thickness cut in the vertical direction with respect to the center of the flow path 50 in FIG. 4. Indentations of the first heat transfer fins 40a and the second heat transfer fins 40b are symmetrical with each other, and indentations of the first heat transfer fins 40a and the second heat transfer fins 40b are coupled to face each other so that the flow path 50 ) Can be formed. At this time, the flow path 50 is formed in a serpentine shape, the heat transfer fluid 51 is sealed therein to be sealed and formed therein, and the heat transfer fluid 51 may maintain a saturation state inside the flow path 50. The heat transfer fluid 51 formed as described above is capable of transferring high temperature heat to the thermoelectric element 30 while continuously flowing in the flow path 50 by high temperature waste gas. The heat transfer fin 40 in FIG. 6 has an advantage of being easily manufactured by forming the flow path 50 by combining the first heat transfer fin 40a and the second heat cutting plate 40b without producing a separate flow path. .

Subsequently, referring to FIG. 7, the heat transfer fin 40 and the flow path 50 are formed to be separated and attached. The flow path 50 may be separately formed in a sealed tube shape and attached to one surface of the heat transfer fin 40. The flow path 50 may be formed in a shape having a serpentine structure, as shown in FIG. 4, and may have a structure in which condensation and heat dissipation of the heat transfer fluid 51 accommodated therein may be efficiently performed. For example, the flow path 50 may form an oscillating heat pipe in which a hermetically sealed tube is formed in a serpentine shape. That is, the flow path 50 is formed of a separate sealed tube in which the continuous fluid fluid 51 is accommodated. The heat transfer fin 40 may include an indentation (not shown) formed in an intaglio shape on the surface to which the flow path 50 is attached, in the same manner as the shape of the flow path 50, and separately formed a sealed tubular flow path 50. May be attached to the indentation. At this time, the flow path 50 may be attached to be completely received in the indentation portion, or may be attached to protrude part from the heat transfer fin 40. However, the flow path 50 is not limited to being inserted into the indentation portion of the heat transfer fin 40, and for example, the indentation portion is not formed in the heat transfer fin 40, and thus the flow path 50 is a heat transfer fin ( It may be attached to one surface of the 40 to protrude completely. The flow path 50 in the present specification is not directly attached to the flat surface of the heat transfer fin 40, one side of the heat transfer fin 40 is attached to the indentation formed in the intaglio heat transfer fin 40 and the flow path 50 It can be made more integrated and stable structure. In addition, the heat transfer fin 40 is coupled to the flow path 50 for receiving the heat transfer fluid 51 that maintains a saturation state therein, such as a heat pipe, thereby increasing heat transfer efficiency. The heat transfer fluid 51 is capable of efficiently transferring high temperature heat to the thermoelectric element 30 while rapidly circulating the inside of the flow path 50 by the heat of the hot waste gas in the flow path 50.

Hereinafter, an operation process of the thermoelectric generator will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

8 is an operation diagram showing the operation of Figure 3, Figure 9 is an operation diagram showing the operation of the heat transfer fin having a flow path of a different shape.

First, referring to FIG. 8, when hot waste gas flows from the top to the bottom of the housing 10, thermal energy of the waste gas is transferred to the heat transfer fin 40. At this time, since the heat transfer fins 40 are formed to be bent and spaced apart from each other, it is possible to increase the heat transfer area received from the waste gas. The heat transfer pin 40 receives heat from the waste gas, and transfers high temperature heat to the thermoelectric elements 30 disposed on both sides, and heat transfer efficiency 51 due to the heat transfer fluid 51 enclosed in the flow path 50. You can increase it. The heat transfer fin 40 may transfer high temperature heat to the thermoelectric element 30 through heat transfer plates 42 disposed on both sides. In addition, the heat transfer fluid 51 is mixed with gas inside the flow path 50, and receives heat of a high temperature from the lower part where the waste gas flows in, circulating along the inside of the flow path 50 while repeating condensation and evaporation. Heat may be transferred into the fin 40. In particular, since the flow path 50 is formed so that the pair is symmetrical, the heat transfer fluid 51 has a characteristic that can transfer heat to both sides of the heat transfer fin 40 while moving quickly along the inside of each flow path 50. . That is, the flow path 50 is formed to be symmetrical in the heat transfer fins 40, thereby rapidly transferring high temperature heat to both sides of the heat transfer fins 40, thereby reducing the temperature gradient of the heat transfer fins 40. . The thermoelectric element 30 receives a high temperature heat energy from one side of the heat transfer fin 40, and the other side is cooled from the cooling plate 20 to show a low temperature portion. The thermoelectric element 30 may generate electricity by the temperature difference between the high temperature portion and the low temperature portion. In the thermoelectric generator 1 of the present invention, a plurality of heat transfer fins 40 disposed inside the housing 10 includes a flow path 50 having high heat transfer efficiency. Therefore, there is an advantage to reduce the temperature gradient, the heat transfer fin 40 is formed bent to increase the heat transfer area, there is an advantage that the heat exchange efficiency is improved.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow path 50 having a shape different from that of FIG. 8, and illustrates an operation of moving the heat transfer fluid 51 along the flow path 50 having a different shape. 9 is different from FIG. 8 except that the heat transfer fluid 51 flows along the flow path 50 that is formed differently from FIG. 8, and thus the same description as in FIG. 8 will be omitted.

9 illustrates a structure in which the flow path 50 of FIG. 9 is vertically arranged and connected to each other. At this time, the flow path 50 has a shape different from that of FIG. 8, but the density of the flow path 50 may be different, but the heat transfer fluid 51 is hermetically received therein to repeatedly show the condensation and evaporation phenomenon. (50) The principle of moving along the inside is the same. That is, the flow path 50 has a heat transfer fluid 51 and a gas mixed therein, and when the lower portion receives high temperature heat by waste gas, condensation and evaporation occur repeatedly to circulate the inside to transfer heat. Can be. The flow path 50 may transfer the high temperature heat to the high temperature parts of the thermoelectric elements 30 on both sides while the internal heat transfer fluid 51 receives the high temperature heat to circulate the inside, and the temperature of both ends of the thermoelectric element 30. Electricity can be produced by cars. The flow path 50 may be formed in various shapes to reduce the temperature gradient of the heat transfer fins 40, and the heat transfer efficiency may also be changed by varying the density of the heat transfer fluid 51.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the thermoelectric generator of FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the thermoelectric generator of FIG. 1, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of the thermoelectric generator of the second embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 10.

The thermoelectric generator according to the second embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 includes a connection member, except for a structure in which a heat transfer fin of the molten salt generator of FIG. 1 is disposed perpendicularly to the thermoelectric element. It is virtually identical to the pin. Therefore, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those already described, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

First, referring to FIG. 10, in the thermoelectric generator 1 according to the second embodiment, a plurality of heat transfer fins 40 are parallel to the cooling plate 20 and the thermoelectric element 30 in the housing 10. To be placed. The plurality of heat transfer fins 40 are spaced apart from each other in the inner space of the housing 10 through which the waste gas flows, and are arranged in parallel with the thermoelectric element 30. In this case, the plurality of heat transfer fins 40 may be connected to the connection member 41, and may transfer heat to the high temperature portion of the thermoelectric element 30 by the connection member 41.

In more detail, the connecting member 41 is a member that connects through the plurality of heat transfer fins 40 and is formed in a hollow pipe shape so that both ends thereof contact the high temperature portion of the thermoelectric element 30. Connected. Since the pair of thermoelectric elements 30 are arranged with the heat transfer fins 40 between the high temperature portions, the connection member 41 may be disposed through the heat transfer fins 40. As shown in FIG. 11, the connection member 41 penetrates through the plurality of heat transfer fins 40, and at this time, the flow path 50 of the heat transfer fins 40 also penetrates and connects. That is, the connection member 41 is connected to the inner flow path 50 of the heat transfer fin 40 to be connected, the heat transfer fluid 51 is formed in a structure that may flow inside the connection member 41. The connection member 41 is formed in a hollow shape and connects the plurality of heat transfer fins 40 to penetrate the flow path 50, thereby communicating the respective flow paths 50 and the inside of the connection member 41 with each other. Can connect For this reason, the heat transfer fluid 51 may flow not only inside the flow path 50 but also inside the connection member 41. The connection member 41 formed in such a structure can stably fix the plurality of heat transfer fins 40, and is formed of a material having high thermal conductivity, thereby connecting the high temperature heat absorbed by the heat transfer fins 40 to the connection member 41. ) Can be transferred to the high temperature portion of the thermoelectric element 30. In particular, the connection member 41 has a structure in communication with the flow path 50 of the heat transfer fin 40, the heat transfer fluid 51 flows through the inner empty space, there is an advantage that the heat transfer efficiency is increased. A use example of an embodiment of the thermoelectric generator of FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 12.

12 is a diagram illustrating an example of use of the thermoelectric generator of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 12, the thermoelectric generator 1 of the present invention is connected to a waste gas pipe 100 through which waste gas flows. As shown in the figure, the thermoelectric generator 10 may be disposed so that the upper portion and the lower portion communicate with at least a portion of the waste gas pipe 100. The thermoelectric generator 1 and the waste gas pipe 100 may be connected by a connection portion 101 and a fixing portion 102 such as a flange. At this time, the connection portion 101 is formed of a material having a low thermal conductivity and is disposed in contact with the cooling plate 20, it is possible to prevent the phenomenon that the heat of the waste gas is transferred to the cooling plate 20, the thermoelectric generator 1 ) May be formed integrally or separately and combined. In addition, the thermoelectric generator 1 may be provided with a heat shield plate 60 in the upper and lower portions of the cooling plate 20 disposed on the path through which the waste gas flows. The thermal barrier plate 60 is formed of a material having low thermal conductivity to prevent heat from being transferred, and heat of the waste gas is transferred to the cooling plate 20 installed in the center of the thermoelectric generator 10 so that the cooling plate 20 The phenomenon that the temperature of) rises can be prevented. That is, the thermal barrier plate 60 may maintain the temperature of one side of the thermoelectric element 30 at a low temperature portion. As such, the thermoelectric generator 10 may be connected and installed to communicate with the waste gas pipe 100 through which waste gas flows, and may transmit heat energy to the heat transfer fin 40 while the waste gas flows through the lower portion and flows upward. The heat transfer fin 40 is in contact with the high temperature portion of the thermoelectric element 30, the cooling plate 20 may be in contact with the low temperature portion of the thermoelectric element 30 to produce power, the flow path 43 enclosed in the heat transfer fin 40. Due to this, the heat transfer efficiency can be improved.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can realize that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features. I can understand. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

1: thermoelectric generator 10: housing
20: cooling plate 30: thermoelectric element
31: inner tube 40: heat transfer fin
40a: first heat transfer fin 40b: second heat transfer fin
41: connecting member 42: heat transfer plate
43, 50: Euro 51: Heat transfer fluid
60: heat shield 100: waste gas pipe
101: connecting portion 102: fixed portion

Claims (9)

A housing connected to a waste gas pipe through which waste gas flows and having a space in which the waste gas flows;
A plurality of cooling plates arranged inside the housing in a direction parallel to a flow direction of the waste gas;
A plurality of thermoelectric elements in which a high temperature part is in contact with the waste gas and a low temperature part is in contact with the cooling plate to produce electric power at a temperature difference between the waste gas and the cooling plate, and the high temperature parts are disposed to face each other;
A plurality of heat transfer fins connected between the high temperature portions of the thermoelectric elements facing each other and transferring heat from the waste gas to the high temperature portions,
The heat transfer fins, the thermoelectric power generation device is formed a flow path in which a heat transfer fluid is sealed inside or on one surface. delete The thermoelectric generator of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer fluid maintains a saturation state in the flow path. The thermoelectric generator of claim 3, wherein the flow path has a serpentine structure configured to reciprocate between the high temperature portions of the thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric power generation apparatus of claim 4, wherein the flow path is formed in a sealed tube shape and attached to the heat transfer fins. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric element has a flow path in which a heat transfer fluid is sealed inside or on one surface thereof. The thermoelectric generator of claim 3, wherein the flow path is engraved and engraved in the heat transfer fin formed of a plurality of plates in close contact with each other. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer fin is formed in a curved shape in which convex portions and concave portions are continuously formed,
The thermoelectric power generation device is a plurality of heat transfer fins are arranged spaced apart so that the convex portion and the concave portion respectively. The thermoelectric device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the heat transfer fins are spaced apart from each other and arranged in parallel with the thermoelectric element, and the heat transfer fins are connected to a plurality of connection members connecting the high temperature portions, respectively, to heat the waste gas. Thermoelectric generator to transfer to.

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