WO2022097419A1 - Power generation element, control system, power generation device, electronic apparatus, and power generation method - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a power generation element, a control system, a power generation device, an electronic apparatus and a power generation method which are capable of improving power generation efficiency. [Solution] The present invention comprises at least one element 10, and a thermally conductive portion 20 provided in contact with a heat source 60 and the element 10 and electrically separated from the element 10. The element 10 includes a pair of electrodes 12a, 12b having different work functions, and an intermediate portion 14 provided between the pair of electrodes 12a, 12b and separated from the thermal conductive portion 20.

Description

Power generation elements, control systems, power generation devices, electronic devices and power generation methods

The present invention relates to a power generation element, a control system, a power generation device, an electronic device, and a power generation method that generate power by using heat generated from a heat source.

In recent years, the development of power generation elements that generate electrical energy using thermal energy has been actively carried out. In particular, regarding the generation of electric energy using the difference in the work function of the electrodes, for example, the thermoelectric element disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 has been proposed. Such a thermoelectric element is expected to be used for various purposes as compared with a configuration in which electric energy is generated by utilizing a temperature difference given to an electrode.

Patent Document 1 describes a power generation element that converts thermal energy into electrical energy, and has a first substrate having a first main surface and a first housing having a first electrode portion provided on the first main surface. A portion, a second substrate having a second main surface facing the first main surface in the first direction, and a work provided on the second main surface, separated from the first electrode portion, and different from the first electrode portion. A second housing portion having a second electrode portion having a function, a first electrode portion, and a work function of the first electrode portion and a work function of the second electrode portion provided between the second electrode portion and the second electrode portion. An intermediate portion containing nanoparticles having a work function between them, and a first main surface is a first separation surface that is in contact with a first electrode portion and is separated from a second housing portion, and a first separation surface. It has a first joint surface that is continuously provided, is separated from the first electrode portion, and is in contact with the second housing portion, and the second main surface is in contact with the second electrode portion and is in contact with the first housing portion. It has a second separation surface that is separated and a second joint surface that is continuously provided with the second separation surface, is separated from the second electrode portion, and is in contact with the first housing portion, and is viewed from the first direction. The intermediate portion is surrounded by the first joint surface and the second joint surface, and the first joint surface is a first substrate joint surface in contact with the second joint surface and a first electrode joint surface in contact with the second electrode portion. The power generation element having the second substrate joint surface in contact with the first substrate joint surface and the second electrode joint surface in contact with the first electrode portion is disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 2, in order to suppress the heat conduction of the Zeebeck power generation element, the electric and heat conduction paths of the element are made linear, or the electric and heat conduction paths of the element are provided with a constriction to generate heat. The first feature is to narrow the conduction path and cover the circumference of the element with a heat insulating material, and in order to increase the total amount of power generation, the Zeebeck power generation element in which multiple Zeebeck power generation elements are stacked and arranged in series by multi-layering is disclosed. Has been done.

Japanese Patent No. 6598339 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-182272

By the way, the temperature of the electrode is a factor that determines the amount of thermionic emissions. In order to maintain this temperature higher, it is required to raise the temperature of the entire power generation element provided with the electrodes. However, the power generation element is composed of a plurality of members including electrodes, and when the heat from the heat source is sequentially transferred to each member, a time difference occurs between the member near the heat source and the member far from the heat source until the temperature reaches the same. It ends up. That is, it takes a long time for the entire power generation element to reach a uniform temperature. Therefore, there is a concern that the power generation efficiency will decrease until the temperature of the entire power generation element becomes uniform. In this regard, the above-mentioned concerns are also raised in the disclosed techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2. Therefore, improvement in power generation efficiency has been required.

Therefore, the present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is a power generation element, a control system, a power generation device, an electronic device, and a power generation method capable of improving power generation efficiency. To provide.

The power generation element according to the first invention is a power generation element that generates power by utilizing heat generated from a heat source, and is provided in contact with at least one element, the heat source, and the element, and is electrically connected to the element. The element comprises a pair of electrodes having different work functions, and an intermediate portion provided between the pair of electrodes and separated from the heat conductive portion. And.

In the first invention, the power generation element according to the second invention includes a laminated body in which a plurality of the elements are laminated, the heat conductive portion is provided in contact with the side surface of the laminated body, and the heat conductive portion is laminated. It is characterized by including a heat conductive layer sandwiched between the pair of the elements.

In the first invention, the power generation element according to the third invention includes a pair of substrates provided with the pair of electrodes interposed therebetween, and the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion is the heat of the pair of substrates. It is characterized by having a higher conductivity.

The power generation element according to the fourth invention is provided in the first aspect in contact with the pair of substrates provided with the pair of electrodes interposed therebetween and the pair of substrates or the pair of electrodes. The heat conductive portion includes a support portion, and the heat conductive portion is provided in contact with the support portion, and the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion is higher than that of the support portion.

The power generation element according to the fifth invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the element is provided in contact with the heat source.

The power generation element according to the sixth invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion is higher than the thermal conductivity of at least one of the pair of electrodes.

In the first invention, the power generation element according to the seventh invention includes a laminated body including a first element in contact with the heat source and a second element laminated on the first element and separated from the heat source, and the heat is described. The conducting portion is characterized in that it is provided in contact with the side surfaces of the first element and the second element.

The power generation element according to the eighth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the power generation element is provided with a heat conductive portion and a heat insulating portion that are in contact with the heat source and covers the element.

The control system according to the ninth aspect of the invention is a control system for controlling the amount of heat released from the heat source based on the power generation element of the first invention, a measurement unit for measuring the amount of power generated by the power generation element, and the measurement results of the measurement unit. It is characterized by having a part and.

The power generation device according to the tenth invention is characterized by including the power generation element of the first invention and a pair of wirings electrically connected to the pair of electrodes.

The electronic device according to the eleventh invention is characterized by including the power generation element of the first invention and an electronic component that can be driven by using the power generation element as a power source.

The power generation method according to the twelfth invention is characterized in that the power generation element of the first invention uses the heat generated from the heat source to generate power.

According to the first to eighth inventions, the heat conductive portion is provided in contact with the heat source and the element. Therefore, the heat from the heat source is easily transferred to each member of the power generation element via the heat conductive portion, and the time until the member near the heat source and the member far from the heat source reach the same temperature can be shortened. .. This makes it possible to improve the power generation efficiency.

In particular, according to the second invention, the heat conductive portion is provided in contact with the side surface of the laminated body. Therefore, the heat from the heat source can be easily transferred to the entire laminated body via the heat conductive portion. As a result, even when a plurality of elements having different distances from the heat source are used, the temperature difference between the elements can be suppressed, and the power generation efficiency can be further improved. Further, the heat conductive portion includes a heat conductive layer sandwiched between a pair of laminated elements. Therefore, the heat from the heat source is easily transferred between the pair of elements via the heat conductive portion and the heat conductive layer. This makes it possible to further improve the power generation efficiency of the power generation element.

In particular, according to the third invention, the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion is higher than the thermal conductivity of the pair of substrates. Therefore, it becomes difficult for heat to be released from the pair of substrates to the heat conductive portion side. This makes it possible to further improve the power generation efficiency.

In particular, according to the fourth invention, the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion is higher than the thermal conductivity of the support portion. Therefore, it becomes difficult for heat to be released from the support portion to the heat conduction portion side. This makes it possible to further improve the power generation efficiency. Further, the heat conductive portion is provided in contact with the support portion. Therefore, the heat from the heat source is easily transferred to the electrodes via the support portion. This makes it possible to further improve the power generation efficiency.

In particular, according to the fifth invention, the element is provided in contact with the heat source. Therefore, heat is transferred to the element from the surface in contact with the heat conductive portion and the surface in contact with the heat source. This makes it possible to increase the amount of heat transferred to the element.

In particular, according to the sixth invention, the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion is higher than the thermal conductivity of at least one of the pair of electrodes. Therefore, it becomes difficult for heat to be released from the electrode to the heat conductive portion side. This makes it possible to further improve the power generation efficiency.

In particular, according to the seventh invention, the heat conductive portion is provided in contact with the side surfaces of the first element and the second element. Therefore, it is possible to easily transfer the heat from the heat source to the second element separated from the heat source. This makes it possible to further improve the power generation efficiency of the power generation element.

In particular, according to the eighth invention, the heat insulating portion is in contact with the heat source and covers the heat conductive portion and the element. Therefore, after the heat from the heat source is transferred to the inside of the element, it is difficult to be discharged from the inside of the element to the outside. This makes it possible to further improve the power generation efficiency.

According to the ninth invention, the control system includes the power generation elements of the first to eighth inventions, a measuring unit for measuring the power generation amount of the power generation element, and a heat amount released from the heat source based on the measurement results of the measurement unit. It is provided with a control unit for controlling the above. Therefore, it is possible to control the amount of heat released from the heat source according to the amount of power generated by the power generation element. This makes it possible to easily realize control suitable for the state of the heat source.

According to the tenth invention, it is possible to realize a power generation device having improved power generation efficiency.

According to the eleventh invention, it is possible to realize an electronic device with improved power generation efficiency.

According to the twelfth invention, it is possible to realize a power generation method using a power generation element having improved power generation efficiency.

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a power generation element and a power generation device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a schematic plan view of the power generation element and the power generation device. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the intermediate portion. FIG. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a first modification of the power generation element in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a schematic cross section showing a second modification of the power generation element in the first embodiment. It is a figure. FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the power generation element in the second embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a first modification of the power generation element in the second embodiment. .. FIG. 5A is a block diagram showing an example of the control system according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a block diagram showing a first modification of the control system according to the third embodiment. 6 (a) to 6 (d) are schematic block diagrams showing an example of an electronic device provided with a power generation element, and FIGS. 6 (e) to 6 (h) show a power generation device including the power generation element. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the example of the electronic device provided.

Hereinafter, examples of each of the power generation element, the control system, the power generation device, the electronic device, and the power generation method as the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the height direction of the power generation element is defined as the first direction Z, the plane direction intersecting with the first direction Z, for example, one orthogonal plane direction is defined as the second direction X, and the first direction Z and the second direction X are defined. Another plane direction that intersects with each other, for example, is orthogonal to each other, is referred to as a third direction Y. Further, the configurations in each figure are schematically described for the sake of explanation, and for example, the size of each configuration, the comparison of the sizes in each configuration, and the like may be different from those in the figure.

(First Embodiment)
1 (a) is a schematic view showing an example of a power generation element 1 and a power generation device 100 in the first embodiment, and FIG. 1 (b) is a schematic plan view of FIG. 1 (a). As shown in FIG. 1A, the power generation device 100 includes a power generation element 1, a first wiring 101, and a second wiring 102. The power generation element 1 converts thermal energy into electrical energy. The power generation device 100 provided with such a power generation element 1 is mounted or installed on the heat source 60, for example, and the electric energy generated by the power generation element 1 based on the heat energy of the heat source 60 is used in the first wiring 101 and the first wiring 101. 2 Output to the load R via the wiring 102. The load R indicates an electrical device including, for example, a rechargeable battery. One end of the load R is electrically connected to the first wiring 101, and the other end is electrically connected to the second wiring 102. The load R is driven by using the power generation device 100 as a main power source or an auxiliary power source.

The heat source 60 includes, for example, an electronic device or electronic component such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode), an engine such as an automobile, a factory production facility, a human body, sunlight, and an environmental temperature. Etc. can be used. For example, electronic devices, electronic components, light emitting elements, engines, production equipment, and the like are artificial heat sources. The human body, sunlight, environmental temperature, etc. are natural heat sources. The power generation device 100 provided with the power generation element 1 can be provided inside a mobile device such as an IoT (Internet of Things) device and a wearable device, or a self-standing sensor terminal, and can be used as a substitute for or an auxiliary of a battery. Further, the power generation device 100 can also be applied to a larger power generation device such as solar power generation.

<Power generation element 1>
The power generation element 1 generates power by using the heat generated from the heat source 60. The power generation element 1 can be provided not only in the power generation device 100 but also in the side surface of the heat exhaust pipe in the factory, the inside of the mobile device, or the like. In this case, the power generation element 1 itself becomes a substitute part or an auxiliary part of the battery such as the mobile device or the self-supporting sensor terminal. The power generation element 1 may be used in a battery of an electric vehicle or an electrical system device.

The power generation element 1 includes at least one element 10 and a heat conductive portion 20. The element 10 includes a pair of electrode portions 12 and an intermediate portion 14. The element 10 may include a pair of substrates 11 and a support portion 13.

<Board 11>
The substrate 11 has a first substrate 11a and a second substrate 11b. The pair of first substrates 11a and the second substrate 11b are provided with the pair of electrode portions 12 interposed therebetween. The first substrate 11a has a first main surface 11af and a first laminated surface 11as that intersect with the first direction Z. The first main surface 11af is located on the second substrate 11b side of the first substrate 11a. The second substrate 11b has a second main surface 11bf and a second laminated surface 11bs that intersect the first direction Z. The second main surface 11bf is located on the first substrate 11a side of the second substrate 11b. In the following description, the second substrate 11b is located below the first substrate 11a in the first direction Z, that is, the first substrate 11a is arranged farther from the heat source 60 than the second substrate 11b. I will be there.

As the material of the substrate 11, a plate-shaped material having an insulating property can be selected. Examples of the insulating material include silicon, quartz, glass such as Pyrex (registered trademark), and an insulating resin. The substrate 11 may be made of a conductive metal material such as stainless steel (SUS), tungsten, or aluminum, a conductive semiconductor such as Si or GaN, or a carbon-based material or a conductive polymer material. good. The shape of the substrate 11 may be square, rectangular, or other disc-shaped. Further, the substrate 11 may have a structure in which an insulating material, a semiconductor material, and a metal material are mixed. When the substrate 11 has conductivity, the substrate 11 can be electrically separated from the heat conductive portion 20 to prevent conduction from the element 10 to the heat source 60.

The substrate 11 is a semiconductor, and may have a degenerate portion and a non-degenerate portion provided on at least one of the first main surface 11af and the second main surface 11bf. Therefore, the contact resistance between the first electrode portion 12a and the like and other configurations such as wiring can be reduced. This makes it possible to suppress an increase in the resistance of the entire power generation element 1.

<1st electrode portion 12a, 2nd electrode portion 12b>
The electrode portion 12 has a pair of first electrode portions 12a and second electrode portions 12b having different work functions. The first electrode portion 12a is provided in contact with the first main surface 11af. The first electrode portion 12a is separated from the second substrate 11b. The second electrode portion 12b is provided in contact with the second main surface 11bf. The second electrode portion 12b faces the first substrate 11a and the first electrode portion 12a apart from each other. The second electrode portion 12b has a work function different from that of the first electrode portion 12a.

The first electrode portion 12a is electrically connected to the second wiring 102 via, for example, a wiring (not shown) inserted through the first substrate 11a. The second electrode portion 12b is electrically connected to the first wiring 101 via, for example, a wiring inserted through a second substrate 11b (not shown). Further, the wiring arrangement location and the like (not shown) are arbitrary.

In the power generation element 1, thermions are emitted from the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b. The power generation element 1 utilizes thermionic emission from the first electrode portion 12a or the second electrode portion 12b having a work function difference, and the higher the absolute temperature, the greater the amount of electrons.

The material of the first electrode portion 12a and the material of the second electrode portion 12b can be selected from, for example, the metals shown below.
Platinum (Pt)
Tungsten (W)
Aluminum (Al)
Titanium (Ti)
Niobium (Nb)
Molybdenum (Mo)
Tantalum (Ta)
Rhenium (Re)
In the power generation element 1, it is sufficient that a work function difference occurs between the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b. Therefore, it is possible to select a metal other than the above as the material of the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b. As the material of the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b, in addition to the metal, an alloy, an intermetallic compound, and a metal compound can be selected. A metallic compound is a combination of a metallic element and a non-metallic element. Examples of such metal compounds include, for example, lanthanum hexaboride (LaB ₆ ).

<Support part 13>
The support portion 13 is provided in contact with the pair of substrates, the first substrate 11a and the second substrate 11b, or the pair of electrodes, the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b. The support portion 13 is connected to, for example, the first main surface 11af and the second main surface 11bf. Although the support portion 13 is in contact with the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b in the second direction X, for example, the support portion 13 may be separated from the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b.

The support portion 13 may be a partially oxidized substrate 11. Specifically, a part of the silicon oxide film formed by oxidizing the substrate 11 made of silicon may be used as the support portion 13. In this case, the height of the support portion 13 can be controlled with high accuracy and the size of the gap G between the electrodes can be set with high accuracy as compared with the case where the support portion 13 is newly formed. This makes it possible to stabilize the power generation efficiency.

As the material of the support portion 13, a material having an insulating property can be selected. Examples of the insulating material include silicon, a silicon oxide film, glass such as quartz, and an insulating resin. In addition to the above, the support portion 13 may be in the form of a flexible film, for example, and PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PC (polycarbonate), polyimide, or the like can be used.

<Middle part 14>
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the intermediate portion 14. As shown in FIG. 1A, the intermediate portion 14 is provided between the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b, and is separated from the heat conduction portion 20. The intermediate portion 14 includes nanoparticles 141 having a work function between the work function of the first electrode portion 12a and the work function of the second electrode portion 12b.

A gap G between electrodes is set between the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b along the first direction Z. In the power generation element 1, the gap G between the electrodes is set by the thickness of the support portion 13 along the first direction Z. An example of the width of the gap G between electrodes is, for example, a finite value of 10 μm or less. The narrower the width of the gap G between the electrodes, the higher the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1. Further, the narrower the width of the gap G between the electrodes is, the thinner the thickness of the power generation element 1 along the first direction Z can be. Therefore, for example, the width of the gap G between the electrodes should be narrow. The width of the gap G between the electrodes is more preferably, for example, 10 nm or more and 1 μm or less. The width of the gap G between the electrodes and the thickness of the support portion 13 along the first direction Z are substantially equivalent.

The intermediate portion 14 contains, for example, a plurality of nanoparticles 141 and a solvent 142. The plurality of nanoparticles 141 are dispersed in the solvent 142. The intermediate portion 14 is obtained, for example, by filling the gap portion 140 with a solvent 142 in which nanoparticles 141 are dispersed. The particle size of the nanoparticles 141 is smaller than the gap G between the electrodes. The particle diameter of the nanoparticles 141 is, for example, a finite value of 1/5 or less of the gap G between electrodes. When the particle diameter of the nanoparticles 141 is set to 1/5 or less of the gap G between the electrodes, it becomes easy to form the intermediate portion 14 including the nanoparticles 141 in the gap portion 140. As a result, workability is improved in the production of the power generation element 1.

The nanoparticles 141 contain, for example, a conductive material. The value of the work function of the nanoparticles 141 is, for example, between the value of the work function of the first electrode portion 12a and the value of the work function of the second electrode portion 12b, but the value of the work function of the first electrode portion 12a. It does not have to be between the value and the value of the work function of the second electrode portion 12b. For example, the value of the work function of the nanoparticles 141 is in the range of 3.0 eV or more and 5.5 eV or less. This makes it possible to further increase the amount of electrical energy generated as compared with the case where the nanoparticles 141 are not present in the intermediate portion 14.

As an example of the material of nanoparticles 141, at least one of gold or an alloy of gold can be selected. As the material of the nanoparticles 141, it is also possible to select a conductive material other than gold and silver.

The particle size of the nanoparticles 141 is, for example, 2 nm or more and 10 nm or less. Further, the nanoparticles 141 may have, for example, an average particle size (for example, D50) of 3 nm or more and 8 nm or less. The average particle size can be measured, for example, by using a particle size distribution measuring instrument. As the particle size distribution measuring instrument, for example, a particle size distribution measuring instrument using a laser diffraction / scattering method (for example, Nanotrac Wave II-EX150 manufactured by Microtrac BEL) may be used.

The nanoparticles 141 have, for example, an insulating film 141a on the surface thereof. As an example of the material of the insulating film 141a, at least one of an insulating metal compound and an insulating organic compound can be selected. Examples of the insulating metal compound include silicon oxide and alumina. Examples of the insulating organic compound include alkanethiol (for example, dodecanethiol) and the like. The thickness of the insulating film 141a is, for example, a finite value of 20 nm or less. When such an insulating film 141a is provided on the surface of the nanoparticles 141, the electrons e are, for example, between the first electrode portion 12a and the nanoparticles 141, and between the nanoparticles 141 and the second electrode portion 12b. Can be moved using the tunnel effect and hopping conduction. Therefore, for example, improvement in the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be expected.

For the solvent 142, for example, a liquid having a boiling point of 60 ° C. or higher can be used. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the vaporization of the solvent 142 even when the power generation element 1 is used in an environment of room temperature (for example, 15 ° C. to 35 ° C.) or higher. As a result, deterioration of the power generation element 1 due to the vaporization of the solvent 142 can be suppressed. As an example of the liquid, at least one of an organic solvent and water can be selected. Examples of the organic solvent include methanol, ethanol, toluene, xylene, tetradecane, alkanethiol and the like. The solvent 142 is preferably a liquid having a high electrical resistance value and an insulating property.

The intermediate portion 14 may contain only the nanoparticles 141 without containing the solvent 142. Since the intermediate portion 14 contains only the nanoparticles 141, for example, even when the power generation element 1 is used in a high temperature environment, it is not necessary to consider the vaporization of the solvent 142. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the power generation element 1 in a high temperature environment. Further, the intermediate portion 14 may include an insulator supporting the nanoparticles 141 instead of the solvent 142, for example.

<Heat conduction part 20>
As shown in FIG. 1A, the heat conductive portion 20 is provided in contact with the heat source 60 and the element 10, and is electrically separated from the element 10. The heat conductive portion 20 is, for example, a plate-shaped member arranged on the heat source 60 and extending in the first direction Z and the second direction X.

The height of the heat conductive portion 20 (height in the first direction Z) may be, for example, equal to or less than the height of the second substrate 11b. That is, at least a part of the surface of the second substrate 11b extending in the first direction Z may be in contact with the heat conductive portion 20. In this case, the heat from the heat source 60 is transferred to the second substrate 11b via the heat conductive portion 20. That is, heat is transferred to the second substrate 11b from the surface in contact with the heat conductive portion 20 in addition to the surface in contact with the heat source 60. Therefore, the amount of heat transferred to the element 10 can be increased as compared with the case where the heat conductive portion 20 is not provided. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be improved.

The height of the heat conductive portion 20 may be higher than, for example, the height of the second substrate 11b, and may be lower than the height of the first substrate 11a. That is, at least a part of the surface of the first substrate 11a extending in the first direction Z may be in contact with the heat conductive portion 20. In this case, the heat conductive portion 20 is in contact with the first substrate 11a and the second substrate 11b, and the heat from the heat source 60 is transferred to the first substrate 11a and the second substrate 11b via the heat conductive portion 20. Therefore, the contact area between the heat conductive portion 20 and the element 10 is larger than that in the case where the heat conductive portion 20 is in contact with only the second substrate 11b. Further, the heat generated from the heat source 60 can be easily transferred to the member separated from the heat source 60. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be further improved.

The heat conductive portion 20 may be provided beyond the first substrate 11a in the first direction Z. That is, the heat conductive portion 20 may be in contact with the entire first direction Z. Therefore, the heat from the heat source 60 is sequentially transferred to the second substrate 11b and the first substrate 11a via the heat conductive portion 20. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be further improved.

Note that only one side of the element 10 may be in contact with the heat conductive portion 20, and as shown in FIG. 1A, both sides of the element 10 may be in contact with the heat conductive portion 20. When a plurality of heat conductive portions 20 are provided, the height of each heat conductive portion 20 may be different. Further, the heat conductive portion 20 may be in contact with the entire periphery of the element 10, or may be arranged in contact with the element 10 so as to cover the first laminated surface 11as. As the contact area between the element 10 and the heat conductive portion 20 increases, the heat from the heat source 60 is more likely to be transferred to the element 10, so that the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be further improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), a part of the element 10 (board 11) may be in contact with the heat conductive portion 20 along the third direction Y, and the entire element 10 (board 11) may be in contact with the third. It may be in contact with the heat conductive portion 20 along the direction Y. In order to improve the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1, it is desirable that the contact area between the heat conductive portion 20 and the element 10 is large, and therefore it is desirable that the length of the heat conductive portion 20 is equal to or larger than the width of the element 10.

The heat conductive portion 20 may be provided in contact with the support portion 13, for example. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1A, the heat conductive portion 20 is arranged so as to be in contact with the entire outer surface of the support portion 13. When the heat conductive portion 20 is in contact with the support portion 13, the heat from the heat source 60 is efficiently transferred to the support portion 13, so that the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be improved.

The thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion 20 may be higher than the thermal conductivity of the substrate 11. For example, when the material of the substrate 11 is stainless steel (SUS), copper having a higher thermal conductivity than the substrate 11 is used for the heat conductive portion 20, and the heat conductive portion 20 is relative to the substrate 11. Also, a material having high thermal conductivity may be used. As a result, the heat transferred from the heat source 60 to the power generation element 1 is less likely to be released to the outside, and the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be improved.

The thermal conductivity of the heat conductive section 20 may be higher than that of the support section 13 so that the heat transferred from the heat source 60 to the power generation element 1 is less likely to be released to the outside. Further, the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion 20 may be higher than the thermal conductivity of at least one of the pair of first electrode portions 12a and the second electrode portion 12b.

The heat conductive portion 20 has conductivity and is made of, for example, a metal material. The heat conductive portion 20 is not limited to the metal material, and may be made of any material as long as it has a high conductivity. Specifically, it is desirable that the material having high conductivity has a thermal conductivity of 10 W / (m · k) or more measured in accordance with ASTM E1530. The material having high conductivity may be, for example, a metal material such as gold, silver, copper, or aluminum, and is preferably made of copper or aluminum.

FIG. 3A shows a first modification of the power generation element 1 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3A, when the element 10 is arranged in the heat source 60 so that the substrate 11 extends in the first direction Z, the substrate 11 is attached to the pair of heat conductive portions 20 from both sides in the second direction X. You may touch it while being sandwiched. That is, the heat conductive portion 20 is in contact with the first substrate 11a and the second substrate 11b in a state where the element 10 is rotated 90 degrees from the state shown in FIG. 1A and the substrate 11 is erected with respect to the heat source 60. May be good. In this case, the heat conductive portion 20 is arranged so as to be in contact with at least a part of the first laminated surface 11as and the second laminated surface 11bs. The heat conductive portion 20 may be provided so as to be in contact with the entire first laminated surface 11as and the second laminated surface 11bs, or may be provided so as to be in contact with the entire element 10. In this case, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be further improved as compared with the case where the heat conductive portion 20 is in contact with at least a part of the first laminated surface 11as and the second laminated surface 11bs. A plurality of elements 10 in a state where the substrate 11 is erected may be arranged on the heat source 60.

FIG. 3B shows a second modification of the power generation element 1 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3B, the power generation element 1 includes a laminated body 30 in which a plurality of elements 10 are laminated, and the heat conductive portion 20 may be provided in contact with the side surface of the laminated body 30. The heat source 60 is provided with a laminated body 30 and heat conductive portions 20 on both sides thereof. The heat generated from the heat source 60 is sequentially transferred to each element 10 via the heat conductive portion 20. As a result, when a plurality of elements 10 are stacked, the heat generated from the heat source 60 can be efficiently transferred to the elements 10 arranged apart from the heat source 60. The heat conductive portion 20 may be provided in contact with the entire laminated body 30.

A heat conductive layer 21 may be provided between the stacked 10s. FIG. 3B shows an example in which the heat conductive layer 21 is provided between the element 10 located at the uppermost portion and the element 10 located below the element 10 of the laminated body 30. The heat conductive layer 21 is provided in contact with the heat conductive portion 20 in the second direction X. This is to ensure that the heat from the heat source 60 is transferred to the heat conductive layer 21 via the heat conductive portion 20. The heat conductive layer 21 may be provided between the elements 10.

<Operation of power generation element 1>
When thermal energy is applied to the power generation element 1, a current is generated between the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b, and the thermal energy is converted into electrical energy. The amount of current generated between the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b depends on the thermal energy, and the difference between the work function of the first electrode portion 12a and the work function of the second electrode portion 12b. It depends on the temperature of the element 10.

The amount of current generated is increased, for example, by increasing the work function difference between the first electrode portion 12a and the second electrode portion 12b, reducing the gap between the electrodes, increasing the absolute temperature of the element 10, and the like. be able to.

According to this embodiment, the heat conductive portion 20 is provided in contact with the heat source 60 and the element 10. Therefore, the heat from the heat source 60 is likely to be sequentially transferred to the plurality of members constituting the power generation element 1 via the heat conductive portion 20, and the time until the member near the heat source 60 and the member far from the heat source 60 reach the same temperature. Can be shortened. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the heat conductive portion 20 is provided in contact with the side surface of the laminated body 30. Therefore, the heat from the heat source 60 can be easily transferred to the entire laminated body 30 via the heat conductive portion 20. As a result, even when a plurality of elements 10 having different distances from the heat source 60 are used, the temperature difference between the elements 10 can be suppressed, and the power generation efficiency can be further improved. Further, the heat conductive portion 20 includes a heat conductive layer 21 sandwiched between a pair of laminated elements 10. Therefore, the heat from the heat source 60 is easily transferred between the pair of elements 10 via the heat conductive portion 20 and the heat conductive layer 21. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be further improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion 20 is higher than the thermal conductivity of the pair of substrates 11. Therefore, it becomes difficult for heat to be released from the pair of substrates 11 to the heat conductive portion 20 side. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be further improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion 20 is higher than the thermal conductivity of the support portion 13. Therefore, it becomes difficult for heat to be released from the support portion 13 to the heat conduction portion 20 side. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be further improved. Further, the heat conductive portion 20 is provided in contact with the support portion 13. Therefore, the heat from the heat source 60 is easily transferred to the electrode portion 12 via the support portion 13. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be further improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the element 10 is provided in contact with the heat source 60. Therefore, heat is transferred to the element 10 from the surface in contact with the heat conductive portion 20 and the surface in contact with the heat source 60. This makes it possible to increase the amount of heat transferred to the element 10.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion 20 is higher than the thermal conductivity of at least one of the pair of electrode portions 12 (first electrode portion 12a and second electrode portion 12b). Therefore, it becomes difficult for heat to be released from the pair of electrodes to the heat conductive portion 20 side. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be further improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the heat conductive portion 20 is provided in contact with the side surfaces of the first element 10 and the second element 10. Therefore, the heat from the heat source 60 can be easily transferred to the second element 10 separated from the heat source 60. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be further improved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the power generation element 1 in the second embodiment will be described. The difference from the first embodiment described above is that the element 10 is provided with the heat insulating portion 40, and other points are common. Therefore, in the following description, the points different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the common parts will be designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the power generation element 1 in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4A, the entire element 10 is covered with the heat insulating portion 40. That is, the heat insulating portion 40 is in contact with the heat source 60 and covers the heat conductive portion 20 and the element 10. The shape of the heat insulating portion 40 may be any shape as long as it can cover the element 10. The element 10 may have a range in which a part thereof is not covered by the heat insulating portion 40. The larger the area of the heat insulating portion 40 covering the element 10, the more difficult it is for the heat transferred from the heat source 60 to the element 10 to be released to the outside, so that the heat insulating effect is improved and the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 is improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the heat insulating portion 40 may cover the laminated body 30 and the heat conductive portion 20 provided in contact with the side surface thereof. That is, the heat insulating portion 40 may be in contact with the heat source 60 and may cover the heat conductive portion 20 and the laminated body 30 in which the plurality of elements 10 are laminated. The heat conductive layer 21 may be arranged between the elements 10.

The heat insulating portion 40 has a heat insulating property (insulating property) and is made of, for example, a resin. The heat insulating portion 40 is not limited to these, and may be made of any material as long as it has a low thermal conductivity. The material having a low thermal conductivity is preferably a material having a thermal conductivity of 10 W / (m · k) or less measured in accordance with ASTM E1530. The material having a low thermal conductivity may be, for example, ceramic, tile, pottery, etc., and is preferably composed of a resin material such as polyurethane, polyimide, styrene, vinyl chloride, glass, and air. Further, the heat insulating portion 40 may be composed of a plurality of layers of members made of different materials.

According to the present embodiment, the heat insulating portion 40 is in contact with the heat source 60 and covers the heat conductive portion 20 and the element 10. Therefore, the heat from the heat source 60 is easily transferred between the pair of elements 10 via the heat conductive portion 20 and the heat conductive layer 21. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the power generation element 1 can be further improved.

(Third Embodiment)
5A is a block diagram showing an example of a control system according to a third embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the control system 70 in 3rd Embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5A, the control system 70 includes a power generation element 1, a measurement unit 71, and a control unit 72, and the control system 70 is connected to a heat source 60.

The measurement unit 71 measures the amount of power generated by the power generation element 1, and outputs information on the amount of power generation, which is the measurement result, to the control unit 72. The measuring unit 71 periodically measures the power generation amount of the power generation element 1 so that the power generation amount of the power generation element 1 becomes constant, and outputs information on the power generation amount to the control unit 72.

The control unit 72 controls the electric energy based on the measurement result received from the measurement unit 71. Since the amount of power generated by the power generation element 1 increases or decreases according to the amount of heat from the heat source 60, for example, when the amount of power generated by the power generation element 1 is insufficient, the amount of heat of the heat source 60 is increased so that the amount of power generation increases. When the amount of power generated by the power generation element 1 is excessive, the amount of heat generated by the heat source 60 is controlled to be reduced so that the amount of power generation is reduced.

FIG. 5B is a block diagram showing a first modification of the control system according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5B, the device 61 has a heat source 60. The control unit 72 may control the device 61 so as to reduce the amount of heat of the heat source 60. In this case, the device 61 is a device such as a personal computer, and the heat source 60 is a CPU included in the device 61, for example.

According to the present embodiment, the control system 70 includes a power generation element 1 and controls the amount of heat released from the heat source 60 based on the measurement results of the measurement unit 71 for measuring the power generation amount of the power generation element 1 and the measurement unit 71. The control unit 72 is provided. Therefore, the amount of heat released from the heat source 60 can be controlled according to the amount of power generated by the power generation element 1. As a result, the heat source 60 and the equipment including the heat source 60 can be appropriately protected, and the amount of heat released from the heat source 60 can be easily controlled.

(Fourth Embodiment: electronic device 500)
<Electronic device 500>
The power generation element 1 and the power generation device 100 described above can be mounted on, for example, an electronic device. Hereinafter, some embodiments of the electronic device will be described.

6 (a) to 6 (d) are schematic block diagrams showing an example of an electronic device 500 provided with a power generation element 1. 6 (e) to 6 (h) are schematic block diagrams showing an example of an electronic device 500 provided with a power generation device 100 including a power generation element 1.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the electronic device 500 (electric product) includes an electronic component 501 (electronic component), a main power supply 502, and an auxiliary power supply 503. Each of the electronic device 500 and the electronic component 501 is an electrical device (electrical device).

The electronic component 501 is driven by using the main power supply 502 as a power source. Examples of the electronic component 501 include a CPU, a motor, a sensor terminal, lighting, and the like. When the electronic component 501 is, for example, a CPU, the electronic device 500 includes an electronic device that can be controlled by a built-in master (CPU). When the electronic component 501 includes, for example, at least one such as a motor, a sensor terminal, and lighting, the electronic device 500 includes an external master or a human-controllable electronic device. A part of the electronic component 501 may function as a heat source 60.

The main power source 502 is, for example, a battery. Batteries also include rechargeable batteries. The positive terminal (+) of the main power supply 502 is electrically connected to the Vcc terminal (Vcc) of the electronic component 501. The negative terminal (-) of the main power supply 502 is electrically connected to the GND terminal (GND) of the electronic component 501. The electronic component 501 may include a secondary battery that is charged by the electric power generated by the power generation element 1.

The auxiliary power supply 503 is a power generation element 1. The power generation element 1 includes at least one of the above-mentioned power generation elements 1. The anode of the power generation element 1 (for example, the first electrode portion 12a) has a GND terminal (GND) of the electronic component 501, a negative terminal (-) of the main power supply 502, or a GND terminal (GND) and a negative terminal (-). It is electrically connected to the wiring to be connected. The cathode of the power generation element 1 (for example, the second electrode portion 12b) has a Vcc terminal (Vcc) of the electronic component 501, a positive terminal (+) of the main power supply 502, or a Vcc terminal (Vcc) and a positive terminal (+). It is electrically connected to the wiring to be connected. In the electronic device 500, the auxiliary power supply 503 is used in combination with the main power supply 502, for example, as a power source for assisting the main power supply 502 or as a power source for backing up the main power supply 502 when the capacity of the main power supply 502 is exhausted. be able to. When the main power source 502 is a rechargeable battery, the auxiliary power source 503 can also be used as a power source for charging the battery.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the main power source 502 may be the power generation element 1. The anode of the power generation element 1 is electrically connected to the GND terminal (GND) of the electronic component 501. The cathode of the power generation element 1 is electrically connected to the Vcc terminal (Vcc) of the electronic component 501. The electronic device 500 shown in FIG. 6B includes a power generation element 1 used as a main power source 502 and an electronic component 501 that can be driven by the power generation element 1. The power generation element 1 is an independent power source (for example, an off-grid power source). Therefore, the electronic device 500 can be made, for example, a self-standing type (stand-alone type). Moreover, the power generation element 1 is an energy harvesting type (energy harvesting type). The electronic device 500 shown in FIG. 6B does not require battery replacement.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the electronic component 501 may include the power generation element 1. The anode of the power generation element 1 is electrically connected to, for example, the GND wiring of the circuit board (not shown). The cathode of the power generation element 1 is electrically connected to, for example, a Vcc wiring of a circuit board (not shown). In this case, the power generation element 1 can be used as an electronic component 501, for example, an auxiliary power supply 503.

As shown in FIG. 6D, when the electronic component 501 includes the power generation element 1, the power generation element 1 can be used as, for example, the main power source 502 of the electronic component 501.

As shown in each of FIGS. 6 (e) to 6 (h), the electronic device 500 may include a power generation device 100. The power generation device 100 includes a power generation element 1 as a source of electric energy.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6D includes a power generation element 1 in which the electronic component 501 is used as the main power source 502. Similarly, the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 (h) includes a power generation device 100 in which the electronic component 501 is used as a main power source. In these embodiments, the electronic component 501 has an independent power source. Therefore, the electronic component 501 can be made, for example, a self-standing type. The self-supporting electronic component 501 can be effectively used, for example, in an electronic device including a plurality of electronic components and in which at least one electronic component is separated from another electronic component. An example of such an electronic device 500 is a sensor. The sensor includes a sensor terminal (slave) and a controller (master) away from the sensor terminal. Each of the sensor terminal and the controller is an electronic component 501. If the sensor terminal includes the power generation element 1 or the power generation device 100, it becomes a self-supporting sensor terminal and does not need to be supplied with electric power by wire. Since the power generation element 1 or the power generation device 100 is an energy harvesting type, it is not necessary to replace the battery. The sensor terminal can also be regarded as one of the electronic devices 500. In addition to the sensor terminal of the sensor, the sensor terminal regarded as the electronic device 500 further includes, for example, an IoT wireless tag and the like.

What is common to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (h) is that the electronic device 500 includes a power generation element 1 and a power generation element 1 that generate power by using the heat generated from the heat source 60. It includes an electronic component 501 that can be driven by using it as a power source.

The electronic device 500 may be an autonomous type (autonomous type) having an independent power supply. Examples of autonomous electronic devices include robots and the like. Further, the electronic component 501 provided with the power generation element 1 or the power generation device 100 may be an autonomous type having an independent power source. Examples of autonomous electronic components include movable sensor terminals and the like.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

1: Power generation element 10: Element 11: Substrate 11a: First substrate 11af: First main surface 11as: First laminated surface 11b: Second substrate 11bf: Second main surface 11bs: Second laminated surface 12: Electrode portion 12a: 1st electrode part 12b: 2nd electrode part 13: Support part 14: Intermediate part 20: Heat conduction part 30: Laminated body 40: Insulation part 60: Heat source 140: Gap part 141: Nanoparticle 142: Solvent 100: Power generation device 101 : 1st wiring 102: 2nd wiring 500: Electronic device G: Gap R: Load Z: 1st direction X: 2nd direction Y: 3rd direction

Claims (12)

1. A power generation element that uses the heat generated by a heat source to generate electricity.
   With at least one element,
   A heat source, a heat conductive portion provided in contact with the element and electrically separated from the element, and a heat conductive portion.
   Equipped with
   The element is
   A pair of electrodes, each with a different work function,
   An intermediate portion provided between the pair of electrodes and separated from the heat conductive portion,
   A power generation element characterized by containing.
2. A laminated body in which a plurality of the above elements are laminated is provided.
   The heat conductive portion is provided in contact with the side surface of the laminated body.
   The power generation element according to claim 1, wherein the heat conductive portion includes a heat conductive layer sandwiched between a pair of laminated elements.
3. The element includes a pair of substrates provided with the pair of electrodes interposed therebetween.
   The power generation element according to claim 1, wherein the thermal conductivity of the thermal conductive portion is higher than the thermal conductivity of the pair of substrates.
4. The element is
   A pair of substrates provided with the pair of electrodes sandwiched between them,
   A support portion provided in contact between the pair of substrates or the pair of electrodes,
   Including
   The heat conductive portion is provided in contact with the support portion and is provided.
   The power generation element according to claim 1, wherein the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion is higher than the thermal conductivity of the support portion.
5. The power generation element according to claim 1, wherein the element is provided in contact with the heat source.
6. The power generation element according to claim 1, wherein the thermal conductivity of the heat conductive portion is higher than that of at least one of the pair of electrodes.
7. The heat conductive portion includes a laminated body including a first element in contact with the heat source and a second element laminated on the first element and separated from the heat source, and the heat conductive portion is the first element. The power generation element according to claim 1, wherein the power generation element is provided in contact with the side surface of the second element.
8. The power generation element according to claim 1, further comprising a heat insulating portion that is in contact with the heat source and covers the heat conductive portion and the element.
9. The power generation element according to claim 1 and
   A measuring unit that measures the amount of power generated by the power generation element,
   A control system including a control unit that controls the amount of heat released from the heat source based on the measurement result of the measurement unit.
10. The power generation element according to claim 1 and
    A pair of wires electrically connected to the pair of electrodes and
    A power generation device characterized by being equipped with.
11. The power generation element according to claim 1 and
    Electronic components that can be driven by using the power generation element as a power source,
    An electronic device characterized by being equipped with.
12. A power generation method according to claim 1, wherein the power generation element uses the heat generated from the heat source to generate power.

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