WO2020138288A1

WO2020138288A1 - Cooling and power generation device, and cooling and power generation system using said cooling and power generation device

Info

Publication number: WO2020138288A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/051116
Authority: WO
Inventors: 拓哉井手; 中嶋　英雄
Original assignee: 株式会社ロータスマテリアル研究所
Priority date: 2018-12-27
Filing date: 2019-12-26
Publication date: 2020-07-02
Also published as: JPWO2020138288A1

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a cooling and power generation device, the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of which is enhanced, the power generation ability of which is improved, and which can be used as a cooling device and also provide a cooling and power generation system using the cooling and power generation device. [Solution] The cooling and power generation device is provided with: a metal heat absorbing body 2 which has a touch surface touched to an object 9 to be cooled and to which the heat of the object to be cooled is transmitted via the touch surface; thermoelectric conversion elements 3A, 3B, the p-type and n-type of which are alternately projected side by side at intervals in a plural number on the outer surface of the heat absorbing body 2 and which have a plurality of through-holes 30 opening on the respective facing surfaces; electrode materials 41, 42 for electrically connecting the adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements to each other; and a flow path 5 for flowing a cooling fluid through the through-holes 30 of each of the thermoelectric conversion elements 3A, 3B. The cooling and power generation device yields a temperature gradient by cooling, by the cooling fluid, the thermoelectric conversion elements 3A, 3B to which heat is transmitted from the heat absorbing body 2 and functions as a cooler at the same time as generating power.

Description

Cooling/power generation device and cooling/power generation system using the cooling/power generation device

The present invention relates to a power generator that also functions as a cooling device and a system that uses the power generator.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as a power generator using thermoelectric conversion, a structure in which a p-type thermoelectric conversion element and an n-type thermoelectric conversion element are sandwiched between a low temperature side electrode and a high temperature side electrode is widely known (for example, patents Reference 1.). Such a thermoelectric conversion module is known as a power generation device utilizing the Seebeck effect in which a difference in temperature is applied to different parts to generate a potential difference between a high temperature part and a low temperature part.

However, in the field of such a conventional power generation device, in order to increase the thermoelectric conversion efficiency by giving a large temperature difference to both ends of the thermoelectric conversion element, the thermal conductivity of the material is lowered, and only a large temperature difference is given to both ends. It was getting attention.
Further, in the field of conventional cooling devices such as heat sinks, attention is paid only to heat dissipation, and waste heat is not effectively used.

JP, 2016-111326, A

Then, in view of the above-mentioned situation, the present invention is to solve the problems by increasing the thermoelectric conversion efficiency, improving the power generation capacity, and also the cooling and power generating device that can be used as a cooling device, and the cooling and power generating device. The point is to provide a cooling and power generation system.

The present invention includes the following inventions.
(1) A metal heat absorber having a contact surface for contacting an object to be cooled, through which heat of the object to be cooled is transferred, and p-type and n-type on the outer surface of the heat absorber. The mold and the plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements having a plurality of through-holes, which are provided alternately in a row with a space therebetween and each have a plurality of through-holes opening on the opposite surface, and an electrode material for electrically connecting the adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements to each other, respectively. A flow path for circulating a cooling fluid in the through-hole of the thermoelectric conversion element is provided, and a temperature gradient is imparted by cooling the thermoelectric conversion element to which heat is transferred from the heat absorber by the cooling fluid, and at the same time as power generation. A cooling and power generator that functions as a cooler.

(2) The electrode material projects from the first electrode material, which is provided inside or in the vicinity of the through-hole opening area facing each adjacent thermoelectric conversion element, and the heat absorber of each adjacent thermoelectric conversion element. (1) The cooling and power generation device according to (1), which comprises a second electrode material provided across the base end portion or in the vicinity thereof.

(3) A plurality of thermoelectric generators having the cooling and power generating device according to (1) or (2), a p-type and an n-type alternately arranged in parallel with each other, and having a plurality of through-holes each opening on a facing surface. A conversion element, an electrode material for electrically connecting the adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements to each other, and both opening surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion element where the through holes are opened, each of which has a through hole through which a first fluid passes. Area and a through hole that allows the second fluid having a temperature lower than that of the first fluid to pass therethrough are opened, or the through hole is not opened, and the second fluid flows along the surface thereof. A second region is set, the facing first regions of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements are connected to each other, and a first fluid is sequentially supplied to the first regions of the thermoelectric conversion elements. Of the adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements, and a second flow path that connects the facing second areas of the adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements and sequentially supplies the second fluid to the second areas of the thermoelectric conversion elements. A heat dissipation and power generation device, which is provided with a temperature gradient by discharging heat of the first fluid to the second fluid through the thermoelectric conversion element, and functions as a radiator of the first fluid at the same time as power generation. A cooling and power generation system comprising: a cooling fluid that has flowed out of the flow channel of the cooling and power generation device and that is guided to the first flow channel as the first fluid of the heat radiation and power generation device.

(4) A return channel for returning the fluid discharged from the first channel of the heat dissipation and power generation device to the channel as a cooling fluid of the cooling and power generation device, the exhaust heat flow channel and the return channel The cooling and power generation system according to (3), further including a pump for circulating a cooling fluid between the cooling and power generation device and the heat radiation and power generation device.

According to the cooling and power generating device according to the present invention as described above, heat exchange between the thermoelectric conversion element and the cooling fluid is performed in a large heat transfer area having a through hole, as compared with a conventional power generating device. Provide a highly efficient cooling and power generation device that not only improves the thermoelectric conversion efficiency but also efficiently removes heat from the cooling target and transfers it to the cooling fluid, and functions as a heat sink that efficiently cools the cooling target. can do.

Further, according to the cooling and power generation system of the present invention, the heat of the cooling object is efficiently discharged to the cooling fluid by the cooling and power generation device as described above, and the power is generated. The heat dissipation and power generation device through which the fluid passes dissipates the heat of the cooling fluid and generates power, and the thermoelectric conversion is performed twice for the cooling and power generation device and the heat dissipation and power generation device. , More electric energy can be recovered. Further, since the heat of the cooling fluid is radiated by the heat radiation and power generation device, it is possible to return the cooling fluid to the cooling and power generation device again and efficiently circulate it.

The perspective view which shows the cooling and electric power generating apparatus which concerns on representative embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the cooling and electric power generation system which concerns on representative embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a heat radiation and power generation device similarly used for the cooling and power generation system.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, based on FIG. 1, a cooling and power generation device according to a typical embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling and power generation device 1 of the present invention has a contact surface 20 that contacts the object 9 to be cooled, through which the heat of the object 9 to be cooled is transferred. And a plurality of through-holes 30 formed on the outer surface 21 of the heat-absorbing body 2, the p-type and the n-type being alternately projecting side by side at intervals. Of the

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A, 3B, the electrode material 4 for electrically connecting the adjacent

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A, 3B, and the flow path 5 for circulating the cooling fluid through the through holes 30 of the

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A, 3B. I have it.

Such a cooling and power generation device 1 cools the

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A and 3B to which heat is transferred from the heat absorber 2 by a cooling fluid passing through the flow path 5 to generate a temperature gradient, and at the same time as power generation. It functions as a cooler.

In the

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A and 3B, a p-type thermoelectric conversion element (3A) and an n-type thermoelectric conversion element (3B) are alternately arranged in parallel. As the material of the thermoelectric conversion elements 3A/3B, well-known materials that can be used as the p-type thermoelectric conversion element or the n-type thermoelectric conversion element can be widely applied.

The through holes 30 of each

thermoelectric conversion element

3A, 3B can be formed by a known method such as drilling or laser processing on a solid material of the thermoelectric conversion element, but the processing cost is high, It is not suitable for mass production because it requires a long processing time. The

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A and 3B of this example are formed by cutting a lotus-type porous thermoelectric material molded body having a plurality of pores extending in one direction, which is molded by a solidification method, in a direction intersecting the direction in which the pores extend. It is made of a porous material having through holes, and the through holes 30 are the pores divided by the cutting. By using the porous material cut out from the lotus-type porous thermoelectric material molded body as described above, the thermoelectric conversion elements 3A/3B having a large number of through holes 30 extending in one direction can be easily obtained at low cost.

Such a lotus type porous thermoelectric material molded body should be molded by a known method such as a high pressure gas method (Pressurized Gas Method) (for example, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3235813) or a thermal decomposition method (Thermal Decomposition Method). You can The thermoelectric conversion element 3A/3B made of a porous material cut out from a lotus-type porous thermoelectric material molded body also has a bottomed hole that does not penetrate other than the through hole 30, but such a bottomed hole is also opened. It has the effect of increasing the surface area of the surface, and has the effect of promoting heat transfer with the fluid.

The shape of the thermoelectric conversion elements 3A/3B is a flat plate shape in which the size of the length in the thickness direction in which the through hole 30 extends is relatively small in this example, but it may be configured in various other shapes. Of course it is good. For example, it is also a preferable example to make a three-dimensional shape in which the dimension of the through-hole extending in the thickness direction is relatively long.

Specifically, the flow path 5 is composed of a plurality of tubes 50 (tubular bodies) made of a heat insulating material provided between the facing regions R. Each tube 50 is provided with its end face joined to the opening face where the through hole 30 of the

thermoelectric conversion element

3A, 3B is opened. The tube 50 is a tube that allows a cooling fluid to flow inside. By using the tube 50 in this way, it becomes easy to form a flow path in an appropriate place of the thermoelectric conversion element made of a lotus-type porous thermoelectric material molded body in which pores are easily formed. Further, by using the tube 50 having a fixed cross-sectional area, the performance as designed can be stably obtained.

More specifically, the tube 50 is joined to the opening surface of each

thermoelectric conversion element

3A, 3B in a sealed state so that fluid does not leak inside or outside the tube. Reference numeral 51 is a seal portion of the joint portion. The seal portion may be brazed, or a known publicly known sealant suitable for the fluid can be used. For example, fluororubber, silicone rubber, nitrile rubber or the like can be used. These sealing agents can be applied to the end of the tube 50 and joined to the opening surface, or a sheet-shaped sealing material formed in advance in an annular shape can be provided so as to be sandwiched between the tube end and the opening surface. Good.

As the electrode material 4, the first electrode material 41 provided between the insides of the through hole opening regions R facing each other of the adjacent

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A and 3B, and the adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements 3A. The second electrode material 42 provided between the base end portions 31, which are the root portions protruding from the heat absorber 2 of 3B, are alternately provided between the

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A and 3B. The

electrode materials

41 and 42 are configured to electrically connect the n-type and p-type thermoelectric conversion elements in series, and to extract a large voltage.

Specifically, the base end portion 31 of each of the

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A and 3B receives the heat of the cooling target 9 through the heat absorber 2, and the cooling fluid having a temperature lower than the temperature of the heat is supplied to the flow path 5. By flowing, a temperature difference occurs in the direction from the base end 31 to the region R in each

thermoelectric conversion element

103A, 103B, and the voltage generated in each element by the Seebeck effect can be collectively taken out through the

electrode materials

41, 42. it can.

The electrode material 41 connects between the insides of the region R, but may connect near the region R. Similarly, the electrode material 42 may be connected in the vicinity of the base end portion 31. For example, in this example, the

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A and 3B are provided on the base end face of the base end portion 31 and are erected on the heat absorber 2 via the electrode material 42, but the base end face is directly attached to the heat absorber 2. The electrode material 42 may be connected to the opening surface or the side end surface near the base end portion 31 of each

thermoelectric conversion element

3A, 3B.

In addition, in the present embodiment, only one region having a through hole for allowing the cooling fluid to pass is set in each

thermoelectric conversion element

3A, 3B, and the cooling fluid flow path 5 is provided between the regions. The

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A and 3B may be provided with a plurality of the above regions, and a cooling fluid flow path (and an electrode material) may be provided between the regions.

Also, the flow path 5 may be formed of a plate-shaped partition wall or the like instead of the tube 50. For example, it is also preferable to enclose the upper half surface of the thermoelectric conversion element opposite to the base end portion with a partition wall to form a flow path. The through hole 30 may be provided only in the region R through which the flow path 5 passes or in the periphery thereof.

Next, a typical embodiment of the cooling and power generation system according to the present invention, which is a combination of the heat radiation and power generation device with the cooling and power generation device according to the present invention, will be described based on FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling and power generation system S of the present embodiment is further discharged from the flow channel 5 of the cooling and power generation device 1 with respect to the cooling and power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment described above. The system is a combination of a heat radiation and power generation device 101 that takes in a cooling fluid that has absorbed the heat of the cooling target 9 and further radiates the heat in the process of radiating the heat.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heat radiation and power generation device 101 includes a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements in which p-type and n-type are alternately arranged side by side with a plurality of holes and a plurality of through-holes 130 opening to the opposite surfaces. 103A, 103B, electrode material 104 for electrically connecting adjacent

thermoelectric conversion elements

103A, 103B to each other, and through-holes through which the first fluid passes through both opening surfaces of through-holes 130 in each thermoelectric conversion element 103. A first region R1 in which 130 is opened and a second region R2 in which a through hole 130 that allows passage of a second fluid having a temperature lower than that of the first fluid are opened are set, and adjacent thermoelectric elements are provided. The first flow paths 151, which connect the first regions R1 facing each other of the

conversion elements

103A and 103B and which sequentially supply the first fluid to the first regions R1 of the respective thermoelectric conversion elements, are adjacent to each other. The second flow path 152 is provided which connects the facing second regions R2 of the thermoelectric conversion element and sequentially supplies the second fluid to the second region R2 of each thermoelectric conversion element.

The heat dissipation and power generation device 101 gives a temperature gradient by discharging the heat of the first fluid to the second fluid through the

thermoelectric conversion elements

103A and 103B, and functions as a radiator of the first fluid at the same time as power generation. The second region may be a region where the through hole is not opened and the second fluid flows along the surface thereof.

The

thermoelectric conversion elements

103A and 103B have the p-type thermoelectric conversion elements (103A) and the n-type thermoelectric conversion elements (103B) alternately arranged in parallel, as the

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A and 3B of the cooling and power generation device 1, and are made of materials. The well-known material which can be used as a p-type thermoelectric conversion element or an n-type thermoelectric conversion element can be widely applied. The through-holes 130 can be formed in a solid material of the thermoelectric conversion element by a known method such as drilling or laser processing. However, like the

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A and 3B, the through-holes 130 are formed in one direction by the solidification method. The lotus-shaped porous thermoelectric material molded body having a plurality of elongated pores is made of a porous material obtained by cutting in a direction intersecting the direction in which the pores extend, and the through holes 130 are the pores divided by the cutting. is there.

Regarding the shape, in the same manner as the thermoelectric conversion elements 3A/3B, in this example, a flat plate shape in which the dimension of the length in the thickness direction in which the through hole 130 extends is relatively small is used, but various other shapes are also possible. Of course, it may be configured. For example, it is also a preferable example to make a three-dimensional shape in which the dimension of the through-hole extending in the thickness direction is relatively long.

The first flow path 151 is composed of a tube 50 (tubular body) made of a plurality of heat insulating materials provided between the facing first regions R1. Each tube 50 is provided with its end surface joined to the opening surface where the through hole 130 of each of the

thermoelectric conversion elements

103A and 103B is opened. The tube 50 is a tube that allows the first fluid to flow inside, but functions as a partition wall between the fluids that allow the second fluid to flow outside. By using the tube 50 in this way, it becomes easy to form a flow path in the vicinity of the center of the thermoelectric conversion element made of a lotus-type porous thermoelectric material molded body in which pores are easily formed. Further, by using the tube 50 having a fixed cross-sectional area, the performance as designed can be stably obtained.

The second flow path 152 is a low temperature heat bath surrounded by a wall surface of a container (not shown). It may be open to the atmosphere without the wall surface of the container. As described above, in this example, since the second flow path 152 serves as a heat bath, the second region R2 may not have the fluid passage hole. That is, the second region R2 may be a region in which the fluid passage hole is not opened and the second fluid flows along the surface thereof.

The electrode material 104 includes a first electrode material 143 provided between the insides of the facing first regions R1 of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements and a second region R2 of the adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements facing each other. The second electrode material 144 is provided inside or in the vicinity thereof, and the

electrode materials

143 and 144 are alternately provided. These

electrode materials

143 and 144 are configured so that n-type and p-type thermoelectric conversion elements are electrically connected in series and a large voltage can be taken out.

Specifically, the comparatively high temperature cooling fluid discharged from the cooling and power generation device 1 is caused to flow through the first flow path 151 as the first fluid, and each tube 50 forming the first flow path 151. By immersing the region R2 of each of the

thermoelectric conversion elements

103A and 103B in a low-temperature heat bath together with the

thermoelectric conversion elements

103A and 103B, the

thermoelectric conversion elements

103A and 103B face outward from the center (region R1) of the flow of the thermofluid. ), a temperature difference is generated in the direction perpendicular to the flow of the thermal fluid, and the voltage generated in each element by the Seebeck effect can be collectively extracted.

In this example, each thermoelectric conversion element 103A/103B is provided with one central region R1 and one peripheral second region R2, but there is no limitation to such an arrangement. Also, a plurality of both may be set. For example, it is possible to provide a plurality of first regions R1 to which the tubes are connected, and, for example, two or more second regions are set by dividing the second region into left and right in the first region R1. You can also do it.

Also, instead of the heat bath as the second flow path 152, a tube made of a heat insulating material like the first flow path 151 may be used. By configuring both

flow paths

151 and 152 with tubes in this way, it is easy to form the flow paths, and the performance as designed can be stably obtained. Furthermore, both flow

paths

151 and 152 can be obtained. A large gap is maintained between the tubes, that is, between the tubes, the heat insulation between the two is improved, and the thermoelectric conversion efficiency can be further improved.

In addition, a plate-shaped partition wall that divides the first region R1 and the second region R2 into left and right is provided between the thermoelectric conversion elements 103A/103B, and the flow that allows the first fluid to flow through these partition walls is a boundary. The channel 151 and the channel 152 for circulating the second fluid may be provided on the left and right.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cooling and power generation system S of the present embodiment returns the cooling fluid radiated by the heat radiation and power generation device 101 to the cooling and power generation device 1 again. Specifically, an exhaust heat flow passage 60 that guides the cooling fluid that has flowed out of the flow passage 5 of the cooling and power generation device 1 to the first flow passage 151 as the first fluid of the heat radiation and power generation device 101, and the heat radiation and power generation. A return flow passage 61 for returning the fluid flowing out of the first flow passage 151 of the device 101 to the flow passage 5 as a cooling fluid for the cooling and power generation device 1, and cooling through the exhaust heat flow passage 60 and the return flow passage 61. Further provided is a pump 62 that circulates a cooling fluid between the combined power generation device 1 and the heat dissipation combined power generation device 101. However, the return passage 61 and the pump 62 may be omitted and the cooling fluid may not be circulated.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and a separate heat sink fin for heat dissipation assistance other than the

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A and 3B is provided on the outer surface of the heat absorber 2. Such as those equipped with a cooler such as, for example,

thermoelectric conversion elements

3A, 3B followed by conventional heat sink fins further arranged in parallel to penetrate the flow path 5, and the like without departing from the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that various forms can be implemented in.

S Cooling/Power Generation System 1 Cooling/Power Generation Device 2

Heat Absorber

3A, 3B Thermoelectric Conversion Element 4 Electrode Material 5 Flow Path 9 Cooling Target 20 Contact Surface 21 Outer Surface 30 Through Hole 31

Base End

41, 42

Electrode Material

50, 52 , 53 tube 51 seal part 60 exhaust heat flow path 61 flow path 62 pump 101 heat dissipation and

power generation device

103A, 103B thermoelectric conversion element 104 electrode material 130 through hole 143 electrode material 144 electrode material 151 first flow path 152 second flow path R, R1, R2 area

Claims

A metal heat absorber having a contact surface for contacting the object to be cooled, through which heat of the object to be cooled is transferred,
A plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements having a plurality of through-holes, in which p-type and n-type are alternately arranged on the outer surface of the heat absorbing body and are alternately arranged at intervals, and each of which has a plurality of through-holes opening to the opposite surface;
An electrode material for electrically connecting the adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements to each other,
A flow path for circulating a cooling fluid in the through hole of each thermoelectric conversion element,
A cooling and power generation device that imparts a temperature gradient by cooling a thermoelectric conversion element to which heat is transferred from the heat absorber with a cooling fluid, and functions as a cooler at the same time as power generation.
The electrode material is provided so as to project on the first electrode material provided inside or in the vicinity of the through hole opening region facing each of the adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements and the heat absorber of each adjacent thermoelectric conversion element. The cooling and power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling and power generation device is composed of a second electrode material provided across the base end portion or the vicinity thereof.
A cooling and power generation device according to claim 1 or 2,
a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements in which p-type and n-type are alternately arranged side by side with a plurality of through-holes each opening on the opposite surface;
An electrode material for electrically connecting adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements to each other,
A first region having through holes through which the first fluid passes and a second fluid having a temperature lower than that of the first fluid, on both opening surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion elements where the through holes open. A second area through which the second fluid flows along the surface of the thermoelectric conversion element is set to face each other. A first flow path that connects the first regions to each other and sequentially supplies the first fluid to the first regions of each thermoelectric conversion element,
And a second flow path that connects the facing second regions of the adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements and that sequentially supplies a second fluid to the second regions of the thermoelectric conversion elements, A heat dissipation and power generation device that gives a temperature gradient by discharging the heat of the first fluid to the second fluid through the thermoelectric conversion element, and functions as a radiator of the first fluid at the same time as power generation,
An exhaust heat flow path for guiding the cooling fluid discharged from the flow path of the cooling and power generation device to the first flow path as the first fluid of the heat dissipation and power generation device;
Cooling and power generation system.
A return channel for returning the fluid discharged from the first channel of the heat dissipation and power generation device to the channel as a cooling fluid of the cooling and power generation device;
A pump that circulates a cooling fluid between the cooling and power generation device and the heat radiation and power generation device through the exhaust heat flow path and the return flow path,
The cooling and power generation system according to claim 3, further comprising: