JPH08195510A - Thermoelectric power generating module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To install a module irrespective of pipings of existing equipment and positions or shapes of walls thereof by connecting a plurality of thermoelectric elements each of which is provided with at least one conductive rotating part which is located between power takeout part of a P-type element or an N-type element and a conductive coupler connected with another P on N element and rotates them. CONSTITUTION: A thermoelectric element is installed for a cylindrical piping and it is prepared by integrating a P-type element 10 and an N-type element 20 of which the sectional areas of high-temperature-side end parts coming into contact with a high-temperature heating medium are different from those of low-temperature-side end parts thereof coming into contact with a low-temperature heating medium and by providing at least one conductive rotating part 50 which is located between a power takeout part of the element and a conductive coupler 40 connected with another P or N element and rotates them. In the conductive rotating part 50, rotating plates 70 rotate around the axis 60 of rotation and a P-type element 11 or an N-type element 21 and a conductive coupler 41 rotate along with it. By connecting a plurality of thermoelectric elements prepared in this way, a thermoelectric power generating module is obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermoelectric generator, and more particularly to a thermoelectric generator having a thermoelectric element that converts heat energy into electric energy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a thermoelectric module to be installed on a pipe or a wall serving as a heat source or a cooling source, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-177082
There is a thermoelectric generator described in the publication.

[0003]

Conventionally, when a thermoelectric generator is installed on a pipe or a wall, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-177082, is an installation material of a special shape provided between the pipe and the wall? In many cases, the pipe itself is processed and attached so as to wrap the surface of the pipe. Therefore, for example, it may be difficult to install the pipe in the existing equipment in which one side is in close contact with the wall. Further, in the case of installing in such existing equipment, it is easier to install a modularized one than to handle the element alone.

An object of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric power generation module that can be installed regardless of the positions and shapes of the pipes and walls of existing equipment.

[0005]

A first means for achieving the above object is a thermoelectric element formed by joining and integrating a P-type element and an N-type element. It is to connect a plurality of thermoelectric elements each having at least one electrically conductive rotating portion for rotating both of them and another electrically conductive coupling body for connecting the other P and N elements.

A second means for achieving the above-mentioned object is to connect a plurality of thermoelectric elements, which serve also as power take-out portions of P-type elements and N-type elements or conductive connecting bodies, to the rotating body.

A third means for achieving the above object is to connect a plurality of thermoelectric elements by using a flexible conductive connecting body that connects the thermoelectric elements.

[0008]

According to the first means, since the direction of the thermoelectric element and the conductive connecting body can be changed by rotating the conductive rotating portion, it is possible to change the method of connecting the thermoelectric elements forming the module. it can.

According to the second means, the method of connecting the thermoelectric elements forming the module can be changed by rotating the thermoelectric element and the conductive connecting body.

According to the third means, since the conductive connecting body itself can freely change its direction, it is more preferable than the above two means.
The method of connecting the thermoelectric elements forming the module can be changed.

[0011]

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below.

1 to 8 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a thermoelectric power generation module using three thermoelectric elements shown in FIG. The structure of the thermoelectric element will be described with reference to FIG. The thermoelectric element of FIG. 2 (a) is assumed to be installed in a cylindrical pipe, and the cross-sectional area of the high temperature side end that contacts the high temperature heat medium and the cross section of the low temperature side end that contacts the low temperature heat medium are A conductive rotating part 50 that joins and integrates different P-type elements 10 and N-type elements 20 and rotates both between the power extraction part of the element and the conductive coupling body 40 connecting the other P and N elements.
One is provided. The conductive coupling body 40 is a sheet-shaped or plate-shaped material, and may be any metal that makes ohmic contact with the P-type element and the N-type element. The conductive rotating part 50 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), it is composed of a rotating shaft 60 and a rotating plate 70,
The rotary plate 70 rotates about the rotary shaft 60, and the P-type element 11 or the N-type element 21 and the conductive connecting body 41 rotate accordingly.
And are designed to rotate. FIG. 3 is a view obtained by rotating the conductive coupling body 40 of the thermoelectric element of FIG. 2A by 90 degrees. As an example, FIG. 4 shows a thermoelectric power generation module including three thermoelectric elements. In this example, when the P-type element 10 or the N-type element 20 and the conductive coupling body 50 rotate,
A small space is provided so as not to contact other P and N elements. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the thermoelectric power generation module of the present invention is characterized by one type of thermoelectric power generation module.
The reason is that different connection methods of N elements can be obtained.
Accordingly, for example, one type of module can be used to surround the circumference of the pipe or to arrange the pipes in the length direction. FIG. 5 shows P-type elements 16 and 17 and N-type element 2 of thermoelectric elements.
The cross section of the joint portion of 6, 27 has a curvature. With these configurations, since the surface of the pipe and the thermoelectric element module can be brought into close contact with each other, heat transfer loss from the pipe can be reduced. Further, if the pipe is accompanied by vibration, the stress can be dispersed, so that damage to the element can be reduced. In FIG. 6, the surface of the thermoelectric element in which the P-type element 12 and the N-type element 22 are joined and integrated is covered with the electrically insulating material 8 except for the power extraction portion. As the electrically insulating material, similarly to the above, SiO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ or the like is deposited by using a vapor deposition method, a sputtering method or the like, or a resin material is applied. With this configuration, since the individual thermoelectric elements can be brought into close contact with each other, the number of thermoelectric elements in the module can be increased and the output power can be increased. In addition, it is possible to prevent deterioration of element characteristics for a material that causes a lattice defect due to an oxidation reaction of the thermoelectric element at a high temperature or vaporization and escape of constituent elements. Furthermore, when thermoelectric elements come into contact with each other for some reason, it is possible to prevent a short circuit in terms of electric circuits, so that the reliability and safety of the thermoelectric power generation module can be improved.

Next, an example in which the thermoelectric power generation module of the present invention is installed in a pipe is shown below.

FIG. 7A shows the thermoelectric power generation module installed in the cylindrical pipe 99 by the connecting method shown in FIG. The thermoelectric power generation module and the pipe are attached to each other by fixing the electric power take-out electrode portions 63 to each other with a sheet-shaped or plate-shaped insulating material 9 and tightening the pipe with the module. Further, the pipe and the module may be fixed with an adhesive having a good thermal conductivity. For an existing pipe in which the pipe is in contact with the wall, the pipe can be installed by the connecting method shown in FIG. 4 as shown in FIG. 7B. As for the method of attaching the module and the pipe, the adhesive is fixed between the pipe and the module with a good thermal conductivity. Further, the thermoelectric generation module can be installed in the pipe as shown in FIG. As described above, according to the connecting method of FIGS. 7 and 8, the thermoelectric power generation module can be installed regardless of the position and shape of the pipe by simply changing the direction of the conductive connecting body, and the surface of the pipe can be used effectively. Thermoelectric power generation modules can be spread. A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 9 to 11. In FIG. 9, the P-type element and the N-type element side or the conductive connecting body also serves as the conductive rotating portion. In FIG. 9A, the rotating shaft 61 of the conductive rotating part is embedded in the power extraction part of the P-type element 12 or the N-type element 22 and inserted into the conductive coupling body 42 having a recess. On the contrary, in FIG. 9B, the rotating shaft 62 is embedded in the conductive coupling body 43 and is inserted into the power extraction portion of the P-type element 13 or the N-type element 23. With this configuration, the conductive rotating part is simplified, so that the thermal resistance generated at the contact part of the electrode can be reduced. 10 and 11 show a P-type element, an N-type element, and a conductive connector that are connected using a screw-shaped electrode and a nut-shaped electrode. In FIG. 10, the P-type element 14 and the N-type element 24 are provided with a screw hole in the power extraction portion, and the conductive connector 44 is sandwiched in this screw hole and fixed by the screw electrode material 90. In addition, an ohmic electrode may be formed on the surface of the screw hole formed in the power extraction portion of the device. In addition, FIG.
The screw-shaped electrode material 91 is embedded in the power extraction portion of the P-type element 15 and the N-type element 25, and the conductive coupling body 45 is sandwiched and fixed by the nut-shaped electrode material 95. Since these are simple structures that are simply screwed, the elements can be easily replaced when the thermoelectric element is damaged or the element characteristics are deteriorated.

12 and 13 show a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a thermoelectric power generation module in which elements are connected using a conductive connector having high flexibility. Conductive connector 4
9 is, for example, P on the surface of plastic or rubber.
Examples include a metal formed in ohmic contact with the mold element and the N-type element. With this configuration, the direction of the conductive coupling body itself can be freely changed, and the degree of freedom for changing the direction in which the thermoelectric element is attached can be increased.

Next, an example in which the thermoelectric power generation module of the present invention is installed in a pipe is shown below. FIG. 13 shows the thermoelectric power generation modules installed on the wall surface of the furnace by the connecting method shown in FIG. It is assumed that the furnace wall 110 is provided with cooling pipes 100 and fins 120 for cooling the wall surface. As for the method of attaching the thermoelectric power generation module and the furnace wall surface, if the wall surface side is a conductor, it is fixed with an adhesive having good thermal conductivity via an insulating material. If the cooling pipe 100 is a conductor, an insulating material is also provided between the conductive connector 80 and the pipe.

[0017]

According to the thermoelectric power generation module of the present invention,
Since it can be installed regardless of the position and shape of pipes and walls of existing equipment, versatility and simplicity are improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric power generation module showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a thermoelectric element that constitutes the module of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the thermoelectric element that constitutes the module of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric element that constitutes the module of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the thermoelectric power generation module showing the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric element that constitutes the module of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a thermoelectric element that constitutes the module of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram when the thermoelectric power generation module of the present invention is installed.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram when the thermoelectric power generation module of the present invention is installed.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a thermoelectric element that constitutes a thermoelectric power generation module showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a thermoelectric element that constitutes a thermoelectric power generation module showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a thermoelectric element that constitutes a thermoelectric power generation module showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric power generation module showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram when the thermoelectric power generation module of the present invention is installed.

[Explanation of symbols]

8,9 ... Electrically insulating material 10,11,12,13,1
4, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 30, 32 ... P-type element, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 2
7, 28, 29, 31, 33 ... N-type element, 40, 41,
42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 80 ... Conductive coupling body, 50, 51, 53 ... Conductive rotating part, 60,
61, 62 ... Rotating shafts, 63, 64 ... Power extraction electrode parts, 70 ... Rotating plate, 90, 91 ... Screw-shaped electrode material, 95 ...
Nut-shaped electrode material, 99, 100 ... Piping, 110 ... Furnace wall,
120 ... Fins.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A thermoelectric element in which a P-type element and an N-type element are joined and integrated, and a conductive connection for connecting a power extraction portion of the P-type element or the N-type element to another P, N element. A thermoelectric power generation module, characterized in that a plurality of thermoelectric elements having at least one electrically conductive rotating portion for rotating both of them are provided between the body and the body. 2. The thermoelectric power generation module according to claim 1, wherein the rotating portion is also used as a power extracting portion or a conductive connecting body of the P-type element and the N-type element. 3. The thermoelectric power generation module according to claim 1, wherein the conductive connector has flexibility.