US 11,903,318 B2 · Thermoelectric elements and devices with enhanced maximum temperature differences based on spatially varying distributed transport properties

Abstract

Provided herein is a thermoelectric element that includes a cold end, a hot end, and a p-type or n-type material having a length between the hot end and the cold end. The p-type or n-type material has an intrinsic Seebeck coefficient (S), an electrical resistivity (ρ), and a thermal conductivity (λ). Each of two or more of S, ρ, and λ generally increases along the length from the cold end to the hot end. The thermoelectric element may be provided in single-stage thermoelectric devices providing enhanced maximum temperature differences. The single-stage thermoelectric devices maybe combined with one another to provide multi-stage thermoelectric devices with even further enhanced maximum temperature differences.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method of designing a thermoelectric element having a length between a hot end and a cold end, the method comprising:

selecting spatially varying properties of a p-type or n-type material so as to define two or more of:
a Seebeck coefficient (S) having an absolute value that generally increases from the cold end to the hot end as a function of position when no current is flowing, an electrical resistivity (ρ) having an absolute value that generally increases from the cold end to the hot end as a function of position when no current is flowing, and a thermal conductivity (λ) having an absolute value that generally increases from the cold end to the hot end as a function of position when no current is flowing, wherein at least one of such increases is nonlinear.

A method of fabricating a thermoelectric element having a length between a hot end and a cold end, the method comprising:

selecting spatially varying properties of a p-type or n-type material so as to define two or more of:
a Seebeck coefficient (S) having an absolute value that generally increases from the cold end to the hot end as a function of position when no current is flowing, an electrical resistivity (ρ) having an absolute value that generally increases from the cold end to the hot end as a function of position when no current is flowing, and a thermal conductivity (λ) having an absolute value that generally increases from the cold end to the hot end as a function of position when no current is flowing, wherein at least one of such increases is nonlinear;
and
manufacturing the p-type or n-type material having approximately the selected spatially varying properties.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/077,987Filed 8 Dec 2022 · continuation

Priority

1 Feb 2019

Published

US 2023/0120260 A120 Apr 2023

Granted

13 Feb 2024

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H10N 19/101
Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one thermoelectric or thermomagnetic element covered by groups…:…
H10N 10/17
Operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects: characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device
H10N 10/857
Thermoelectric active materials: comprising compositions changing continuously or discontinuously inside the material
H10N
Electric solid-state devices not otherwise provided for

Family

Application62/800,346Us provisional application · filed 1 Feb 2019

PCT/US2020/016247Parent of this continuation · filed 31 Jan 2020

Application17/385,241Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Jul 2021

US 2023/0120260 A1Pre-grant publication · published 20 Apr 2023

US 11,581,467 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2021/0376217 A1Published application

US 11,903,318 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Thermoelectric elements and devices with enhanced maximum temperature differences based on spatially varying distributed transport properties

Life of this patent

Thermoelectric elements and devices with enhanced maximum temperature differences based on spatially varying distributed transport properties

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24