Thermoelectric generator
AssigneeAVX Corporation
InventorsCraig W. Nies, Andrew P. Ritter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for constructing thermoelectric devices (TEDs). N-type elements are paired with P-type elements in an array of pairs between substrates. The paired elements are electrically connected in series by various techniques including brazing for hot side and/or also cold side connections, and soldering for cold side connections while being thermally connected in parallel. In selected embodiments, electrical and mechanical connections of the elements may be made solely by mechanical pressure.
Claims26
A thermoelectric device for converting thermal energy to electrical energy based on temperature differences between portions of the device, comprising:
- a plurality of N-type oxide ceramic elements comprising an N-type ceramic material;
- a plurality of P-type oxide ceramic elements comprising a P-type ceramic material and respectively paired with said plurality of N-type elements;
- a pair of supporting generally planar ceramic substrates, supporting a plurality of conductive traces thereon, and with said paired N-type and P-type elements received on selected of said conductive traces so as to form an array of such pairs captured between said substrates;
- insulating foam potting material captured between said substrates in between said array pairs;
- and
- at least one pair of connection terminals provided on at least one of said substrates, and associated lead wires respectively connected thereto;
- wherein said paired elements are electrically connected in series by said conductive traces and thermally connected in parallel relative to said substrates, so that generated electricity may be conducted from such array based on temperature differences between portions of said paired elements based on the Peltier/Seebeck effect, and wherein said plurality of N-type elements and said plurality of P-type elements comprise a plurality of porosity layers, the plurality of porosity layers being spaced apart in a heat-flow direction perpendicular to said generally planar ceramic substrates, the plurality of porosity layers having thicknesses in the heat-flow direction that range from 1 micron to 100 microns, and wherein the plurality of porosity layers comprise pores formed inside the N-type ceramic material and P-type ceramic material.
A thermoelectric generator module for converting thermal energy to electrical energy based on temperature differences between portions of the module based on the Peltier/Seebeck effect, comprising:
- a plurality of N-type elements comprising an N-type ceramic material;
- a plurality of P-type elements comprising a P-type ceramic material and respectively paired with said plurality of N-type elements;
- a pair of supporting ceramic substrates, supporting a plurality of conductive traces thereon, and with said paired N-type and P-type elements received on said conductive traces so as to form an array of such pairs between said substrates, with said paired elements electrically connected in series by said conductive traces and thermally connected in parallel relative to said substrates;
- and
- at least one pair of connection terminals provided on at least one of said substrates, for the connection of leads thereto;
- wherein said plurality of N-type elements and said plurality of P-type elements comprise a plurality of porosity layers, the plurality of porosity layers being spaced apart in a heat-flow direction perpendicular to said generally planar ceramic substrates, the plurality of porosity layers having thicknesses in the heat-flow direction that range from 1 micron to 100 microns, and wherein the plurality of porosity layers comprise pores formed inside the N-type ceramic material and P-type ceramic material.
A thermoelectric generator module for converting thermal energy to electrical energy based on temperature differences between portions of the module based on the Peltier/Seebeck effect, comprising:
- a plurality of N-type oxide ceramic elements comprising an N-type ceramic material;
- a plurality of P-type oxide ceramic elements comprising a P-type ceramic material and respectively paired with said plurality of N-type elements;
- a pair of supporting ceramic substrates, supporting a plurality of conductive traces thereon, and with said paired N-type and P-type elements received on said conductive traces so as to form an array of such pairs between said substrates, with said paired elements electrically connected in series by said conductive traces and thermally connected in parallel relative to said substrates;
- and
- at least one pair of connection terminals provided on at least one of said substrates, for the connection of leads thereto;
- wherein said plurality of N-type and P-type elements comprise structures of a tapered physical shape, and wherein said plurality of N-type elements and said plurality of P-type elements comprise a plurality of porosity layers, the plurality of porosity layers being spaced apart in a heat-flow direction perpendicular to said generally planar ceramic substrates, the plurality of porosity layers having thicknesses in the heat-flow direction that range from 1 micron to 100 microns, and wherein the plurality of porosity layers comprise pores formed inside the N-type ceramic material and P-type ceramic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.