WO2013002423A1

WO2013002423A1 - Thermoelectric conversion modules

Info

Publication number: WO2013002423A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/067402
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hirokuni Akiyama; Hidehito Kubo
Original assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
Priority date: 2011-06-30
Filing date: 2012-06-29
Publication date: 2013-01-03
Also published as: JP2013012630A

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention include a thermoelectric conversion module having a substrate and an electrode, a fin and metallic layers. The electrode is preferably provided on one surface of the substrate and a thermoelectric conversion element is preferably mounted on the electrode. The fin preferably has alternately positioned concave and convex portions. Metallic layers may be provided on the opposite surface of the substrate. Each of metallic layers preferably has a shape corresponding to the concave portions of the fin. Each of the concave portions is preferably bonded to each of the metallic layers.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title of Invention: THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION MODULES Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to thermoelectric conversion modules.

Background Art

[0002] In the related art, a technology for controlling the temperature of fluid using a thermoelectric conversion module is known. The thermoelectric conversion module includes Peltier elements as thermoelectric conversion elements. The thermoelectric conversion module described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 09-82844 includes a fin. The fin enhances the thermal exchange efficiency between the thermoelectric conversion elements and the fluid. [0003] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a fin 120 of the related art is bonded to a substrate 110 via a metallic layer 130. The metallic layer 130 serves as an adhesive layer. At the time of usage, a thermoelectric conversion module 6 generates heat. A difference in the coefficient of linear expansion between the substrate 110, the fin 120, and the metallic layer 130 may cause a stress-generated deformation, such as warp, in the thermoelectric conversion module 6.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a thermoelectric conversion module that can withstand deformation caused by stress generated by differences in coefficient of linear expansion between the substrate, the fin, and the metallic layer at the time of usage.

Summary of Invention

[0005] Certain embodiments of the present invention include a thermoelectric conversion module having a substrate and an electrode, a fin and metallic layers. The electrode is preferably provided on one surface of the substrate and a thermoelectric conversion element is preferably mounted on the electrode. The fin may have alternately positioned convex and concave portions. The metallic layers are provided on the other surface of the substrate. Each of metallic layers may have a shape corresponding to the concave portions of the fin. Each of the concave portions may be bonded to each of the metallic layers.

[0006] Therefore, an area of the substrate where the metallic layers are provided is preferably small. Thus, even when heat is generated from the thermoelectric conversion module during use, stress generated due to the difference in coefficient of linear expansion of the substrate, the fin and the metallic layers may be restricted. As a result, deformation, such as warping, generated in the thermoelectric conversion module may be inhibited.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a Peltier module of one configuration related to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the Peltier module of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a Peltier module of another configuration related to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the Peltier module of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a Peltier module of another configuration related to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the Peltier module of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an expanded view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a Peltier module of another configuration related to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the Peltier module of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a Peltier module of another configuration related to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the Peltier module of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a prior art Peltier module; and

FIG. 13 is a front view of the Peltier module of FIG. 11.

Description of Embodiments

[0008] Each of the additional features and teachings disclosed above and below may be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and teachings to provide improved thermoelectric conversion modules. Representative examples of the present invention, which utilize many of these additional features and teachings both separately and in conjunction with one another, will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of ordinary skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Only the claims define the scope of the claimed invention. Therefore, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the following detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative examples of the invention. Moreover, various features of the representative examples and the dependent claims may be combined in ways that are not specifically enumerated in order to provide additional useful configurations of the present teachings.

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A Peltier module (thermoelectric conversion module) 1 preferably includes a substrate 10, a fin 20 and metallic layers 30.

[0010] The substrate 10 may be made of an insulating material such as ceramic or the like, and is preferably formed into a thin plate shape. The fin 20 may be bonded to one of surfaces of the substrate 10 (an upper surface in FIGS. 1 and 2). Electrodes 40 preferably formed of aluminum and the like are secured to the other surface of the substrate 10 (a lower surface in FIGS. 1 and 2) at appropriate intervals in the width direction of the electrodes 40. Peltier elements (not shown) are preferably attached on the electrodes 40 and electrically connected to the electrodes 40.

[0011] When a DC electricity flows to the Peltier elements (not shown), the substrate 10 radiates heat or absorbs heat. The substrate 10 may be assembled in a case (not shown), and the substrate 10 and the case may form a flow path in the case. The fluid (not shown) flowing in the case may be heated or cooled down. The fin 20 may enhance the efficiency of the heat radiation or heat absorbance.

[0012] The fin 20 is preferably made of a heat conductive material such as aluminum, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The fin 20 may be formed into a so-called a blade shape and preferably includes concave portions 20a and convex portions 20b. The fin 20 may be formed by pressing a thin-plate. The concave portions 20a and convex portions 20b are preferably alternately arranged. In this manner, the fin 20 can be formed easily. The fin 20 preferably extends linearly so that the concave portions 20a and convex portions 20b form flow channels flowing the fluid. [0013] The metallic layers 30 are preferably made of an adhesive layer such as aluminum and formed into a thin plate shape as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The metallic layers 30 each preferably have a shape conforming to bottom surfaces 22 of the concave portions 20a of the fin 20. Therefore, the same number of the metallic layers 30 as the number of the bottom surfaces 22 of the concave portions 20a of the fin 20 (seven, for example) are preferably provided on the substrate 10. In other words, the metallic layers 30 are preferably provided only at positions where the concave portions 20a of the fin 20 are bonded to the substrate 10. [0014] A technique known as brazing is preferably used to join different surfaces together. Brazing is similar to soldering, however, the temperatures used to the melt objects, such as metal, are typically higher. When manufacturing the Peltier module 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of metallic layers 30 are brazed on one of the surfaces (an upper surface, for example) of the substrate 10. Subsequently, the bottom surfaces 22 of the concave portions 20a of the fin 20 are preferably brazed to the metallic layers 30. Accordingly, the Peltier module 1 is made.

[0015] The thermoelectric conversion module 1 as described above may include the substrate 10, the electrodes 40, the fin 20 and the metallic layers 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The electrodes 40 are preferably provided on one surface of the substrate 10 and the thermoelectric conversion elements are preferably mounted on the electrodes 40. The fin 20 preferably has alternately arranged concave portions 20a and the convex portions 20b. The metallic layers 30 are preferably provided on the other surface of the substrate 10. Each of metallic layers 30 preferably has a shape corresponding to the concave portions 20a of the fin 20. Each of the concave portions 20a is preferably bonded to each of the metallic layers 30.

[0016] An area of the substrate 10 where the metallic layers 30 are provided is preferably small. Therefore, even when heat is generated from the thermoelectric conversion module 1 during usage, stress generated by a difference in coefficient of linear expansion of the substrate 10, the fin 20 and the metallic layers 30 may be inhibited. Therefore, deformation, such as warping, generated in the thermoelectric conversion module 1 may be inhibited.

[0017] The electrodes 40 are preferably provided on the substrate 10 only in areas opposing the metallic layers 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrodes 40 and metallic layers 30 are preferably provided on opposite sides of the substrate 10. Heat radiation or the heat absorbance from the thermoelectric conversion elements electrically connected to the electrodes 40, can be transmitted to the fin 20 at a relatively short distance through the substrate 10. As a result, efficient heat radiation or heat absorbance can be achieved through the use of thermoelectric conversion elements.

[0018] The metallic layers 30 preferably have a shape corresponding to the bottom surfaces 22 of the concave portions 20a of the fin 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In other words, if the fin 20 includes a plurality of (seven, for example) bottom surfaces 22, there will also be the same number of the metallic layers 30. Accordingly, the surface area of the substrate 10 occupied by the metallic layers 30 provided is smaller than the entire surface of the substrate 10.

[0019] The Peltier module may be a Peltier module 2 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 instead of the Peltier module 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Respective electrodes 41 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are provided only on areas opposing the respective metallic layers 30 found on the opposite side of the substrate 10. The Peltier module 2 preferably includes the same number of (seven, for example) electrodes 41 as the number of the metallic layers 30. The electrodes 41 preferably have a shape corresponding to that of the bottom surfaces 22 of the concave portions 20a of the fin 20. Alternately, the electrodes 41 may be arranged in the same number of (seven, for example) rows as the number of the metallic layers 30. In each of the rows, more than one of the electrodes 41 is preferably arranged.

[0020] The Peltier module 2 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 preferably has the same effects and advantages as the Peltier module 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The respective electrodes 41 are preferably provided only at positions opposing the metallic layers 30 on the intermediary of the substrate 10. Therefore, radiated heat or absorbed heat from the Peltier elements (not shown) can be transferred to the fin 20 via the substrate 10 and the metallic layers 30 at a short distance. Accordingly, heat radiation or heat absorbance from the Peltier elements (not shown) can be effectively achieved.

[0021] The Peltier module may be a Peltier module 3 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 instead of the Peltier module 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A metallic layer 31 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 preferably has a single plate shape and has thick portions 31a having a large thickness. The thick portions 31a and the thin portions 31b are arranged alternately. The thick portions 31a have a thickness Tl, and are positioned corresponding to the concave portions 20a of the fin 20. The thin portions 31b preferably have a thickness T2 where T1>T2 is satisfied.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the Peltier module 3 preferably includes a substrate 10, electrodes 40, a fin 20 and a metallic layer 31. The metallic layer 31 is preferably provided on one surface of the substrate 10, and includes the thick portions 31a and the thin portions 31b. The thick portions 31a preferably have large thickness at positions corresponding to the concave portions 20a of the fin 20. The thin portions 31b preferably have a thickness smaller than that of the thick portions 31a at positions corresponding to the convex portions 20b.

[0023] The Peltier module 3 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 preferably has the same effects and advantages as the Peltier module 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Since the metallic layer 31 preferably has a single plate shape, the metallic layer 31 can be brazed to the substrate 10. Preferably, the metallic layer 31 can be easily brazed to the substrate 10 in a single application. When LLC (antifreeze) flows in the case as fluid, the metallic layer 31 preferably prevents the LLC from penetrating into the substrate 10. The metallic layer 31 may be nickel-plated. A nickel-plated metallic layer 31 can improve corrosion resistance of the LLC.

[0024] The Peltier module may be a Peltier module 4 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 instead of the Peltier module 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The Peltier module 4 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 preferably has a fin 21 more robust than the fin 20 shown in FIG. 1.

[0025] The fin 21 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 preferably has concave portions 21a and convex portions 21b alternating in their lateral directions. The concave portions 21 preferably a have a bottom surface 21c brazed on the substrate 10. The fin 21 preferably has a plurality of crank portions 24 along the length direction or a flowing direction of the flow channel. The plurality of crank portions 24 may also be formed by pressing. In this way, the fin 21 can be formed relatively easily.

[0026] The Peltier module 4 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 preferably has the same effects and advantages as the Peltier module 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Since the fin 21 may be formed with the plurality of crank portions 24 along the length direction, the strength may be higher than the fin 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0027] The Peltier module may be a Peltier module 5 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 instead of the Peltier module 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The Peltier module 5 combines certain features found in Peltier module 2 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and certain features found in Peltier module 4 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, respective electrodes 42 are preferably provided only on areas of the substrate 10 where metallic layers 32 are found on the opposite side of the substrate 10. The Peltier module 5 preferably includes the same number of (seven, for example) electrodes 42 as the number of the metallic layers 32. The shape of the electrodes 42 preferably correspond to the shape of the bottom surfaces 21c of the concave portions 21a of the fins 21. The fins 21 preferably have a plurality of crank portions 24. Alternatively electrodes 42 may be arranged in the same number of (seven, for example) rows as the number of the metallic layers 32. In each of the rows, more than one of the electrodes 42 may be arrang

[0029] The Peltier module 5 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 may have some of the same effects and advantages as the Peltier module 2 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and may have some of the same effects and advantages as the Peltier module 4 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0030] While the embodiments of invention have been described with reference to specific configurations, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that may fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, embodiments of the present invention should not be limited to the representative configurations, but may be modified, for example, as described below.

[0031] The Peltier modules 1, 2, 4, and 5 may have seven bottom surfaces 20a, 21a of the fin 20, 21 and seven metallic layers 30, 31 , 32 or may have any other number of the bottom surfaces and metallic layers. [0032] The metallic layers 30, 31 , 32 may extend from one end to the other end of the substrate 10, or may extend from one end to a midpoint of the other end of the substrate 10. Alternatively, the ends- of the metallic layers 30, 31, 32 may start and end at any other convenient location on the substrate 10. One metallic layer may be disposed in the direction of extension of the metallic layer, or a plurality of the metallic layers may also be used.

[0033] The metallic layers 30, 32 may have the substantially same shape as the bottom surfaces 22, 21c of the fin 20, 21, or may have a shape larger than or smaller than the bottom surfaces 22, 21c of the fin 20, 21.

Claims

[Claim 1] A thermoelectric conversion module comprising:

a substrate;

an electrode provided on one surface of the substrate;

a thermoelectric conversion element mounted on the electrode;

a fin comprising alternate concave portions and convex portions; and

metallic layers having shapes corresponding to the concave portions of the fin, the metallic layers provided on the other surface of the substrate, each of the metallic layers bonded to each of the concave portions.

[Claim 2] A thermoelectric conversion module of claim 1, further comprising the electrodes provided only in areas opposing the metallic layers through the substrate. [Claim 3] A thermoelectric conversion module comprising:

a substrate;

an electrode provided on one surface of the substrate;

a thermoelectric conversion element mounted on the electrode;

a fin comprising alternate concave portions and convex portions; and

a metallic layer provided on the other surface of the substrate, the metallic layer comprising thick portions and thin portions; the thick portions having a large thickness at positions corresponding to the concave portions of the fin and the thin portions having a thickness smaller than that of the thick portions at positions corresponding to the convex portions of the fin.