KR20230172398A - Thermoelectric generator and manufacturing method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric generator, a method of manufacturing the same, and a thermoelectric generator, and includes an air heat dissipation portion disposed on one side of a heat dissipation fin, a thermoelectric element portion disposed on the other side of the heat dissipation fin, and an air heat dissipation portion disposed on one side of the heat dissipation fin, An air distribution fin including a lower member and an air distribution portion formed on the lower member and dividing the internal space into at least two or more regions and a wall portion formed on one side and the other side of the lower member, an air heat radiation portion, and an air distribution portion. It includes an air flow path disposed between the distribution units.

Description

Thermoelectric generator and its manufacturing method and thermoelectric generator {THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric generator, a method of manufacturing the same, and a thermoelectric generator device.

A thermoelectric element is a device that uses the thermoelectric phenomenon to convert thermal energy into electrical energy or electrical energy into thermal energy due to a temperature difference between both sides. A thermoelectric generator is a device that uses these thermoelectric elements to convert heat into electricity and recover power.

This thermoelectric generator consists of a high-temperature heat exchange fin that exchanges heat with the high-temperature exhaust gas inside, and a low-temperature heat exchange fin through which low-temperature coolant flows outside the thermoelectric generator. In order to increase the efficiency of the thermoelectric generator, the high heat energy of the exhaust gas flowing inside is converted into thermoelectric energy. It must be efficiently delivered to the device.

However, the heat exchange fin of the high temperature part used in the related art does not sufficiently transfer the heat energy of the exhaust gas to the thermoelectric element, which causes a problem in that the efficiency of the thermoelectric element is reduced and the ability to recover power is reduced.

In addition, the problem with the conventional high-temperature heat exchange fin is that the temperature of the exhaust gas entering the inside is high at the inlet and heat exchange occurs as it moves toward the outlet, so the temperature of the exhaust gas decreases. Accordingly, the efficiency of the thermoelectric element placed at the inlet increases due to the large temperature difference, but the efficiency of the thermoelectric element placed at the outlet decreases due to the small temperature difference, making it difficult to obtain uniform efficiency throughout the thermoelectric element.

Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0054218, the technology behind the present invention, is about a multilayer thermoelectric generator that recycles industrial waste heat.

The present invention is intended to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and aims to provide a thermoelectric generator and a method of manufacturing the same.

Additionally, the present invention aims to provide a thermoelectric generator including the thermoelectric generator.

However, the technical problems to be achieved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the technical problems described above, and other technical problems may exist.

A thermoelectric generator according to the present invention includes: an air heat dissipation portion disposed on one side of a heat dissipation fin; a thermoelectric element portion disposed on the other side of the heat dissipation fin; It is disposed in the direction of the one side of the heat radiation fin, a lower member, an air distribution portion formed on the lower member and dividing the internal space into at least two areas, and a wall portion formed on one side and the other side of the lower member, respectively. An air distribution pin comprising; and an air passage portion disposed between the air heat dissipation portion and the air distribution portion.

The air distribution unit includes an air inlet formed on one side of the air distribution fin and an air outlet formed on the other side of the air distribution fin, and the air flowing into the air inlet part passes through the air heat dissipation part and passes through the air discharge part. It may be discharged, but is not limited to this.

The air heat dissipation unit includes a heat dissipation substrate on which the thermoelectric element unit is installed on the other side of the heat dissipation fin; and a plurality of heat dissipation distribution fins formed on the heat dissipation substrate in the direction of one side of the heat dissipation fin, but are not limited thereto.

The air distribution unit may include an air distribution plate formed on each of one side and the other side of the air distribution fin, and a flow path separation plate that connects the air distribution plates and divides the space inside the air distribution pin into two or more spaces. , but is not limited to this.

The air flow path portion includes an air inlet path through which air flows in from the outside of the thermoelectric generator, an air discharge path through which air is discharged from the inside of the thermoelectric generator, and an air distribution path connecting the air inlet path and the air discharge path. It may include, but is not limited to this.

One side of the air inlet may be open and the other side may be closed, and one side of the air outlet may be closed and the other side may be open, but are not limited thereto.

One side of the air inlet and one side of the air outlet may be disposed to face each other, but are not limited thereto.

The other surface of the air inlet portion and the other surface of the air outlet portion may be disposed to face each other, but are not limited thereto.

The air flowing into the inlet area formed by one side of the air inlet and the air distribution unit may be discharged through the air flow path to the other side of the air discharge part and the discharge area formed by the air distribution part, but is limited to this. That is not the case.

When the air introduced into the air inlet passes through the air flow path, the thermoelectric element may be heated by the air and generate power, but is not limited thereto.

The thermoelectric generator may further include a cooling unit, but is not limited thereto.

A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric generator according to the present invention includes: forming wall portions on both sides of a lower member; forming an air distribution portion on the lower member to divide the internal space between the lower member and the wall portion into at least two regions; Installing a thermoelectric element unit on the other side of the heat dissipation substrate; forming a heat dissipation fin by forming a plurality of heat dissipation distribution fins on one side of the heat dissipation substrate; and forming an air flow path portion by disposing the air distribution fin on the one side direction of the heat dissipation fin.

The forming of the air distribution unit includes forming a structure including the air distribution plate on one side and the air distribution plate on the other side at both end portions of the flow path separation plate; and folding the structure around the air distribution plate on one side and the air distribution plate on the other side so that the flow path dividing plate divides the area between the lower member and the wall portions on both sides into at least two or more areas. It may include, but is not limited to this.

The structure may include, but is not limited to, a structure in which the air distribution plate and the flow path separation plate appear alternately.

The structure may be folded so that one side of the air inlet is open but the other side is closed by the air distribution plate on one side, and one side of the air discharge portion is closed but the other side is open by the air distribution plate on the other side. It is not limited to this.

The structure may be folded so that one side of the air inlet portion and one side of the air outlet portion face each other, and the other side of the air inlet portion and the other side of the air discharge portion face each other, but the structure is not limited to this.

The angle formed by the heat dissipation distribution fin and the air distribution part may be 70° to 110°, but is not limited thereto.

The air flow path may include, but is not limited to, an air inflow path, an air distribution path, and an air discharge path formed by the air distribution fin and the heat dissipation distribution fin.

The thermoelectric generator according to the present invention is characterized by including a thermoelectric generator according to the present invention.

The thermoelectric generator may generate electricity by contacting air introduced from the air inlet and the thermoelectric element, but is not limited thereto.

The above-described means for solving the problem are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In addition to the exemplary embodiments described above, additional embodiments may be present in the drawings and detailed description of the invention.

The heat exchange fin of a conventional thermoelectric generator had a disadvantage in that the temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet was large, resulting in low efficiency of the thermoelectric element and large deviation.

However, since the thermoelectric generator according to the present invention is composed of an air distribution fin and a heat dissipation fin and is manufactured in consideration of the air flow structure, it can compensate for the problems of low efficiency and temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the conventional thermoelectric generator. You can.

In addition, the thermoelectric generator according to the present invention has improved efficiency of the thermoelectric element compared to the conventional thermoelectric generator, allowing more power to be recovered through waste heat.

In addition, the thermoelectric generator according to the present invention can be applied to various places where thermoelectric power generation is required, such as vehicles and plants.

In addition, because the heat exchange fin of a conventional thermoelectric generator does not sufficiently transfer the heat energy of high-temperature air to the thermoelectric element, the efficiency of the thermoelectric element disposed on the heat exchange fin is reduced, thereby reducing the ability to recover power. However, the thermoelectric generator according to the present invention has a flow structure in which high-temperature air is distributed to each air heat dissipation fin due to the air distribution fin, and after a collision occurs in the area where the thermoelectric element is located, it flows out through the air discharge portion through the air heat dissipation fin. have Due to this air flow structure, a collision effect occurs in the thermoelectric element, thereby solving the problem of insufficient transfer of heat energy. As a result, power recovery ability increases, resulting in energy and cost savings.

However, the effects that can be obtained from the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and other effects may exist.

1 is a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3a is a schematic diagram of a heat dissipation fin according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3b is a schematic diagram of a heat dissipation fin according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3c is a schematic diagram of a heat dissipation fin according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3d is a schematic diagram of a heat dissipation fin according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an air distribution pin according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5a is a schematic diagram of an air distribution fin according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5b is a schematic diagram of an air distribution pin according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6a is a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6b is a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a diagram showing part of the process of forming an air distribution fin according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a thermoelectric generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a diagram comparing the thermoelectric generator of the present invention and a conventional thermoelectric generator.
Figure 11 is a graph schematically showing the relationship between the Nusselt number and Reynolds number according to the shape of the present invention and the existing thermoelectric generator.
Figure 12 is a diagram showing the Nusselt number of the present invention and the existing thermoelectric generator in color when the Reynolds number is 20,000.
Figure 13 is a graph schematically showing the relationship between heat capacity and Reynolds number according to the shape of the present invention and existing thermoelectric generators.

Below, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention.

However, the present invention may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts that are not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are given similar reference numerals throughout the specification.

Throughout the present invention specification, when a part is said to be “connected” to another part, this means not only the case where it is “directly connected” but also the case where it is “electrically connected” with another element in between. includes

Throughout the present specification, when a member is said to be located “on”, “in the upper part”, “at the top”, “below”, “at the bottom”, or “at the bottom” of another member, this means that a member This includes not only cases where they are in contact, but also cases where another member exists between two members.

Throughout the present specification, when a part is said to “include” a certain component, this means that it may further include other components rather than excluding other components, unless specifically stated to the contrary.

As used herein, the terms “about,” “substantially,” and the like are used to mean at or close to a numerical value when manufacturing and material tolerances inherent in the stated meaning are given, and are used to enhance the understanding of the present invention. Precise or absolute figures are used to assist in preventing unscrupulous infringers from taking unfair advantage of stated disclosures. Additionally, throughout the present invention, “a step of” or “a step of” does not mean a “step for.”

Throughout the present specification, the term "combination thereof" included in the Markushi format expression refers to a mixture or combination of one or more components selected from the group consisting of the components described in the Markushi format expression, It means containing one or more elements selected from a group consisting of elements.

Throughout the present specification, description of “A and/or B” means “A or B, or A and B.”

Hereinafter, the thermoelectric generator of the present invention and its manufacturing method will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, examples, and drawings.

As a technical means for achieving the above-described technical problem, the first aspect of the present invention is a thermoelectric generator 10 including a heat dissipation fin 200, an air distribution fin 100, and an air flow path portion 300, wherein the heat dissipation fin An air heat dissipation part is disposed on one side of the heat dissipation fin 200, and a thermoelectric element part 230 is disposed on the other side of the heat dissipation fin 200, and the air distribution fin 100 is disposed in the direction of the one side of the heat dissipation fin 200. ) is disposed, the air distribution pin 100 includes a lower member 140, an air distribution portion 101 formed on the lower member 140 and dividing the internal space into at least two or more regions, and The thermoelectric generator (10) includes a wall portion formed on each of one side and the other side of the lower member 140, and the air passage portion 300 is disposed between the air heat radiation portion and the air distribution portion 101. ) is provided.

1, 2, 6A, 6B, and 9 are schematic diagrams of a thermoelectric generator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3A to 3D are schematic diagrams of a heat dissipation fin according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4, Figures 5a, and Figure 5b are schematic diagrams of air distribution fins according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7 is a diagram showing a part of the formation process of the air distribution fins according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 8 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a thermoelectric generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this regard, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the air distribution unit 101 of the air distribution pin 100, which, as will be described later, shows the structure of the air distribution unit 101 when the wall portion is not formed on the lower member 140. will be. 5A and 5B are cross-sections A-A and B-B of FIG. 4, respectively. As will be described later, FIG. 5A shows the other side 122 of the air inlet 120, and FIG. 5B shows one side 131 of the air outlet 130. As a closed structure, one side 121 of the air inlet 120 and the other side 132 of the air outlet 130 are open structures.

Additionally, the wave mark formed at one end of the indicator line in FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B means that the corresponding area is an empty space.

The thermoelectric generator 10 according to the present invention is formed by combining a heat dissipation fin 200 and an air distribution fin 100, and the following description may refer to FIGS. 1 to 8.

In general, a thermoelectric element is a device that converts thermal energy into electrical energy through a temperature difference between both sides, or uses a thermoelectric phenomenon that converts electrical energy into thermal energy. A thermoelectric generator 10 is a device that recovers power by converting heat into electricity using such thermoelectric elements. This thermoelectric generator 10 includes a high-temperature heat exchange fin that exchanges heat with the high-temperature exhaust gas inside, a low-temperature heat exchange fin through which low-temperature coolant flows outside the thermoelectric generator 10, etc. In order to increase the efficiency of the thermoelectric generator 10, The high thermal energy of the exhaust gas flowing inside must be efficiently transferred to the thermoelectric element. However, the heat exchange fin of the high temperature part used in the conventional thermoelectric generator 10 has the disadvantage of not sufficiently transferring the heat energy of the exhaust gas to the thermoelectric element part. In addition, the air entering the inlet of the heat exchange fin exchanges heat during the movement process, which reduces the temperature of the exhaust gas. The efficiency of the thermoelectric element placed at the inlet increases due to the high temperature difference, but the thermoelectric element placed at the outlet increases. There is a problem of reduced efficiency due to the small temperature difference.

In order to solve this problem, the thermoelectric generator 10 according to the present invention separates the flow path through which air flows in and the flow path through which air is discharged, thereby creating a space between the thermoelectric element part 230 on the inlet side and the thermoelectric element part 230 on the outlet side. The difference in thermoelectric power generation efficiency can be reduced.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the thermoelectric generator 10 includes a heat dissipation fin 200, an air distribution fin 100, and an air flow path formed by contact between the heat dissipation fin 200 and the air distribution fin 100 ( 300), but is not limited thereto.

Referring to Figure 2, the thermoelectric generator 10 according to the present invention includes a heat dissipation fin 200 and an air distribution fin 100. As will be described later, the thermoelectric generator according to the present invention may include at least one thermoelectric generator 10.

Referring to FIGS. 3A to 3D, the heat dissipation fin 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention may have an air heat dissipation portion disposed on one side and a thermoelectric element portion 230 may be disposed on the other side, but is limited thereto. That is not the case.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the air heat dissipation unit includes a heat dissipation substrate 210 on which the thermoelectric element unit 230 is installed on the other side of the heat dissipation fin 200; and a plurality of heat dissipation distribution fins 220 formed on the heat dissipation substrate 210 in the direction of one side of the heat dissipation fin 200, but are not limited thereto.

The heat dissipation distribution fins 220 are formed on the heat dissipation substrate 210 at regular intervals. As will be described later, the heat dissipation distribution fins 220 are in contact with the air distribution portion 101 of the air distribution fin 100. , The area between the heat dissipation distribution fins 220 is an air distribution passage 320, which serves to connect the air inlet passage 310 with the air discharge passage 330.

That is, the heat dissipation fin 200 may include a heat dissipation substrate 210 with a thermoelectric element portion 230 disposed on the other side and a plurality of heat dissipation distribution fins 220 on one side. 200 may be arranged so that the heat dissipation distribution pin 220 is in contact with the air distribution pin 100, but is not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the air distribution pin 100 includes a lower member 140, an air distribution unit 101 formed on the lower member 140 and dividing the internal space into at least two or more areas. ), and wall portions formed on each of one side and the other side of the lower member 140, but are not limited thereto.

In this regard, the wall portion 112 on one side and the wall portion 113 on the other side are formed on the outermost sides of both sides of the lower member 140, and are formed inside the air distribution portion 101 together with the air distribution portion 101. The space can be divided into at least two or more areas.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the air distribution unit 101 includes an air inlet 120 formed on one side of the air distribution pin 100 and an air outlet formed on the other side of the air distribution pin 100. It includes (130), and the air flowing into the air inlet 120 may pass through the air heat dissipation part and be discharged through the air discharge part 130, but is not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the air distribution unit 101 may include a zone dividing plate 110 and an air distribution plate, but is not limited thereto. In this regard, the air distribution unit 101 has a structure in which a zone dividing plate 110 and an air distribution plate appear alternately, and the air distribution plate is connected to the other side 122 of the air inlet 120 and the air outlet 130. It can be formed by folding based on the air distribution plate to close one side 131 of.

Specifically, the air distribution unit 101 means formed on the lower member 140, and the air inlet 120 and the air outlet 130 are formed by the air distribution unit 101. It means a divided area, and the area dividing plate 110 and the air distribution plate mean members constituting the air distribution unit 101. As will be described later, the area dividing plate 110 and the air distribution plate are The air distribution unit 101 may be formed by folding the structure including the air distribution unit 101.

As will be described later, the area dividing plate 110 includes a flow path dividing plate 111 and a wall portion, and the wall portion may include a wall portion 112 on one side and a wall portion 113 on the other side. The area dividing plate 110 divides one side and the other side, and the wall portion separates the inside and outside of the thermoelectric generator 10, and the flow path dividing plate 111 has an air inlet flow path 310 and an air discharge flow path 330. ) can be separated.

The air distribution pin 100 may include the lower member 140 and the air distribution unit 101.

In this regard, an air inlet 120 is formed on one side of the air distribution pin 100, an air outlet 130 is formed on the other side of the air distribution pin 100, and the thermoelectric generator 10 The air passing through may move along a path passing through the air inlet 120, the air radiator, and the air outlet 130.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, one side 121 of the air inlet 120 is open, the other side 122 is closed, and one side 131 of the air outlet 130 is closed and the other side is closed. (132) may be open, but is not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, one surface 121 of the air inlet 120 and one surface 131 of the air outlet 130 may be disposed to face each other, but are not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the other surface 122 of the air inlet 120 and the other surface 132 of the air outlet 130 may be disposed to face each other, but are not limited thereto.

In this regard, the description of the one side 121 and the other side 122 of the air inlet 120 and the one side 131 and the other side 132 of the air outlet 130 are one side of the air inlet 120. It may also be expressed as a region and other regions, and as one region and another region of the air discharge unit 130. The air inlet 120 and the air outlet 130 have open and closed parts alternating between the open part of the air inlet 120 and the closed part of the air outlet 130. The portions are opposed, and the closed portion of the air inlet 120 and the open portion of the air outlet 130 are opposed to each other.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B, one side 121 of the air inlet 120 is open and the other side 122 is closed, and one side 131 of the air outlet 130 is closed. The other side 132 is open, and the open side and the closed side may be arranged to face each other. As will be described later, the air introduced through one surface 121 of the air inlet 120 is the space formed by contact between the heat dissipation fin 200 and the air distribution fin 100, and more specifically, the heat dissipation distribution fin 220. ) and the air distribution unit 101 may be discharged through the other surface 132 of the air discharge unit 130 via the air flow path unit 300 formed in contact with the air distribution unit 101.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the air distribution unit 101 includes an air distribution plate formed on each of one side and the other side of the air distribution pin 100, and the air distribution plate is connected to the air distribution pin 100. ) It may include a flow path separation plate 111 that divides the internal space into two or more spaces, but is not limited thereto.

The air distribution plate closes the other side 122 of the air inlet 120 and one side 131 of the air outlet 130, and closes the other side 121 of the air inlet 120 and the air outlet 130. It is formed to open the other surface 132 of (130).

The flow path separation plate 111 is used to separate the air flow path portion 300, which will be described later, and one side 121 of the air inlet 120 and the other side 132 of the air discharge portion 130 are in direct communication with each other. It is to prevent this.

The wall portions formed on both sides of the lower member 140 can perform the same role as the flow path separator 111. The wall portion and the flow path separator 111 are collectively referred to as the region divider plate 110. It may be referred to as, and the air distribution pin 100 may include the lower member 140, an air distribution plate, and a zone dividing plate 110, and the air distribution unit may include an air distribution plate and a zone dividing plate 110. ) may include.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lower member 140 has an air distribution portion 101 formed at the upper portion, and the upper surface of the lower member 140 and one side of the heat dissipation fin 200 face each other. It can be arranged as much as possible.

Referring to Figure 1, it can be seen that a hexagonal empty space surrounded by the air distribution pin 100 is located. Since thermoelectric generators are generally applied to vehicles, plants, etc., the empty space is a space where a shaft is connected to fix the thermoelectric generator, and the high temperature exhaust gas is distributed to move from the inlet to the thermoelectric generator 10. It is a space that serves as a guide.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the air flow path portion 300 has an air inflow path 310 through which air flows in from the outside of the thermoelectric generator 10, and air discharges from the inside of the thermoelectric generator 10. It may include, but is not limited to, an air discharge passage 330 and an air distribution passage 320 connecting the air inlet passage 310 and the air discharge passage 330.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air flowing into the inlet area formed by the one surface 121 of the air inlet 120 and the air distribution part 101 passes through the air flow path part 300. It may be discharged to a discharge area formed by the other surface 132 of the discharge unit 130 and the air distribution unit 101, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the air inlet flow path 310 includes one side 121 of the air inlet 120, a flow path separator 111, and one side 131 of the air outlet 130. It is a flow path formed by, and the air discharge flow path 330 is formed by the other side 132 of the air discharge part 130, the flow path separator plate 111, and the other side 122 of the air inlet part 120. It means euro. In this regard, when the flow of air flowing into the thermoelectric generator 10 is directed from the 7 o'clock direction to the 1 o'clock direction, the air flowing in through one surface 121 of the air inlet 120 is directed to the air outlet. A problem in which air cannot be discharged from the air outlet 130 because it is not discharged by one side 131 of the air inlet 130 and the inflow of air is blocked by the other side 122 of the air inlet 120. There is.

The thermoelectric generator 10 according to the present invention is formed between the air inlet flow path 310 and the air discharge flow path 330, and is formed by contact between the flow path separator plate 111 and the heat dissipation distribution pin 220. It may include an air distribution passage 320, and the air distribution passage 320 refers to an area between the heat dissipation distribution fins 220. That is, the air flowing into the air inlet flow path 310 may move to the air discharge flow path 330 through the air distribution flow path 320.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, in the process where the air introduced into the air inlet 120 passes through the air flow path 300, the thermoelectric element 230 can be heated by the air and generate power. However, it is not limited to this.

High-temperature air introduced through one surface 121 of the air inlet 120 may collide with or contact the heat dissipation substrate 210 of the heat dissipation fin 200 in the process of passing through the air distribution passage 320. there is. At this time, since the thermoelectric element unit 230 is present on the other side of the heat dissipation substrate 210, the high temperature air heats the heat dissipation substrate 210 in the process of moving, and the heated heat dissipation substrate 210 Can provide a heat source through which the thermoelectric element unit 230 can generate power.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the angle formed by the heat dissipation distribution fin 220 and the air distribution part 101 may be 70° to 110°, but is not limited thereto.

As mentioned earlier, the heat dissipation distribution pin 220 and the air distribution part 101 must contact each other to form an air distribution passage 320. At this time, when the heat dissipation distribution fin 220 and the air distribution unit 101, specifically, the heat dissipation distribution fin 220 and the flow path separator plate 111 are parallel to each other, the air distribution flow path 320 is formed. Since the heat dissipation distribution fin 220 and the air distribution unit 101 do not support each other, the angle formed by the heat dissipation distribution fin 220 may be 70° to 110°. However, the angle between the heat dissipation distribution pin 220 and the air distribution unit 101 need only be staggered so that the air distribution passage 320 can be formed, so that the air distribution passage 320 is not formed. If not, a problem occurs in which the incoming air cannot be discharged.

The thermoelectric generator 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is a combination of an air radiating fin 200 and an air distribution fin 100 having a hexagonal cross-section, but the thermoelectric generator 10 according to the present invention has a cross-section as necessary. The air radiating fin 200 and the air distribution fin 100 having a circular or polygonal shape may be combined.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the thermoelectric generator may further include a cooling unit, but is not limited thereto.

In general, the thermoelectric generator 10 produces power through temperature differences, so when high temperature air is continuously supplied to the thermoelectric generator 10, the thermoelectric element unit 230 is overheated and the thermoelectric effect is reduced, thereby reducing the amount of power generation. may decrease.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cooling unit may be formed on the other side of the heat dissipation fin 200, that is, on the top of the thermoelectric element unit 230, and may be formed in the cooling unit/thermoelectric element/heat dissipation substrate/heat dissipation distribution. It has the structure of a fin, and the heat dissipation distribution fin 220 may be formed to contact the air distribution unit 101.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the temperature of the air flowing into the thermoelectric generator 10 is 150°C to 500°C, and the temperature of the refrigerant in the cooling unit may be 20°C to 40°C, but is not limited thereto. . For example, the temperature of the air flowing into the thermoelectric generator 10 is about 150°C to about 500°C, about 175°C to about 500°C, about 200°C to about 500°C, about 250°C to about 500°C, about 300°C to about 500°C, about 350°C to about 500°C, about 400°C to about 500°C, about 450°C to about 500°C, about 150°C to about 175°C, about 150°C to about 200°C, about 150°C to about 250°C, about 150°C to about 300°C, about 150°C to about 350°C, about 150°C to about 400°C, about 150°C to about 450°C, about 175°C to about 450°C, about 200°C to about It may be 400°C, about 250°C to about 350°C, or about 300°C, but is not limited thereto.

In addition, the temperature of the refrigerant in the cooling unit is about 20°C to about 40°C, about 25°C to about 40°C, about 30°C to about 40°C, about 35°C to about 40°C, about 20°C to about 25°C, about It may be 20°C to about 30°C, about 20°C to about 35°C, about 25°C to about 35°C, or about 30°C, but is not limited thereto.

Additionally, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the temperature of the air discharged from the thermoelectric generator 10 may be 50°C to 200°C, but is not limited thereto. For example, the temperature of the air discharged from the thermoelectric generator 10 is about 50°C to about 200°C, about 75°C to about 200°C, about 100°C to about 200°C, about 125°C to about 200°C, about 150°C to about 200°C, about 175°C to about 200°C, about 50°C to about 75°C, about 50°C to about 100°C, about 50°C to about 125°C, about 50°C to about 150°C, about 50°C It may be, but is not limited to, about 175°C, about 75°C to about 175°C, about 100°C to about 150°C, or about 175°C.

A second aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a thermoelectric generator 10 manufactured by the method according to the first aspect, comprising: forming wall portions on both sides of the lower member 140; forming an air distribution unit 101 on the lower member 140, dividing the internal space between the lower member 140 and the wall portion into at least two areas; Installing the thermoelectric element unit 230 on the other side of the heat dissipation substrate 210; forming a heat dissipation fin 200 by forming a plurality of heat dissipation distribution fins 220 on one side of the heat dissipation substrate 210; and forming an air flow path portion 300 by disposing the air distribution portion 101 on the one side direction of the heat dissipation fin 200. At this time, the lower member 140, the wall portion, and the air distribution unit 101 may be collectively referred to as the air distribution pin 100.

Regarding the manufacturing method of the thermoelectric generator 10 according to the second aspect of the present invention, detailed description of parts overlapping with the first aspect of the present invention has been omitted. However, even if the description is omitted, the first aspect of the present invention The contents described can be equally applied to the second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a thermoelectric generator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a portion of the formation process of the air distribution fin 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this regard, the air distribution unit 101 of FIG. 8 represents the minimum unit of the area dividing plate 110.

First, wall portions are formed on both sides of the lower member 140 (S110).

Next, an air distribution unit 101 is formed on the lower member 140 to divide the space between the lower member 140 and the wall portion into at least two or more areas (S120).

As described above, the process of forming the wall portion and the air distribution portion 101 on the lower member 140 may be referred to as the forming process of the air distribution fin 100.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the step of forming the air distribution unit 101 includes forming an air distribution plate 122' on one side and an air distribution plate on the other side at both end portions of the flow path separation plate 111 ( forming a structure comprising 131'); and an air distribution plate 122' on one side and an air distribution plate on the other side such that the flow path separation plate 111 divides the area between the lower member 140 and the wall portions on both sides into at least two areas. It may include, but is not limited to, folding the structure around (131'). In this regard, when the structure is folded, it becomes the air distribution unit 101, and the form in which the air distribution unit 101 is not folded around the air distribution plate can be called a structure.

Also, as described above, the air distribution pin 100 may be composed of an air inlet 120 and an air outlet 130, a lower member 140, a wall portion formed on the lower member 140, and It may also be configured as an air distribution unit 101.

In this regard, the air inlet 120 and the air outlet 130 are divided into one side and the other side of the air distribution pin 100, that is, areas through which air flows into or out of the air distribution pin 100. , the lower member 140, the wall portion, and the air distribution portion 101 are structurally separated.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the structure may include a structure in which the air distribution plate and the flow path separation plate 111 appear alternately, but is not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the step of forming the wall portion may be omitted, but is not limited thereto.

Specifically, the wall portions formed at both ends of the structure divide the inner area and the outer area of the air distribution fin 100, and may perform the same role as the flow path separation plate 111. At this time, the flow path separation plate 111 that is not formed at both ends of the structure divides the inner area of the air distribution pin 100, and the wall portion divides the inside and outside of the air distribution pin 100, The air distribution plate may close the other side 122 of the air inlet 120 and/or the one side 131 of the air outlet 130.

The wall portion and the flow path separator 111 may be collectively referred to as a zone divider 110, and the zone divider 110 and the air distribution plate may be collectively referred to as an air distribution unit 101. .

According to one embodiment of the present invention, one side 121 of the air inlet 120 is opened by the air distribution plate 122' on the one side, but the other side is closed, and the air distribution plate 131' on the other side is open. ), the structure may be folded so that one side 131 of the air discharge unit 130 is closed and the other side is open, but is not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, one side 121 of the air inlet 120 and one side 131 of the air outlet 130 face each other, and the other side 122 of the air inlet 120 ) and the other surface 132 of the air discharge unit 130 may be folded so that the structure faces each other, but is not limited to this.

As described above, since the wall portion refers to what is formed on both sides of the lower member 140 of the flow path separation plate 111, the process of forming the wall portion on both sides of the lower member 140 can be omitted. In this regard, if the process of forming the wall portion is omitted, when forming the air distribution fin 100, it must be folded so that the wall portion is formed.

In addition, the air distribution plate 122' on one side closes a part of the air inlet 120, which is one side of the air distribution pin 100, and specifically closes the other side 122 of the air inlet 120. It means a board that does. In addition, the air distribution plate 131' on the other side closes a part of the air discharge portion 130, which is the other side of the air distribution pin 100, and is specifically a plate that closes one side 131 of the air discharge portion 130. means. At this time, one side 121 of the air inlet 120, one side 131 of the air outlet 130, and the other side 122 of the air inlet 120 and the other side 132 of the air outlet 130. ) can be folded so that the structures face each other.

In this regard, FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the formation of the air distribution unit 101 on the lower member 140 in which the wall portion is not formed, before the air distribution unit 101 is formed, that is, in the non-folded structure. It expresses only the minimum unit. Referring to FIG. 7, the structure has one side of the air distribution plate 122' on one side of the flow path separation plate 111, and the other side of the air distribution plate 131' on the other side, and the air distribution plate on one side A wall portion 112 on one side may be located on one side of the air distribution plate 122', and a wall portion 113 on the other side may be located on the other side of the air distribution plate 131'.

The structure can be folded based on the air distribution plate 122' on one side and the air distribution plate 131' on the other side. At this time, the air distribution plate 122' on one side closes the other side 122 of the air inlet 120, and the air distribution plate 131' on the other side closes one side of the discharge section, and the air distribution plate 131' closes the other side 122 of the air inlet 120. The flow path separation plate 111 formed between the distribution plates can distinguish the air inlet flow path 310 and the air discharge flow path 330.

The flow path separator plate 111 may be formed so that the upper cross sections of the air inlet flow path 310 and the air discharge flow path 330 include a shape selected from the group consisting of trapezoid, square, and combinations thereof. It is not limited.

Next, the thermoelectric element unit 230 is installed on the other side of the heat dissipation substrate 210 (S210).

Next, a plurality of heat dissipation distribution fins 220 are formed on one side of the heat dissipation substrate 210 to form heat dissipation fins 200 (S220).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the step of forming the heat dissipation fin 200 and the step of forming the air distribution fin 100 may be performed simultaneously or sequentially. For example, the heat dissipation fin 200 may be manufactured simultaneously with the air distribution fin 100, or may be manufactured before or after manufacturing the air distribution fin 100.

As will be described later, one side of the heat dissipation substrate 210 may be in contact with the air distribution pin 100.

Next, the air distribution fin 100 is disposed on one side of the heat dissipation fin 200 to form an air flow path portion 300.

As described above, the air flow path portion 300 may be formed when the heat dissipation distribution fin 220 of the heat dissipation fin 200 and the air distribution fin 100 contact each other.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the air flow path portion 300 includes an air inlet flow path 310 formed by the air distribution pin 100 and the heat dissipation distribution fin 220, an air distribution flow path 320, and an air discharge passage 330, but is not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the angle formed by the heat dissipation distribution fin 220 and the air distribution part 101 may be 70° to 110°, but is not limited thereto.

When the air flow path portion 300 is formed, air flows into one surface 121 of the air inlet 120 of the thermoelectric generator 10, the area between the heat dissipation distribution pins 220, and the air discharge portion 130. You can move the path on the other side (132).

A third aspect of the present invention provides a thermoelectric generator (1) including the thermoelectric generator (10) according to the first aspect.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the thermoelectric generator 1 may generate electricity by contact between the air introduced from the air inlet 120 and the thermoelectric element unit 230, but is limited thereto. That is not the case.

The thermoelectric generator means including at least one thermoelectric generator 10, and may have a structure in which the thermoelectric generators 10 are installed in series or in parallel.

The thermoelectric generator 10 may be a combination of the heat dissipation fin 200 and the air distribution fin 100. In this regard, referring to FIG. 2, the minimum unit of the thermoelectric generator 10 is an air distribution fin 100 and a heat dissipation fin 200 combined vertically, and one side and the other side of the minimum unit are attached to form a thermoelectric generator. (10) can be constructed.

Both the minimum unit and a combination of a plurality of minimum units may be referred to as a thermoelectric generator 10. However, hereinafter, the minimum unit of the thermoelectric generator 10 is referred to as a thermoelectric generator 10, and a combination of a plurality of the minimum units is referred to as a thermoelectric generator. It can be called a device. At this time, the thermoelectric generator may include not only a structure in which six thermoelectric generators 10 are combined as shown in FIG. 2, but also a structure in which two or more thermoelectric generators 10 are combined.

Figure 10 is a diagram comparing the thermoelectric generator of the present invention and a conventional thermoelectric generator. Referring to FIG. 10, in order to conduct analysis using symmetry conditions for the overall shape of the thermoelectric generator of the present invention, numerical analysis is performed by modeling 1/12 of the overall shape. Existing thermoelectric generators use C.C. Weng, M.J Huang, A simulation study of automotive waste heat recovery using athermoelectric power generator, International Journal of Thermal Scienes, 71 (2013) 302??309. This is a shape modeled with reference to the paper. In order to conduct analysis using symmetry conditions for the entire shape of the existing thermoelectric generator, numerical analysis is performed by modeling 1/12 of the overall shape.

At this time, ANSYS FLUENT 19 R3 is used as the analysis software, Realizable k-ε model is used as the turbulence model, and Pressure-Velocity Coupling with SIMPLEC algorithm is used as the numerical analysis technique.

Figure 11 is a graph schematically showing the relationship between the Nusselt number and Reynolds number according to the shape of the present invention and the existing thermoelectric generator, and Figure 12 is a diagram showing the Nusselt number of the present invention and the existing thermoelectric generator in color when the Reynolds number is 20,000. . Referring to Figures 11 and 12, as the Reynolds number increases, the difference in average Nusselt number between the thermoelectric generator of the present invention and the existing thermoelectric generator appears larger. And, depending on the Reynolds number, the average Nusselt number of the thermoelectric generator of the present invention is 64% to 68% greater than the average Nusselt number of the existing thermoelectric generator.

Meanwhile, Equation 1 represents the Nusselt number, and Equation 2 represents the Reynolds number.

And, with reference to Figure 11, Table 1 lists the average Nusselt number values when the Reynolds number is 3000, 4000, and 5000.

Figure 13 is a graph schematically showing the relationship between heat capacity and Reynolds number according to the shape of the present invention and existing thermoelectric generators. Referring to FIG. 13, as the Reynolds number increases, the difference in heat capacity between the present invention and the existing thermoelectric generator increases. Table 2 below lists heat capacity values when the Reynolds number is 3000, 4000, and 5000 with reference to FIG. 13.

Meanwhile, Equation 3 below relates to the thermal performance factor and the Darcy friction factor.

And, Table 3 compares the thermal performance coefficients of the present invention and existing thermoelectric generators when the Reynolds number is 3000, 4000, and 5000.

The description of the present invention described above is for illustrative purposes, and those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical idea or essential features of the present invention. will be. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. For example, each component described as unitary may be implemented in a distributed manner, and similarly, components described as distributed may also be implemented in a combined form.

The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims described below rather than the detailed description above, and all changes or modified forms derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention. do.

10: Thermoelectric generator
100: air distribution pin
101: air distribution unit
110: Area divider plate
111: Euro separator plate
112: Wall portion on one side
113: Wall portion on the other side
120: air inlet
121: One side of the air inlet
122: Other side of air inlet
130: air outlet
131: One side of the air outlet
132: Other side of air discharge part
140: lower member
200: heat dissipation fin
210: Heat dissipation board
220: Heat dissipation distribution pin
230: Thermoelectric element part
300: Air flow path part
310: Air inlet flow path
320: air distribution flow path
330: Air discharge path

Claims (19)

an air heat dissipation portion disposed on one side of the heat dissipation fin;
a thermoelectric element portion disposed on the other side of the heat dissipation fin;
It is disposed in the direction of the one side of the heat radiation fin, a lower member, an air distribution portion formed on the lower member and dividing the internal space into at least two areas, and a wall portion formed on one side and the other side of the lower member, respectively. An air distribution pin comprising; and
A thermoelectric generator including; an air flow path portion disposed between the air heat dissipation portion and the air distribution portion.
According to claim 1,
The air distribution unit includes an air inlet formed on one side of the air distribution fin and an air outlet formed on the other side of the air distribution fin,
The thermoelectric generator wherein the air flowing into the air inlet passes through the air heat dissipation part and is discharged through the air discharge part.
According to claim 1,
The air heat dissipation unit,
a heat dissipation substrate on which the thermoelectric element unit is installed on the other side of the heat dissipation fin; and
A thermoelectric generator comprising a plurality of heat dissipation distribution fins formed on the heat dissipation substrate in the direction of one side of the heat dissipation fin.
According to claim 1,
The air distribution unit,
an air distribution plate formed on one side and the other side of the air distribution fin; and
A thermoelectric generator comprising a flow path separation plate that connects the air distribution plate and divides the space inside the air distribution pin into two or more spaces.
According to claim 4,
The air passage part,
an air inflow path through which air flows in from the outside of the thermoelectric generator;
an air discharge passage through which air is discharged from the interior of the thermoelectric generator; and
A thermoelectric generator including; an air distribution passage connecting the air inlet passage and the air discharge passage.
According to claim 1,
One side of the air inlet is open and the other side is closed,
A thermoelectric generator wherein one side of the air outlet is closed and the other side is open.
According to claim 6,
One surface of the air inlet portion and one surface of the air discharge portion are disposed to face each other, and the other side of the air inlet portion and the other side of the air discharge portion are disposed to face each other.
According to claim 7,
The thermoelectric generator, wherein the air flowing into the inlet area formed by one surface of the air inlet part and the air distribution part is discharged to the other surface of the air outlet part and the discharge area formed by the air distribution part through the air flow path part.
According to claim 1,
A thermoelectric generator in which the thermoelectric element unit is heated by the air and generates electricity while the air flowing into the air inlet part passes through the air flow path part.
According to claim 1,
The thermoelectric generator further includes a cooling unit.
In the method of manufacturing a thermoelectric generator according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
forming wall portions on both sides of the lower member;
forming an air distribution portion on the lower member to divide the internal space between the lower member and the wall portion into at least two regions;
Installing a thermoelectric element unit on the other side of the heat dissipation substrate;
forming a heat dissipation fin by forming a plurality of heat dissipation distribution fins on one side of the heat dissipation substrate; and
forming an air flow path portion by disposing the air distribution portion on the one side direction of the heat dissipation fin;
Including, a method of manufacturing a thermoelectric generator.
The method of claim 11, wherein forming the air distribution unit comprises:
forming a structure including the air distribution plate on one side and the air distribution plate on the other side at both end portions of the flow path separation plate; and
Folding the structure around the air distribution plate on one side and the air distribution plate on the other side so that the flow path dividing plate divides the area between the lower member and the wall portions on both sides into at least two or more areas. A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric generator.
According to claim 12,
The structure includes a structure in which the air distribution plate and the flow path separation plate appear alternately.
According to claim 12,
One side of the air inlet is open and the other side is closed by the air distribution plate on one side,
A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric generator, wherein the structure is folded so that one side of the air discharge portion is closed by the air distribution plate on the other side and the other side is open.
According to claim 13,
A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric generator, wherein one surface of the air inlet part and one surface of the air outlet part face each other, and the other surface of the air inlet part and the other surface of the air outlet part are folded to face each other.
According to claim 11,
The method of manufacturing a thermoelectric generator, wherein the angle formed by the heat dissipation distribution fin and the air distribution part is 70° to 110°.
According to claim 11,
The air flow path portion includes an air inflow path, an air distribution path, and an air discharge path formed by the air distribution fin and the heat dissipation distribution fin.
A thermoelectric generator comprising the thermoelectric generator according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
According to claim 18,
The thermoelectric generator is a thermoelectric generator that generates electricity by contact with the thermoelectric element unit and air introduced from the air inlet.

Images