WO2017212822A1

WO2017212822A1 - Thermoelectric generator

Info

Publication number: WO2017212822A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/016684
Authority: WO
Inventors: 鈴木　聡; 桑山　和利; 新也北川
Original assignee: 株式会社デンソー
Priority date: 2016-06-09
Filing date: 2017-04-27
Publication date: 2017-12-14
Also published as: JP2017221066A

Abstract

According to the present invention, a first fluid flows through the inside of a pipe (7). A thermal power generation unit (1) has a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements (20). A holding member (3) exerts pressure on one lateral side of the thermal power generation unit so as to cause the heat of a second fluid having a higher temperature than the first fluid to transfer to said one lateral side of the thermal power generation unit, and holds both the pipe and the other lateral side of the thermal power generation unit in such a state as to allow heat transfer therebetween. An elastic member (6) has thermal conductivity, is elastically deformable, and is interposed between the thermal power generation unit and the holding member. A compression rate adjustment part (TL1) sets the compression rate for the elastic member such that the portion of the elastic member located on the side upstream of the central part (CL) of the thermal power generation unit in the flow direction of the second fluid has a greater compression rate than the portion of the elastic member located on the side downstream of the central part.

Description

Thermoelectric generator

Cross-reference of related applications

This application is based on Japanese Application No. 2016-115713 filed on June 9, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

This disclosure relates to a thermoelectric generator that converts thermal energy into electric energy by the Seebeck effect.

The thermoelectric generation module of Patent Document 1 supports a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements so as to be sandwiched between the inner surface of the casing and the outer surface of the cooling water introduction portion. The cooling water introduction part is provided so as to cross and penetrate the exhaust gas introduction part in the left-right direction, and is configured integrally with the plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements in such a manner that the plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements surround the periphery thereof. The cooling water introduction part and the plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements are provided in the exhaust gas introduction part along the flow direction of the exhaust gas.

Exhaust gas discharged outside the vehicle through the exhaust pipe is introduced into the exhaust gas introduction unit, passes through the exhaust gas introduction unit, and is supplied as a high-temperature source to the thermoelectric conversion module in the process of being discharged out of the exhaust gas introduction unit. . In addition, the cooling water circulating through the cooling water pipe is introduced into the cooling water introduction part, traverses the exhaust gas introduction part in the left-right direction, and is supplied to the thermoelectric conversion module as a low temperature source in the process of being discharged outside the cooling water introduction part. Is done.

According to the apparatus of Patent Document 1, when exhaust gas flows through the exhaust pipe, the housing corresponding to the high temperature side member may be deformed unevenly due to the heat of the exhaust gas. In this case, there is a problem that the contact surface pressure between the high temperature side member and the thermoelectric conversion element tends to decrease on the upstream side due to thermal deformation. As a result, a difference occurs in the contact surface pressure related to the thermoelectric conversion element in the exhaust gas flow direction, which causes deterioration of the thermoelectric conversion element.

JP 2016-89752 A

This disclosure is intended to provide a thermoelectric generator capable of suppressing a decrease in contact surface pressure between a high temperature side member and a thermoelectric conversion element on the upstream side of a high temperature fluid.

The thermoelectric generator according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes a pipe through which the first fluid flows. The thermoelectric generator further includes a thermoelectric generator having a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements. The thermoelectric generator applies pressure to one side of the thermoelectric generator so that the heat of the second fluid having a higher temperature than the first fluid is transferred to one side of the thermoelectric generator, A holding member is further provided for holding the tube and the other side of the thermoelectric generator in a state in which heat transfer is possible. The thermoelectric generator further includes an elastic member that has thermal conductivity and is elastically deformable, and is interposed between the thermoelectric generator and the holding member. The thermoelectric generator is configured so that the compression ratio of the elastic member is set so that the compression ratio of the elastic member is larger on the upstream side than the central part of the thermoelectric generation unit with respect to the downstream side in the flow direction of the second fluid. Is further provided.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing
It is a perspective view which shows a part of thermoelectric power generator of 1st Embodiment, It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the thermoelectric generator of 1st Embodiment, It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the thermoelectric generator of 2nd Embodiment, It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the thermoelectric power generator of 3rd Embodiment, It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the thermoelectric generator of 4th Embodiment, It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the thermoelectric power generator of 5th Embodiment.

Hereinafter, a plurality of modes for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. When only a part of the configuration is described in each mode, the other modes described above can be applied to the other parts of the configuration. Not only combinations of parts that clearly indicate that the combination is possible in each embodiment, but also a combination of the embodiments even if they are not clearly specified unless there is a problem with the combination. It is also possible.

(First embodiment)
The thermoelectric generator 100 as one form is disclosed in 1st Embodiment. A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The thermoelectric power generation apparatus 100 is an apparatus that can generate heat by converting thermal energy into electric power energy by the Seebeck effect. The thermoelectric generator 100 can be applied as, for example, a vehicle device, a device built in an electronic control device, a device built in an air conditioner, or a device built in a hot water supply device.

The thermoelectric power generation apparatus 100 generates power using a phenomenon in which, when a temperature difference is given between one side and the other side in a thermoelectric generator having a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements, a potential difference is generated and electrons flow. In the thermoelectric generator 100, a temperature difference is given to both sides of the thermoelectric generator using the first fluid having a low temperature and the second fluid having a higher temperature than the first fluid. Any fluid capable of giving a temperature difference can be adopted as the first fluid and the second fluid. In this embodiment, as an example of an arbitrarily selectable first fluid and second fluid, a case will be described in which automobile engine cooling water is used as the first fluid and exhaust gas discharged from the engine is used as the second fluid. Hereinafter, the first fluid may be referred to as a low-temperature fluid, and the second fluid may be referred to as a high-temperature fluid that is hotter than the low-temperature fluid.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermoelectric generator 100 is provided such that a first passage through which a low-temperature fluid flows, a second passage through which a high-temperature fluid flows, a high-temperature fluid on one side, and a low-temperature fluid on the other side are capable of heat transfer. The thermoelectric generator 1 and a holding member that holds the thermoelectric generator 1 are provided. The holding member can be configured by the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 that enhance the adhesion between the members so as to secure heat transfer between the low-temperature fluid and the high-temperature fluid and the thermoelectric generator 1. The first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 are also referred to as holding

members

3 and 4 below. The first passage is formed by the pipe 7. A 2nd channel | path is a channel | path provided in the outer side which is the opposite side to the thermoelectric-generation part 1 side in each of the 1st holding member 3 and the 2nd holding member 4. FIG.

The thermoelectric generator 100 further includes an elastic member 6 interposed between the thermoelectric generator 1 and the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4. The elastic member 6 itself is made of a material that can conduct heat and can be elastically deformed. The elastic member 6 can be formed of any material that is elastically deformed in the thickness direction and has thermal conductivity. As the arbitrary material, for example, a material containing graphite can be adopted, and the elastic member 6 can be formed by forming this material into a shape that can be elastically deformed, for example, a sheet shape.

The sheet made of graphite that can be used as the elastic member 6 has a very high thermal conductivity. For example, a graphite sheet having a thermal conductivity twice or more that of copper or aluminum can be employed. The graphite sheet is a thin and flexible sheet, and is easily deformed and processed. The graphite sheet can be produced by pyrolyzing a polymer film to graphitize it. Further, the graphite sheet can have a high orientation with a structure close to a single crystal.

Each thermoelectric generator 1 has a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 20 arranged in the flow direction F1 of the high-temperature fluid. The several thermoelectric conversion element 20 is accommodated in the inside of case 10 which is a flat box. The case 10 corresponds to the outer surface of the thermoelectric generator 1. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of modules 2 each having a predetermined number of thermoelectric conversion elements 20 as one lump are installed in the thermoelectric generator 1 side by side in the high-temperature fluid flow direction F 1. In order to prevent oxidation of the thermoelectric conversion element 20, the inside of the case 10 is, for example, in a vacuum state or filled with an inert gas. The case 10 is also an airtight case that seals the internal space. The case 10 is made of, for example, a stainless material.

The thermoelectric conversion element 20 is configured by connecting alternately arranged P-type semiconductor elements and N-type semiconductor elements in a mesh pattern. The module 2 has one surface in contact with a high-temperature fluid or a high-temperature portion capable of transferring heat with the high-temperature fluid, and the other surface in contact with a low-temperature fluid or a low-temperature portion capable of transferring heat with the low-temperature fluid. A temperature difference is generated between one side and the other side of the battery, and power is generated by movement of electrons caused by the potential difference.

The thermoelectric conversion element 20 is provided such that the high temperature end on one side can move heat between the high temperature fluid and the low temperature end on the other side can move heat between the low temperature fluid. The low-temperature end is in contact with the wall portion on the first passage side of the case 10 via the heat transfer member 22 having thermal conductivity. The high temperature end is in contact with the wall portion on the second passage side of the case 10 via the heat transfer member 21 having thermal conductivity. The heat transfer member 22 may be in direct contact with the low-temperature fluid without passing through the tube 7 or the case 10. The heat transfer member 21 and the heat transfer member 22 are formed of a material having thermal conductivity and insulating properties. The heat transfer member 21 and the heat transfer member 22 can be formed of ceramic, for example.

One surface of the thermoelectric generator 1 located on one side in the thermoelectric generator 100 is in contact with the first holding member 3 constituting the high temperature portion via the elastic member 6, and the other surface constitutes the low temperature portion. Contact the tube 7. One surface of the thermoelectric generator 1 located on the other side in the thermoelectric generator 100 is in contact with the tube 7 constituting the low temperature part, and the other surface is in contact with the second holding member 4 constituting the high temperature part. The 1st holding member 3 and the 2nd holding member 44 can each be comprised with a plate-shaped member. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a heat conductive member such as a graphite sheet or grease having thermal conductivity may be interposed between the thermoelectric generator 1 and the pipe 7. By providing such a heat conducting member at the contact portion between the thermoelectric generator 1 and the tube 7, it is possible to absorb a certain level difference or unevenness that causes a gap in the contact portion, and to ensure thermal conductivity. Can contribute. Further, according to this configuration, the heat resistance between the members can be reduced by the heat conducting member, and efficient heat transfer between the high temperature fluid and the low temperature fluid can be realized via the heat conducting member.

Further, the heat conducting member is preferably a member that is more easily deformed by an external force and has a lower hardness than the tube 7, the first holding member 3, and the second holding member 4. According to this configuration, since the heat conducting member can be deformed according to the expansion and contraction of each member, the thermoelectric generator 1 is placed in the direction F1 with respect to the tube 7, the first holding member 3, and the second holding member 4. And can be easily displaced in the direction F2. Therefore, even if each member expands or contracts due to a temperature difference caused by the high-temperature fluid and the low-temperature fluid, the thermoelectric generator 1 is easily displaced. Therefore, stress due to distortion of each member is reduced, or a difference in thermal expansion between the members. The effect which absorbs can be heightened.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 are formed in a shape in which both ends can be welded to each other. This shape can be formed by casting or bending. As this shape, the first holding member 3 has joint portions 3a located on the distal end side with respect to the curved portion having a substantially right angle, and the second holding member 4 is disposed on the distal side with respect to the curved portion having a substantially right angle. It has the joint part 4a located on both ends. The joining portion 3a and the joining portion 4a are superposed in a state where a compressive force acting in a direction in which the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 are brought close to each other, and the flow direction of the low-temperature fluid flowing inside the pipe 7 An overlapping portion extending in a direction parallel to F2 is formed. The overlapping portions are welded to each other by, for example, seam welding or laser welding. In this way, the tube 7 is sandwiched and held between the two thermoelectric generators 1 by the compressive force applied from the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4. The compression force is a force acting in the direction indicated by the white arrow in FIG.

Thereby, the 1st holding member 3 and the 2nd holding member 4 provide the product which makes the stress which pinches | interposes the thermoelectric generation part 1 act. Furthermore, the thermoelectric generator 1 is in close contact with both the first holding member 3 or the second holding member 4 and the pipe 7. This applied pressure acts between the tube 7 and the thermoelectric generator 1, between the thermoelectric generator 1 and the first holding member 3 or the second holding member 4, and forms a contact portion between these members. By joining the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 accompanying the welding, an internal space that is a space surrounded by the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 is formed. In this internal space, two thermoelectric generators 1 and a pipe 7 are accommodated.

The pipe 7 is made of, for example, stainless steel or aluminum, and has a first passage that is divided into a plurality of internal passages through which a low-temperature fluid flows. The first holding member 3 is provided with outer fins 5 on the surface opposite to the thermoelectric generator 1 by brazing or the like. The second holding member 4 is provided with outer fins 5 on the surface opposite to the thermoelectric generator 1 by brazing or the like. The outer fin 5 is provided in a second passage through which a high-temperature fluid that contacts the outer fin 5 flows.

The outer fin 5 is formed by bending a plate material into a corrugated shape. The outer fin 5 has a rigidity characteristic in which the rigidity is weak in the wave traveling direction and the rigidity is increased in the wave overlapping direction. By joining such outer fins 5 to the first holding member 3, the rigidity of the first holding member 3 can be enhanced. As a result, a gap that hinders heat transfer is less likely to occur between the first holding member 3 and the thermoelectric generator 1 or between the second holding member 4 and the thermoelectric generator 1.

The outer fin 5 employs an offset fin provided such that the positions of the fins adjacent to each other in the direction F1 are offset by a predetermined distance in a direction orthogonal to the direction F1. The outer fin 5 has a plurality of wave portions. In the plurality of wave portions, the wave traveling direction is the flow direction F2 of the low-temperature fluid, and the wave overlapping direction is the flow direction F1 of the high-temperature fluid.

According to this, the high-temperature fluid easily flows between the waves, and the outer fin 5 can increase the rigidity of the flow direction F1 of the high-temperature fluid. As a result, the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 to which the outer fins 5 are joined can also increase the rigidity in the flow direction F1. On the other hand, the 1st holding member 3 and the 2nd holding member 4 have the junction part 3a and the junction part 4a which are mutually approached and welded in the both ends of the flow direction F1. A stress that presses the thermoelectric generator 1 against the pipe 7 is generated by welding the joint 3a and the joint 4a. Therefore, since the rigidity with respect to this stress can be strengthened by the outer fin 5, the adhesion between the members can be ensured.

The thermoelectric power generation apparatus 100 is a stacked layer in which the outer fin 5, the first holding member 3, the thermoelectric generator 1, the pipe 7, the thermoelectric generator 1, the second holding member 4, and the outer fin 5 are arranged from the upper side to the lower side in FIG. Make up the body. The cold fluid flows in a direction orthogonal to the hot fluid. The outer fin 5 is easy to expand and contract in the direction extending in a wavy shape and has low rigidity, and is hard to expand and contract in the direction orthogonal to this direction and has high rigidity.

1 A bending stress is applied to the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 because the pressing force in the direction indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 1 acts. For this reason, it is preferable to have rigidity that can withstand this bending stress. Therefore, the outer fin 5 is set to increase the rigidity in the flow direction F1 of the high-temperature fluid and decrease the rigidity in the direction orthogonal to the direction F1.

The first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 are bent and elastically deformed outside the end of the thermoelectric generator 1. For this reason, at the end of the thermoelectric generator 1, the thermoelectric generator 1 is maintained by the reaction force of the elastically deformed first holding member 3 and second holding member 4 returning to the original while maintaining the contact portion with each member. This contributes to ensuring the adhesion of the first holding member 3, the second holding member 4 and the tube 7.

When the high-temperature fluid flows in the thermoelectric generator, the high-temperature side member may be deformed unevenly due to the heat of the high-temperature fluid, and this deformation causes the contact surface pressure between the high-temperature side member and the thermoelectric conversion element to be upstream. It tends to drop on the side. In the thermoelectric generator 100, the first holding member 3 corresponds to a member on the high temperature side.

In order to ensure a contact surface pressure between the member on the high temperature side and the thermoelectric conversion element on the upstream side of the high temperature fluid, the thermoelectric generator 100 includes a compressibility adjusting unit. The compression rate adjustment unit is set so that the compression rate of the elastic member 6 is larger on the upstream side than the central portion CL of the thermoelectric generator 1 in the flow direction F1 of the high-temperature fluid with respect to the downstream side. The compression rate adjustment unit in the first embodiment is configured by the first holding member 3 and the thermoelectric generator 1 and realizes the compression rate as described above. For example, the function of the compression ratio adjusting unit can be realized by the shape of the first holding member 3 and the shape of the thermoelectric generator 1.

The center portion CL of the thermoelectric generator 1 shown in FIG. 2 is the center position of the direction F1 length in the plurality of modules 2 arranged in the direction F1, that is, the intermediate position with respect to both ends of the direction F1 in the plurality of modules 2. When only one module 2 is provided in the direction F 1 in the thermoelectric generator 1, the central portion CL is an intermediate position with respect to both ends of the direction F 1 in the single module 2.

The compression rate of the elastic member 6 is a value obtained by dividing the thickness dimension of the compressed elastic member 6 by the thickness dimension of the elastic member 6 before compression. When the thickness dimension of the elastic member 6 before being compressed, that is, before being mounted on the thermoelectric generator 100 is constant in the direction F1, the smaller the thickness dimension of the elastic member 6 in the mounted state is, the smaller the compression rate is. Will be expensive. Therefore, when the thickness dimension of the elastic member 6 before mounting is constant in the direction F1, the thickness dimension of the elastic member 6 mounted on the thermoelectric generator 100 is relative to the central portion CL in FIG. The upstream side is smaller than the downstream side.

The first holding member 3 that contributes to the function of the compression ratio adjusting unit has a curved shape in which the surface of the first holding member 3 on the tube 7 side is convex on the side opposite to the tube 7 side. That is, the surface of the first holding member 3 on the tube 7 side has a curved surface shape that is recessed with respect to the tube 7. The tube 7 side surface of the first holding member 3 is in contact with the surface of the elastic member 6 on the first holding member 3 side, and the elastic member 6 is sandwiched between the outer surface of the thermoelectric generator 1 and the holding member side surface. Yes. The first holding member 3 only needs to have a curved shape in which at least the surface on the tube 7 side is convex on the side opposite to the tube 7 side. Moreover, the 1st holding member 3 may exhibit the curved shape from which the whole cross-sectional shape protrudes on the opposite side to the pipe | tube 7 side.

The outer surface of the thermoelectric generator 1 is constituted by a wall 10a on the first holding member 3 side in the case 10 in the example shown in FIG. The thermoelectric generator 1 that contributes to the function of the compression ratio adjuster has a curved shape in which the surface of the thermoelectric generator 1 on the first holding member 3 side is convex on the side opposite to the tube 7 side. That is, the surface of the thermoelectric generator 1 on the first holding member 3 side has a curved surface shape that is convex with respect to the tube 7. The surface of the thermoelectric generator 1 on the first holding member 3 side contacts the surface of the elastic member 6 on the tube 7 side, and sandwiches the elastic member 6 with the surface of the first holding member 3 on the tube 7 side. The wall 10a only needs to have a curved shape in which at least the surface on the first holding member 3 side is convex on the side opposite to the tube 7 side. The wall 10a may have a curved shape in which the overall cross-sectional shape is convex on the side opposite to the tube 7 side. The wall 10a may have a cross-sectional shape having the largest length or thickness dimension at the first top position TL1.

Thus, the thermoelectric generator 1 has a curved shape with a radius of curvature Rp in which the surface on the first holding member 3 side is convex on the side opposite to the tube 7 side. The position corresponding to the direction F1 with respect to the center position of the curvature radius Rp corresponds to the first top position TL1 shown in FIG. The first top position TL1 corresponds to a portion of the surface of the thermoelectric generator 1 on the first holding member 3 side that is farthest from the tube 7. The first top position TL1 corresponds to the top of the convex surface among the surfaces of the thermoelectric generator 1 on the first holding member 3 side.

The first holding member 3 has a curved shape with a radius of curvature Rc in which the surface on the tube 7 side is convex on the side opposite to the tube 7 side. The position corresponding to the direction F1 with respect to the center position of the curvature radius Rc corresponds to the second top position TL2 shown in FIG. The second top position TL2 corresponds to a portion of the first holding member 3 that is farthest from the tube 7 among the surfaces on the tube 7 side. The second top position TL2 corresponds to the top of the concave surface among the surfaces of the first holding member 3 on the tube 7 side. Further, the curvature radius Rc is set larger than the curvature radius Rp. As shown in FIG. 2, the first top position TL1 is located upstream of the second top position TL2 in the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid. Furthermore, the second top position TL2 is located upstream of the central portion CL of the thermoelectric generator 1 in the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid.

In addition, the elastic member 6 mounted on the thermoelectric generator 100 is a portion where the thickness dimension in the pressure direction or the compression direction is minimized in a state where the elastic member 6 is sandwiched between the thermoelectric generator 1 and the first holding member 3 and deformed. Is located upstream of the hot fluid flow. In other words, the thermoelectric generator 1 and the first holding member 3 compress the elastic member 6 while the distance between the thermoelectric generator 1 and the first holding member 3 is smaller on the upstream side than on the downstream side. is doing.

Further, when the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 are joined, the pressure applied to the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 in the direction indicated by the white arrow in FIG. Is set to be larger than the downstream side. According to this difference in the applied pressure, the compressibility of the elastic member 6 can be increased on the upstream side, and even if the high temperature side member is deformed during circulation in the high temperature fluid, the first holding member 3 and the thermoelectric generator on the upstream side This contributes to suppressing a decrease in contact surface pressure between the first and second members.

Next, operational effects brought about by the thermoelectric generator 100 of the first embodiment will be described. The thermoelectric generator 100 includes a pipe 7 through which a low-temperature fluid flows, a thermoelectric generator 1 having a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 20, a first holding member 3 that applies pressure to one side of the thermoelectric generator 1, and heat And an elastic member 6 having conductivity and elastic deformability and interposed between the thermoelectric generator 1 and the first holding member 3. The thermoelectric power generation apparatus 100 includes a compression rate adjustment unit that sets the compression rate of the elastic member 6 so that the compression rate of the elastic member 6 is larger in the upstream direction than the central portion CL of the thermoelectric generation unit 1 in the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid. Prepare.

According to this thermoelectric power generation apparatus 100, the elastic member 6 can be greatly compressed on the upstream side of the central portion CL of the thermoelectric generator 1 by providing the compression ratio adjusting unit. Thereby, the restoring force of the elastic member 6 acts more on the upstream side than on the downstream side, and between the high temperature side member including the elastic member 6 and the first holding member 3 and the thermoelectric conversion element 20 of the thermoelectric generator 1. The contact surface pressure formed on the upstream side can be higher on the upstream side than on the downstream side. Therefore, the effect of increasing the contact surface pressure on the upstream side can provide the thermoelectric power generation apparatus 100 that can suppress the contact surface pressure that tends to decrease on the upstream side due to thermal deformation of the high temperature side member. The thermoelectric generator 100 can improve the phenomenon in which the contact surface pressure related to the upstream thermoelectric conversion element 20 decreases and the contact surface pressure of the plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 20 varies in the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid. It can also contribute to suppressing the deterioration of the.

The compression rate adjusting unit is configured by a first holding member 3 and a thermoelectric generator 1 having the following configuration. The surface on the tube 7 side of the first holding member 3 and the surface on the first holding member 3 side of the thermoelectric generator 1 are curved shapes that are convex on the side opposite to the tube 7 side. The first top position TL1 that protrudes most on the surface of the thermoelectric generator 1 on the first holding member 3 side is second than the second top position TL2 that protrudes most on the surface of the first holding member 3 on the tube 7 side. Located upstream of the fluid flow direction. The curved curvature radius Rc of the first holding member 3 is set to be larger than the curved curvature radius Rp of the thermoelectric generator 1.

According to the compression ratio adjustment unit having such a configuration, the opposing surfaces of the first holding member 3 and the thermoelectric generator 1 are both curved so as to protrude toward the opposite side of the tube 7 side, and the thermoelectric generator 1 has a shape that warps more greatly than the first holding member 3. Further, since the first top position TL1 is located upstream of the second top position TL2 of the first holding member 3, the opposing surface between the thermoelectric generator 1 and the first holding member 3 is the first top position TL1. The compression force can be applied to the elastic member 6 in the state of being closest. Accordingly, since the contact surface pressure formed between the thermoelectric generator 1 and the first holding member 3 can be increased at the first top position TL1 on the upstream side, the contact surface pressure that tends to decrease on the upstream side can be suppressed. The thermoelectric generator 100 can be provided.

Furthermore, the second top position TL2 is located upstream of the central portion CL of the thermoelectric generator 1 in the flow direction of the second fluid. According to this configuration, since the opposing surfaces of the first holding member 3 and the thermoelectric generator 1 are closer to the upstream side than the downstream side, the elastic member 6 can be greatly deformed on the upstream side. Therefore, by increasing the contact surface pressure on the upstream side, it is possible to provide the thermoelectric generator 100 that can suppress the contact surface pressure that tends to decrease on the upstream side.

In a state where the elastic member 6 is sandwiched between the thermoelectric generator 1 and the first holding member 3 and deformed, the portion where the thickness dimension in the compression direction is minimum is located upstream in the flow direction of the second fluid. It is provided as follows. According to this configuration, the restoring force of the elastic member 6 can be made to act greatly on the upstream side. Therefore, it is possible to provide the thermoelectric generator 100 that has the effect of increasing the contact surface pressure on the upstream side and can suppress the contact surface pressure that tends to decrease on the upstream side.

The elastic member 6 is a member formed such that the maximum thickness portion is positioned upstream in the flow direction of the second fluid when not elastically deformed. Provided is a thermoelectric generator 100 that can increase the compression rate of the elastic member 6 on the upstream side by compressing the elastic member 6 having such a shape between the thermoelectric generator 1 and the first holding member 3 and compressing the elastic member 6. it can.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 3 as those in the first embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. The configuration, processing, operation, and effects not particularly described in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and different points will be described below.

The thermoelectric generator 200 of the second embodiment is different from the thermoelectric generator 100 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the thermoelectric generator 101. Inside the thermoelectric generator 101, a single module 2 having a predetermined number of thermoelectric conversion elements 20 as a lump is installed near the central portion CL.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The structure which attached | subjected the same code | symbol as drawing of 1st Embodiment in FIG. 4 is the same as that of 1st Embodiment. The configuration, processing, operation, and effects not particularly described in the third embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and different points will be described below.

The thermoelectric generator 300 of the third embodiment is different from the thermoelectric generator 100 of the first embodiment in a thermoelectric generator 201. Inside the thermoelectric generator 201, a plurality of modules 2 each including a predetermined number of thermoelectric conversion elements 20 are arranged side by side in the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid. In the thermoelectric generator 201, the length between both ends in the direction F1 in the plurality of modules 2 is shorter than that of the thermoelectric generator 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the range of elements contributing to thermoelectric generation is narrower in the direction F 1 in the thermoelectric generator 300 than in the thermoelectric generator 100.

(Fourth embodiment)
A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The structure which attached | subjected the same code | symbol as drawing of 1st Embodiment in FIG. 5 is the same as that of above-mentioned embodiment. The configuration, processing, operation, and effects not particularly described in the fourth embodiment are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and different points will be described below.

The thermoelectric generator 400 of the fourth embodiment differs from the thermoelectric generator 100 of the first embodiment in the compression ratio adjustment unit. The compression rate adjustment unit of the fourth embodiment is configured by a thermoelectric generator 301 in which the highest portion H1 having the maximum height in the compression direction is set on the upstream side of the central portion CL. The highest part H1 corresponds to the top of the convex curved surface among the surfaces of the thermoelectric generator 301 on the first holding member 103 side. Such a configuration related to the thermoelectric generator 301 is formed by the wall 110 a on the first holding member 103 side in the case 110. The wall 110a only needs to have a curved shape in which at least the surface on the first holding member 103 side is convex on the side opposite to the tube 7 side. Further, the wall 110a may have a curved shape in which the entire cross-sectional shape is convex on the side opposite to the tube 7 side. The wall 110a may have a cross-sectional shape in which the height direction length or thickness dimension is the largest at the highest portion H1.

It is preferable that the first holding member 103 has a constant thickness dimension in the direction F1 unlike the first holding member 3. The elastic member 6 is greatly deformed and compressed at a position corresponding to the highest part H1 of the thermoelectric generator 301 by being sandwiched between the first holding member 103 and the thermoelectric generator 301 having such a configuration and receiving a compressive force. The rate increases. Thereby, the reaction force of the elastic member 6 that pushes back the thermoelectric generator 301 is larger on the upstream side than on the downstream side. Therefore, it is possible to provide the thermoelectric generator 400 that increases the contact surface pressure between the first holding member 103 and the thermoelectric generator 301 at and around the highest portion H1. According to the thermoelectric generator 400, it is possible to improve the decrease in the contact surface pressure due to thermal deformation of the first holding member 103 and the like on the upstream side, and the plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 20 over the entire flow direction F1. And the contact surface pressure between the high temperature side member can be ensured.

(Fifth embodiment)
A fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment in FIG. 6 is the same as that in the above-described embodiment. The configuration, processing, operation, and effects not particularly described in the fifth embodiment are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and different points will be described below.

The thermoelectric power generation apparatus 500 according to the fifth embodiment is different from the thermoelectric power generation apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment in the compression ratio adjustment unit. The compression rate adjustment unit of the fifth embodiment is configured by a first holding member 203 in which a maximum portion H2 having a maximum height dimension in the compression direction is set upstream of the center portion CL.

The first holding member 203 is different from the first holding member 3 of the first embodiment in that the surface on the tube 7 side is a curved shape that protrudes toward the tube 7 side. That is, the surface of the first holding member 203 on the tube 7 side has a curved surface shape that protrudes so as to approach the tube 7. The tube 7 side surface of the first holding member 203 is in contact with the surface of the elastic member 6 on the first holding member 203 side, and the elastic member 6 is sandwiched between the outer surface of the thermoelectric generator 401 and the holding member side surface. Yes. The first holding member 203 only needs to have a curved shape in which at least the surface on the tube 7 side is convex toward the tube 7 side. Further, the first holding member 203 may have a curved shape in which the entire cross-sectional shape is convex toward the tube 7 side.

The case 210 constituting the outer surface of the thermoelectric generator 401 is different from the case 10 of the thermoelectric generator 1 in that the surface on the holding member side is not a curved surface but a flat surface. A wall 210a on the first holding member 203 side in the case 210 is formed with a constant thickness dimension in the direction F1.

In the curved shape surface on the tube 7 side of the first holding member 203, the position corresponding to the direction F1 with respect to the center position of the radius of curvature corresponds to the maximum portion H2 shown in FIG. The maximum portion H2 corresponds to the portion that is closest to the tube 7 among the surfaces of the first holding member 203 on the tube 7 side. The maximum portion H2 corresponds to the top of the convex surface among the surfaces of the first holding member 203 on the tube 7 side. As shown in FIG. 2, the maximum portion H 2 is located upstream of the central portion CL of the thermoelectric generator 401 in the high-temperature fluid flow direction.

The elastic member 6 is sandwiched between the first holding member 203 and the thermoelectric generator 401 having such a configuration and receives a compressive force, so that the elastic member 6 is largely deformed at a position corresponding to the maximum portion H2 to increase the compression rate. As a result, the reaction force of the elastic member 6 that pushes back the thermoelectric generator 401 is greater on the upstream side than on the downstream side. Therefore, it is possible to provide the thermoelectric generator 500 that increases the contact surface pressure between the first holding member 203 and the thermoelectric generator 401 at and around the maximum portion H2. According to the thermoelectric generator 500, the decrease in contact surface pressure due to thermal deformation of the first holding member 203 and the like can be improved on the upstream side, and the plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 20 are spread over the entire flow direction F1. And the contact surface pressure between the high temperature side member can be ensured.

(Other embodiments)
The disclosure of this specification is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. The disclosure encompasses the illustrated embodiments and variations by those skilled in the art based thereon. For example, the disclosure is not limited to the combination of components and elements shown in the embodiments, and various modifications can be made. The disclosure can be implemented in various combinations. The disclosure may have additional parts that can be added to the embodiments. The disclosure includes those in which the components and elements of the embodiment are omitted. The disclosure encompasses parts, element replacements, or combinations between one embodiment and another. The technical scope disclosed is not limited to the description of the embodiments. The technical scope disclosed is indicated by the description of the claims, and should be understood to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the description of the claims.

The above-described thermoelectric generator can be widely applied to devices mounted in addition to automobiles. For example, a thermoelectric generator is combined with an exhaust heat recovery device that uses a gas generated in an industrial or residential boiler as a high-temperature fluid, or a generator or electrical device that uses exhaust heat from a factory or an incinerator as a high-temperature fluid. It can be applied to a power supply device, a portable generator, etc.

The thermoelectric generator 100 is not limited to the configuration described in FIG. For example, the thermoelectric generator 100 may have a configuration in which a laminate formed by laminating the thermoelectric generator 1 and the tube 7 on one side of the tube 7 is integrally held by a holding member. That is, the thermoelectric generator 100 may be configured to hold the thermoelectric generator 1 integrally with the pipe 7 by the first holding member 3 only on one side of the pipe 7.

In the above-described embodiment, a thermoelectric power generation apparatus including one power generation unit is disclosed, but the thermoelectric power generation apparatus may be configured by stacking a plurality of power generation units. Also in this case, the high-temperature fluid is configured to flow in contact with the outer fins 5 positioned between the stacked power generation units.

In the first embodiment, the first holding member 3 is made smaller than the second holding member 4 and is assembled so that the first holding member 3 covers the second holding member 4. The second holding member 4 and the second holding member 4 may have the same size and may be combined and assembled alternately.

In the above-described embodiment, the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 are welded to seal the internal space surrounded by the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 from the outside. However, the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 may not be completely sealed, and may be coupled to such an extent that the high-temperature fluid does not adversely affect the thermoelectric generator 1 in the internal space. For example, the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4 may be coupled by spot welding at multiple points.

The module 2 of the above-described embodiment is not configured to be covered with a case, and is exposed to an internal space in which a large number of P-type semiconductor elements and N-type semiconductor elements are surrounded by the first holding member 3 and the second holding member 4. The structure provided in this way may be used. The case is not an essential component in the thermoelectric generator. In this case, it is preferable to seal the internal space with a cover or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the joint surface between the joint portion 3a of the first holding member 3 and the joint portion 4a of the second holding member 4 is flat, but has a saw-tooth shape that engages with each other and does not return backward. The structure which forms the uneven | corrugated shape which comprises these protrusion shape and labyrinth shape may be sufficient.

In the above-described embodiment, the flat tube 7 forming the first passage has a plurality of passages therein, but is not limited to such a form. Moreover, the external shape which is not flat shape may be sufficient as the pipe | tube 7, and the form provided with a fin inside may be sufficient.

In the above-described embodiment, each of the first holding member 3 and the outer fin 5 and each of the second holding member 4 and the outer fin 5 may be formed as a single member instead of a configuration in which the separate members are joined together. . *

The above-described thermoelectric power generator includes the pipe 7, the

thermoelectric generators

1, 101, 201, 301, 401, the holding

members

3, 103, 203, the elastic member 6, and the compression ratio adjusters TL1, TL2, H1, H2. And comprising. The first fluid flows through the tube 7. The

thermoelectric generators

1, 101, 201, 301, 401 have a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 20. The holding

members

3, 103, 203 apply pressure to one side of the thermoelectric generator so that the heat of the second fluid, which is higher in temperature than the first fluid, is transferred to one side of the thermoelectric generator, The tube and the other side of the thermoelectric generator are held in a state in which heat transfer is possible. The elastic member 6 has thermal conductivity and can be elastically deformed, and is interposed between the thermoelectric generator and the holding member. The compression rate adjusting portions TL1, TL2, H1, and H2 are set so that the compression rate of the elastic member is larger on the upstream side than the central portion CL of the thermoelectric generator in the flow direction of the second fluid with respect to the downstream side. To do.

According to this thermoelectric power generation device, the elastic member that can be elastically deformed on the upstream side of the central portion of the thermoelectric generator can be greatly compressed by the compression ratio adjusting unit. As a result, the restoring force of the elastic member acts more on the upstream side than on the downstream side, and the contact surface pressure between the high temperature side member including the elastic member deformed by the pressure from the holding member and the thermoelectric conversion element of the thermoelectric generator Can be higher on the upstream side than on the downstream side. Therefore, it is possible to provide a thermoelectric generator that can suppress a decrease in contact surface pressure between the high temperature side member and the thermoelectric conversion element on the upstream side of the high temperature fluid. Thereby, the phenomenon that the contact surface pressure related to the thermoelectric conversion element tends to decrease on the upstream side can be improved, and it can contribute to suppressing deterioration of the thermoelectric conversion element.

Although the present disclosure has been described based on the embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and structures. The present disclosure includes various modifications and modifications within the equivalent range. In addition, various combinations and forms, as well as other combinations and forms including only one element, more or less, are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

A pipe (7) through which the first fluid flows;
A thermoelectric generator (1, 101, 201, 301, 401) having a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements (20);
Pressure is applied to one side of the thermoelectric generator so that the heat of the second fluid, which is higher in temperature than the first fluid, is transferred to one side of the thermoelectric generator, and the pipe and the thermoelectric generator A holding member (3, 103, 203) for holding the other side of the part in a state in which heat transfer is possible;
An elastic member (6) having thermal conductivity and elastically deformable, interposed between the thermoelectric generator and the holding member;
A compression rate adjustment unit (TL1, TL1,) that sets the compression rate of the elastic member to be higher at the upstream side than the central portion (CL) of the thermoelectric generator in the flow direction of the second fluid relative to the downstream side. TL2, H1, H2)
A thermoelectric generator.
The compression rate adjustment unit
The tube-side surface of the holding member (3) and the surface of the thermoelectric generator (1, 101, 201) on the holding member side have a curved shape that protrudes on the opposite side of the tube side, The first top position (TL1) that protrudes most on the holding member side surface of the thermoelectric generator is more than the second top position (TL2) that protrudes most on the tube side surface of the holding member. The curved shape radius of curvature of the holding member is set to be larger than the radius of curvature of the curved shape of the thermoelectric generator. Thermoelectric generator.
The thermoelectric generator according to claim 2, wherein the second top position is located upstream of the central portion of the thermoelectric generator in the flow direction of the second fluid.
The elastic member is provided such that a portion where the thickness dimension in the compression direction is minimum is located on the upstream side of the central portion in a state where the elastic member is deformed by being sandwiched between the thermoelectric generator and the holding member. The thermoelectric power generator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
2. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, wherein the compression ratio adjusting unit is configured by the thermoelectric generator (301) in which a portion (H 1) having a maximum height in the compression direction is set on the upstream side. .
The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, wherein the compression rate adjusting unit is configured by the holding member (203) in which a portion (H2) having a maximum thickness dimension in the compression direction is set on the upstream side.
The member formed so that the maximum site | part of the thickness dimension in the state which is not elastically deforming may be located in the upstream of the flow direction of the said 2nd fluid is used for the said elastic member. The thermoelectric power generator according to any one of 6.