KR20150001415A - Method of producting thermo electric leg and molding device for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a molding device for manufacturing a thermoelectric leg of a thermoelectric device with improved performance. The molding device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a mold part which includes a plurality of holes with the same shape and width as the thermoelectric leg, a first pressing unit which includes a plurality of protrusion units which correspond to the holes, is fitted on the upper side of the mold part, and presses powder for the thermoelectric leg filled in the hole on the upper side thereof, and a second pressing unit which is fitted on the lower side of the mold part and presses the powder for the thermoelectric leg filled in the hole on the lower side thereof.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a thermoelectrically-

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric element, and more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a thermoelectric leg of a thermoelectric element and a molding apparatus therefor.

Thermoelectric phenomenon is a phenomenon caused by the movement of electrons and holes inside a material, which means direct energy conversion between heat and electricity.

Thermoelectric elements are collectively referred to as elements that use thermoelectric phenomena. They are devices that use the temperature change of electrical resistance, devices that use electrostatic force due to temperature difference, devices that use the Seebeck effect, phenomena that heat is generated by heat or heat generation, And the like.

Thermoelectric elements are widely applied to electronic appliances, electronic components, and communication components, and the demand for thermoelectric performance of thermoelectric elements is increasing.

The thermoelectric element includes a substrate, an electrode, and a thermoelectric leg. Generally, a thermoelectric material is heat-treated to obtain a thermoelectric material powder, and then the material is sintered to obtain a thermosetting sintered body. Then, the thermosetting sintered body is cut to obtain thermoelectric legs.

At this time, the amount of the material to be lost can be increased by performing a plurality of cutting processes. As a result, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost rises. In addition, the thermoelectric performance may vary depending on the position in the sintered body. Thus, there is a problem that the performance of the thermoelectric legs is not uniform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a thermoelectric leg having improved performance and a molding apparatus therefor.

A molding apparatus for manufacturing a thermoelectric leg of a thermoelectric device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a mold unit including a plurality of holes having the same shape and width as the shape and width of the thermoelectric leg, And a plurality of protruding units corresponding to the plurality of holes, wherein the protruding unit includes a protruding unit of a protruding unit of the protruding unit, And a second pressing portion which is fitted in the lower portion of the mold portion and presses the thermoelectric leg powder filled in the hole at the lower portion.

The height of the thermoelectric leg can be adjusted by using at least one of the depth of the hole, the length of the plurality of protruding units included in the first pressing portion, and the length of the plurality of protruding units included in the second pressing portion.

The shape of the hole may be circular or polygonal, and the width of the hole may be 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

Wherein the mold part includes a first mold and a second mold including a plurality of holes, a plurality of protruding units corresponding to the plurality of holes are formed at the upper and lower parts, respectively, And a third pressing unit that presses the thermoelectric material for filling the holes of the one mold at the lower portion and presses the thermoelectric material for the thermo-leg which is fitted in the upper portion of the second mold and filled in the holes of the second mold, .

The method for manufacturing a thermoelectrically-responsive leg according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of filling a plurality of holes having the same shape and width as the shape and width of the thermoelectric legs with the thermoelectric leg powder, And sintering.

The sintering step may include pressing the thermoelectric leg powder using at least one pressing portion including a plurality of protruding units corresponding to the plurality of holes.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the loss of material generated in the process of manufacturing the thermoelectric leg, and to reduce the manufacturing cost.

Further, by omitting the cutting step for the thermoelectric leg, the time for producing the thermoelectric leg can be reduced.

In addition, a thermoelectric leg having a uniform thermoelectric performance can be obtained.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a thermoelectric element.
Figure 2 shows a method of making thermoelectric legs.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a thermoelectric leg according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 to 6 show a molding apparatus for manufacturing thermoelectric legs of thermoelectric elements according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 shows a molding apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention is capable of various modifications and various embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated and described in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The terms including ordinal, such as second, first, etc., may be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not limited to these terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the second component may be referred to as a first component, and similarly, the first component may also be referred to as a second component. And / or < / RTI > includes any combination of a plurality of related listed items or any of a plurality of related listed items.

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between.

The terminology used in this application is used only to describe a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, the terms "comprises" or "having" and the like are used to specify that there is a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component or a combination thereof described in the specification, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries are to be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the contextual meaning of the related art and are to be interpreted as either ideal or overly formal in the sense of the present application Do not.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a thermoelectric element.

1, a thermoelectric element 100 includes a lower substrate 110, an electrode 120, a coupling portion 130, an N-type leg 140, a P-type leg 150, a coupling portion 160, (170) and an upper substrate (180). An N-type leg 140 and a P-type leg 150 are stacked on the electrode 120. The N-type leg 140 and the P-type leg 150 are stacked on the lower substrate 110, And the upper substrate 180 is stacked on the electrode 170. The electrodes 170 are formed on the upper substrate 180,

When a DC voltage is applied to the electrodes 120 and 170 through a lead wire, a substrate through which current flows from the P-type leg 150 to the N-type leg 140 due to the Peltier effect acts as a cooling part by absorbing heat, The substrate through which the current flows from the leg 140 to the P-type leg 150 can be heated to act as a heat generating portion.

In this specification, the N-type leg and the P-type leg are generically referred to as thermoelectric legs.

Figure 2 shows a method of making thermoelectric legs.

Referring to FIG. 2, in order to manufacture thermoelectric legs, a cutting process after sintering is required. That is, the N-type material or the P-type material is heat-treated to form an N-type leg or P-type leg powder, followed by sintering to obtain a sintered body (a). These sintered bodies are subjected to a plurality of cutting processes such as primary cutting and secondary cutting to obtain thermoelectric legs (b).

At this time, the amount of material to be lost by the plurality of cutting processes is increased. As a result, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost rises. Further, the thermoelectric performance may vary depending on the position in the sintered body (a). Thus, there is a problem that the performance of the thermoelectric legs is not uniform.

Table 1 and Table 2 show the results of testing the performance of samples extracted from different positions in one sintered body.

Operating temperature (℃) Electrical Conductivity (1 / ohm * m) Whitening factor (V / K) Thermal conductivity (W / m * K) ZT 25 8.117E + 04 -1.72E-04 1.08569 0.657148 50 7.741E + 04 -1.75E-04 1.06050 0.720767 100 6.865E + 04 -1.82E-04 1.04442 0.814272 150 6.142E + 04 -1.82E-04 1.10008 0.781281

Operating temperature (℃) Electrical Conductivity (1 / ohm * m) Whitening factor (V / K) Thermal conductivity (W / m * K) ZT 25 8.325E + 04 -1.77E-04 1.22100 0.638616 50 7.968E + 04 -1.79E-04 1.19969 0.689344 100 7.050E + 04 -1.86E-04 1.18228 0.770028 150 6.301E + 04 -1.88E-04 1.24631 0.752787

Here, the Xeck index (ZT) can be expressed by Equation (1). The Z value (V / K) was measured at room temperature using a Z meter, and the Zebec index (ZT) was calculated using the Z value.

Here, α is the Seebeck coefficient [V / K], σ is the electric conductivity [S / m], and α ² σ is the power factor (W / mK ² ). T is the temperature, and k is the thermal conductivity [W / mK]. k is a · c _p · ρ where a is the thermal diffusivity [cm ² / S], c _p is the specific heat [J / gK], and ρ is the density [g / cm ³ ].

Comparing Table 1 and Table 2, ZT differs from 0.02 to 0.05 even in the sample extracted in one sintered body.

Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present invention, the thermoelectric-leg manufacturing method is improved to uniformize the performance of the thermoelectric leg and to minimize the loss of material.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a thermoelectric leg according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the thermoelectric material is heat-treated to produce an ingot (S300). The thermoelectric material may be a ceramic material, for example, a bismuth telluride-based material. The thermoelectric material for the N-type leg may include, for example, Bi ₂ Te _{3 -y} Se _y (0.1 <y <0.2). Thermoelectric material for P-type legs, for example, may include _{Bi 2 -x Sb x Te 3 (} 0 <x <1.5).

Next, the ingot is pulverized (S310). For example, a super mixer, a ball mill, an attrition mill, a 3 roll mill, or the like can be used to grind the ingot.

Next, sieving is performed to obtain thermoelectric powder (S320). The thermoelectric leg powder may have a particle size of, for example, micrometers.

Next, a plurality of holes having the same shape and width as the shape and width of the thermoelectric legs to be manufactured are filled with the thermoelectric material powder (S330). The powder for the thermoelectric legs filled in the holes is sintered (S340). Here, a temperature of 350 to 550 DEG C is applied at a pressure of 30 to 100 MPa, and the treatment can be performed for 5 to 30 minutes in an inert gas (Ar) or nitrogen atmosphere. To this end, a molding apparatus including a mold having a plurality of holes and a pressing means having a protruding unit corresponding to the plurality of holes may be used.

Thus, the sintering of the thermoelectric leg powder using the same frame as the final shape and width of the thermoelectric legs to be produced can eliminate the cutting process. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of the material to be lost in the process of manufacturing the thermoelectric leg and to reduce the manufacturing cost. In addition, the deviation of the thermoelectric performance can be minimized.

4 to 6 show a molding apparatus for manufacturing thermoelectric legs of thermoelectric elements according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 to 6, the molding apparatus 400 includes a mold 410 including a plurality of holes 412, an upper pressing means 420 including a plurality of protruding units 422 corresponding to the plurality of holes 412, (420), and a lower pressing means (430) including a plurality of protruding units (432) corresponding to the plurality of holes (412).

The upper pressurizing means 420 fitted in the upper portion of the mold 410 presses the thermoelectrically-responsive powder filled in the holes 412 at the upper portion and presses the mold 410, The lower pressurizing means 430 inserted in the lower portion presses the powder for thermoelectric legs filled in the holes 412 in the lower portion. Although not shown, at least two of the mold 410, the upper pressing means 420 and the lower pressing means 430 may be connected to each other through pivotable means. At least one of the mold 410, the upper pressurizing means 420 and the lower pressurizing means 430 is connected to the control means so that the pressurizing and sintering The process can also be automated.

At this time, the shape and the width W of the hole 412 are equal to the shape and width of the thermoelectric leg to be finally formed. The plurality of protruding units 422 formed on the upper pressing means 420 and the plurality of protruding units 432 formed on the lower pressing means 430 have a shape and width that can be respectively fitted into the plurality of holes 412 .

For example, the shape of the hole 412 may be a circular shape, a polygonal shape such as a square or a hexagon as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the width W of the hole 412 may be 0.5 mm to 5 mm, ) May be 1 to 20 mm.

As described above, the use of the molding apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention does not require an additional cutting step since the thermoelectric leg to be manufactured can be directly obtained.

On the other hand, by using at least one of the depth D of the hole 412, the length of the projecting unit 422 formed on the upper pressing means 420 and the length of the projecting unit 432 formed on the lower pressing means 430, The height of the legs can be adjusted. That is, in order to manufacture a thermoelectric leg having a long height, it is preferable to use the mold 410 having a deep depth D of the hole 412, or the upper pressing means 420 having a short length of the protruding units 422 and 432 The lower pressing means 430 can be used. Similarly, when the thermoelectric leg of a short height is to be manufactured, the mold 410 having a low depth D of the hole 412 or the upper pressing means 420 having a long length of the protruding units 422 and 432, Or the lower pressing means 430 may be used. Thus, the thermoelectric legs of various heights can be manufactured by the limited mold 410, the upper pressing means 420 and the lower pressing means 430.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of thermoelectric legs may be formed at one time by laminating molds.

7 shows a molding apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Description of the contents overlapping with those in Figs. 4 to 6 will be omitted.

7, the molding apparatus 700 includes a first mold 710 including a plurality of holes 712, a second mold including a plurality of holes 722, a plurality of holes 712 corresponding to the plurality of holes 712, An upper pressing means 730 including a plurality of protruding units 732 and a lower pressing means 740 corresponding to the plurality of holes 722 and including a plurality of protruding units 742. [ The molding apparatus 700 includes a plurality of protruding units 752 corresponding to the plurality of holes 712 and a plurality of protruding units 754 corresponding to the plurality of holes 722 formed at the bottom Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 &gt; 750 &lt; / RTI &gt;

The upper pressurizing means 730 fitted in the upper portion of the first mold 710 presses the powder for the thermoelectric legs filled in the holes 712 at the upper portion and the powder for the thermoelectrically- The connection pressurizing means 750 fitted in the lower portion of the mold 710 presses the thermoelectric leg powder filled in the hole 712 in the lower portion.

Similarly, the plurality of holes 722 are filled with the powder for thermoelectric legs, and the connection pressing means 750 fitted at the upper portion of the second mold 720 presses the thermoelectric leg powder filled in the holes 722 at the upper portion And the lower pressing means 740 fitted in the lower portion of the second mold 720 presses the thermoelectric leg powder filled in the holes 722 at the lower portion.

Although not shown, at least two of the first mold 710, the second mold 720, the upper pressing means 730, the lower pressing means 740 and the connection pressing means 750 are connected to each other through pivotable means .

In FIG. 7, only the connection pressing means 750 disposed between the first mold 710 and the second mold 720 is shown, but this is only an example. That is, additional molds may be further disposed between the first mold 710 and the second mold 720, and additional connection pressing means may be further disposed between the two molds.

Accordingly, it is possible to fabricate thermoelectric legs of multiple layers in one step, and mass production is possible at low cost.

The shape and the width of the holes 712 formed in the first mold 710 and the shapes and the width of the holes 722 formed in the second mold 720 may be the same or different. When the shape and the width of the hole 712 formed in the first mold 710 are different from the shape and the width of the hole 722 formed in the second mold 720, the protrusion unit 752 of the connection pressing unit 750 And the protruding unit 754 may have a shape and a width that can be fitted in the hole 722. The protruding unit 754 may have a shape and a width that can be fitted in the hole 712, Accordingly, thermoelectric legs having various shapes and widths can be manufactured at the same time.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims It can be understood that

100: thermoelectric element
110, 180: substrate
120, 170: electrode
140, 150: Thermoelectric leg
400: Molding device
410: Mold
420: upper pressing means
430: Lower pressing means

Claims (6)

A molding apparatus for manufacturing a thermoelectric leg of a thermoelectric element,
A mold part including a plurality of holes having the same shape and width as the shape and width of the thermoelectric leg,
A first pressing portion that includes a plurality of protruding units corresponding to the plurality of holes and is fitted in the upper portion of the mold portion and presses the thermoelectric leg powder filled in the holes at an upper portion thereof,
And a second pressing portion that includes a plurality of protruding units corresponding to the plurality of holes and is fitted in the lower portion of the mold portion and presses the thermoelectric leg powder filled in the holes at the lower portion. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the height of the thermoelectric leg is adjusted by using at least one of a depth of the hole, a length of the plurality of protruding units included in the first pressing portion, and a length of the plurality of protruding units included in the second pressing portion. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the shape of the hole is circular or polygonal, and the width of the hole is 0.5 mm to 5 mm. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the mold part includes a first mold and a second mold including a plurality of holes,
A plurality of protruding units corresponding to the plurality of holes are formed in the upper and lower portions, respectively, presses the thermoelectrically-regenerated powder sandwiched by the lower portion of the first mold and filled in the holes of the first mold, And a third pressurizing portion which presses the thermoelectrically-regulating powder filled in the holes of the second mold at the upper portion thereof,
Further comprising: A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric leg,
Filling the plurality of holes having the same shape and width as the shape and width of the thermoelectric legs with the thermoelectric leg powder; and
Sintering the powder for thermoelectric legs filled in the holes
&Lt; / RTI &gt; 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the sintering step comprises:
Pressurizing the thermoelectrically-responsive powder using at least one pressurizing portion including a plurality of protruding units corresponding to the plurality of holes
&Lt; / RTI &gt;

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