Methods and systems for solid state heat transfer
AssigneeThe Aerospace Corporation
InventorsSidney W. K. Yuan, Tung T. Lam
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Abstract
Various embodiments are directed to a thermoelectric device comprising a thermoelectric element, a first heat switch and a second heat switch. The thermoelectric element may comprise a first component in electrical contact with a second component at an interface. The first component may comprise a first material and the second component may comprise a second material different from the first material. The first heat switch may comprise a first terminal in thermal contact with the interface and a second terminal in thermal contact with a thermal reservoir. The second heat switch may comprise a first terminal in thermal contact with the interface and a second terminal in thermal contact with a thermal load.
Claims28
A thermoelectric device comprising:
- a thermoelectric element comprising a first component in electrical contact with a second component at an interface, wherein the first component comprises a first material and the second component comprises a second material different from the first material;
- a first heat switch comprising a first terminal in thermal contact with the interface and a second terminal in thermal contact with a thermal reservoir;
- and
- a second heat switch comprising a first terminal in thermal contact with the interface and a second terminal in thermal contact with a thermal load.
A thermoelectric device comprising:
- a first thermoelectric element comprising a first component in electrical contact with a second component at a first interface, wherein the first component comprises a first material and the second component comprises a second material different from the first material;
- a second thermoelectric element comprising a first component in electrical contact with a second component at a second interface, wherein the first component comprises the first material and the second component comprises the second material;
- a first heat switch comprising a first terminal in thermal contact with the first interface and a second terminal in thermal contact with a thermal reservoir;
- a second heat switch comprising a first terminal in thermal contact with the first interface and a second terminal in thermal contact with the second interface;
- and
- a third heat switch comprising a first terminal in thermal contact with the second interface and a second terminal in thermal contact with a thermal load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.