US3137593A - Thermocouple, particularly for electro-thermic cooling, and method of producing it - Google Patents

Thermocouple, particularly for electro-thermic cooling, and method of producing it Download PDF

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Publication number
US3137593A
US3137593A US808384A US80838459A US3137593A US 3137593 A US3137593 A US 3137593A US 808384 A US808384 A US 808384A US 80838459 A US80838459 A US 80838459A US 3137593 A US3137593 A US 3137593A
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United States
Prior art keywords
thermocouple
solid solution
sintering
melt
cooling
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US808384A
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English (en)
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Birkholz Ulrich
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Siemens Schuckertwerke AG
Siemens Corp
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Siemens Corp
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C28/00—Alloys based on a metal not provided for in groups C22C5/00 - C22C27/00
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
    • B32B15/01—Layered products comprising a layer of metal all layers being exclusively metallic
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B21/00—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
    • F25B21/02—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N10/00—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects
    • H10N10/80—Constructional details
    • H10N10/85—Thermoelectric active materials
    • H10N10/851—Thermoelectric active materials comprising inorganic compositions
    • H10N10/852—Thermoelectric active materials comprising inorganic compositions comprising tellurium, selenium or sulfur

Definitions

  • thermocouples or Peltier couples are a group of substances of improved eicacy that possess a relatively high differential thermoelectric force together with relative low heat conductance, and hence are characterized by a small Wiedemann- Franz-Lorentz number (WFL-number).
  • WFL-number Wiedemann- Franz-Lorentz number
  • examples of such substances are bismuth, antirnony-tellurium alloys composed of the compounds BigTeB and Sb2'1 ⁇ e3.
  • the compositions heretofore known contain more bismuth than antimony or contain both elements in substantially equal or only slightly diering proportions.
  • thermocouple compositions and manufacturing methods by means of which a still greater thermoelectric eiiicacy than heretofore attainable can be obtained.
  • thermocouple particularly a Peltier couple for the production of cold
  • a solid solution mixed crystal of the compounds Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 with an antimony content between 24 and 36 atom percent and a bismuth content between 4 and 16 atom percent.
  • Such solid solutions constitute a ternary system of the form:
  • y denotes a value between 1.2 and 1.8.
  • Particularly advantageous is a composition of 28 atom percent antimony and 12 atom percent bismuth, corresponding to a value of )121.4 in the foregoing ternary formula.
  • the invention is based upon the surprising experimental discovery that maximum eicacies are attained if the antimony and bismuth proportions are dimensioned as stated above.
  • the advantages of thus dimensioning the constitutents are apparent from the following tabulation which reveals, in particular, that maximum eiiicacy is achieved with a composition of 28 atom percent antimony and l2 atom percent bismuth.
  • the compositions according to the invention have p-type conductance.
  • thermocouple By combining such a p-conducting couple member with a second member consisting of Bi2Te3 which is n-conductively doped by an Agi addition of about 0.1% by weight, a thermocouple is obtained which, when operating as a Peltier couple, possesses a total efiicacy of 2.1--3 per C. which corresponds to a theoretically obtainable reduction in temperature of 80 C. (referring to a cold junction at 0 C.).
  • the efficacy value z is a direct measure for the applicability of a substance as a thermoelectric component, particularly with respect to the obtainable temperature difference in an electrothermic combination.
  • the Value z is also a measure of the power capacity in electrothermic cooling and in thermoelectric generation of electric current.
  • FIGS. l and 2 two respective graphs and in FIG. 3 a schematic illustration of a Peltier couple according to the invention.
  • a couple member consisting of a solid solution of Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 corresponding to the formula BiulSbMTeS and having p-type conductance.
  • the second member 2 of the couple consists of Bi2Te3 doped with about 0.1% by weight of silver iodide (Agl) and having n-type conductance.
  • the two members 1 and 2 are joined, by a solder or fusion joint, with three blocks 3, 4, 5 of copper. These blocks have respective channels to be joined with the pipes of coolant circulation systems.
  • the channels of blocks 4 and 5 are to be traversed by a liquid medium for the purpose of keeping them approximately at a given temperature.
  • the channel of the junction block 3 is to be connected into a coolant circulation line for conveying cooled liquid to the cooler, evaporator or other component to be cooled or refrigerated.
  • a Peltier couple affords a maximum reduction of temperature of about C. Y
  • thermoelectric components of a thermocouple according to the invention can be made in accordance with any of the methods known for the manufacture of thermocouple materials. Particularly advantageous is a production according to the powder-metallurgical method as generally known, for example from German Patent 836,943.
  • One way of employing such a method for the purposes of the invention is to produce the solid solution from the compounds Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 by melting the respective constituents in stoichiometric proportions, then cooling and pulverizing the resulting solid solution, and thereafter processing the powdered substance in accordance with the powder-metallurgical method for shaping and sintering the thermocouple member to be produced.
  • the manufacture of the thermocouple member by a powder-metallurgical method is performed in such a manner as to adapt the thermoelectric properties to desired requirements'by suitably.dimensioningthe sintering 'data'7 namely the grain size, the amount of pressure applied to lthe pulverulent material, the sintering temperature, the sintering time and the atmosphere in which the sintering is carried out. In this manner, the defect-electron (hole)- concentrationY canY be reduced. In othery words, the
  • ⁇ charge-carrier'concentration is the charge-carrier concentration that results in an electronic heat conductance (nel) satisfying as close- ⁇ a current therethroughpthe thermocouple comprising twoV members of Vextrinsic'ally *conductiveV materialv electricmly connected to each other to form a junction, one of said members having p-type.
  • KG denotes the lattice thermal conductance
  • t. means a metric ton, which is 1000 kilograms.
  • the duration of the sintering process is l hour, and the grain size of the starting powder is below 60 microns.
  • a-value of the molten material4 is 145 ,uv./ C.
  • thermoelectric properties is obtained by adding up to V1% by weight of selenium to the solid solution described above.
  • the optimum amount of the selenium addition is about 0.6% by weight.
  • FIG. 1 indicates the differential Vthermoforce ductance Von a logarithmic scale in (Sli cm.)1, and
  • the ordinate indicates the diiferential thermotorcey (a) in Y pv./ C.
  • the Vdiagram indicates two curves which coincide in part.
  • the full-line' curve V relatesY toY measured n by pressing and sintering the powder at between about Vmuth contentbetween'about Bland 16 atoml percent and having selenium dispersed vin said solid solutionfin *an ⁇ amount of about V0.1 to 1.0% by weightrof thetotal com- K position, said member being lmade Vby preparing amelt lof said composition, causing the melt to solidify, pulverising the resultingjsolid solution, and forming said member 250 and4 500 C. Vand ata pressure between about 2 t./cm.2 and 8 t./cm.2, the vother member being Bi2Te3 nconductivity doped byaddition of AgI. Y
  • thermocouple member 4. The method of producing a thermocouple member
  • I' which comprises thefsteps ofmelting thefcornpounds BigTearand Sb2Te3 in the proportion required for an antimonycontent between 24 and 36atom percent and a bismuth content between 4 and 16V atom percent, pulverikzing the resulting solidl solution, and forming the member by pressing and sinte'ring at a .temperaturey between ⁇ 250 ⁇ C.' if and 500 Cuand a pressure between 2Vt./cm.2vjandrv8 t./cm.2.
  • the method of producing a thermocouple member References Cited in the tile of this patent which comprises the steps of preparing a solid solution of UNITED STATES PATENTS the composition BiMSbMTeS, pulverizing said solid solution, and forming the member from the powder by sin- 2597752 Sahsbury May 20 1952 tering it at a temperature between 250 C. and 500 C.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Powder Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Inorganic Compounds Of Heavy Metals (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
US808384A 1958-04-26 1959-04-23 Thermocouple, particularly for electro-thermic cooling, and method of producing it Expired - Lifetime US3137593A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DES58010A DE1064537B (de) 1958-04-26 1958-04-26 Thermoelement, insbesondere fuer die elektrothermische Kaelteerzeugung, und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
DES59478A DE1085178B (de) 1958-04-26 1958-08-19 Thermoelement, insbesondere fuer die elektrothermische Kaelteerzeugung

Publications (1)

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US3137593A true US3137593A (en) 1964-06-16

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US (1) US3137593A (en(2012))
CH (1) CH370131A (en(2012))
DE (2) DE1064537B (en(2012))
FR (1) FR1222248A (en(2012))
GB (1) GB890844A (en(2012))
NL (1) NL113280C (en(2012))

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3395445A (en) * 1966-05-09 1968-08-06 Energy Conversion Devices Inc Method of making solid state relay devices from tellurides
FR2416555A2 (fr) * 1974-11-29 1979-08-31 France Etat Detecteur de radiations infrarouges base sur l'effet seebeck
FR2532786A1 (fr) * 1982-09-03 1984-03-09 Ecd Anr Energy Conversion Co Nouvelles matieres thermo-electriques en poudre comprimee et procede pour leur realisation
US20140373889A1 (en) * 2013-06-19 2014-12-25 California Institute Of Technology TE PERFORMANCE BY BAND CONVERGENCE IN (Bi1-XSbX)2Te3
US12181351B2 (en) 2018-02-28 2024-12-31 Arthur Beckman Thermopile assembly providing a massive electrical series of wire thermocouple elements

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL271817A (en(2012)) * 1960-11-25
US3162531A (en) * 1961-03-30 1964-12-22 Sanyo Electric Co Method for the production of semiconductor elements made of an intermetallic compound
DE1270823B (de) * 1961-07-10 1968-06-20 Union Carbide Corp Thermoelektrische Legierung und Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung
US3076859A (en) * 1961-07-10 1963-02-05 Union Carbide Corp Thermoelectric materials
US6046398A (en) * 1998-11-04 2000-04-04 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Micromachined thermoelectric sensors and arrays and process for producing

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2597752A (en) * 1949-07-06 1952-05-20 Collins Radio Co Thermoelectric power generator
US2602095A (en) * 1950-06-03 1952-07-01 Gen Electric Thermoelectric device
US2762857A (en) * 1954-11-01 1956-09-11 Rca Corp Thermoelectric materials and elements utilizing them
US2877283A (en) * 1955-09-02 1959-03-10 Siemens Ag Thermoelectric couples, particularly for the production of cold, and method of their manufacture
DE1054519B (de) * 1956-12-18 1959-04-09 Gen Electric Co Ltd Thermoelement und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
US2886618A (en) * 1953-11-20 1959-05-12 Gen Electric Co Ltd Thermoelectric devices
US2990439A (en) * 1956-12-18 1961-06-27 Gen Electric Co Ltd Thermocouples

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2597752A (en) * 1949-07-06 1952-05-20 Collins Radio Co Thermoelectric power generator
US2602095A (en) * 1950-06-03 1952-07-01 Gen Electric Thermoelectric device
US2886618A (en) * 1953-11-20 1959-05-12 Gen Electric Co Ltd Thermoelectric devices
US2762857A (en) * 1954-11-01 1956-09-11 Rca Corp Thermoelectric materials and elements utilizing them
US2877283A (en) * 1955-09-02 1959-03-10 Siemens Ag Thermoelectric couples, particularly for the production of cold, and method of their manufacture
DE1054519B (de) * 1956-12-18 1959-04-09 Gen Electric Co Ltd Thermoelement und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
US2990439A (en) * 1956-12-18 1961-06-27 Gen Electric Co Ltd Thermocouples

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3395445A (en) * 1966-05-09 1968-08-06 Energy Conversion Devices Inc Method of making solid state relay devices from tellurides
FR2416555A2 (fr) * 1974-11-29 1979-08-31 France Etat Detecteur de radiations infrarouges base sur l'effet seebeck
FR2532786A1 (fr) * 1982-09-03 1984-03-09 Ecd Anr Energy Conversion Co Nouvelles matieres thermo-electriques en poudre comprimee et procede pour leur realisation
US20140373889A1 (en) * 2013-06-19 2014-12-25 California Institute Of Technology TE PERFORMANCE BY BAND CONVERGENCE IN (Bi1-XSbX)2Te3
US12181351B2 (en) 2018-02-28 2024-12-31 Arthur Beckman Thermopile assembly providing a massive electrical series of wire thermocouple elements

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Publication number Publication date
NL113280C (en(2012))
DE1085178B (de) 1960-07-14
DE1064537B (de) 1959-09-03
CH370131A (de) 1963-06-30
FR1222248A (fr) 1960-06-08
GB890844A (en) 1962-03-07

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