US 6,958,443 B2 · Low power thermoelectric generator

Abstract

Disclosed is a foil segment for a thermoelectric generator comprising a top plate disposed in spaced relation above a bottom plate. An array of the foil segments is perpendicularly disposed in side-by-side arrangement between and in thermal contact with the bottom and top plates. Each foil segment comprises a substrate having a thickness of about 7.5-50 microns, opposing front and back substrate surfaces and a series of spaced alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs disposed in parallel arrangement on the front substrate surface. Each of the n-type and p-type legs is formed of a bismuth telluride-based thermoelectric material having a thickness of about 5-100 microns, a width of about 10-100 microns and a length of about 100-500 microns. The alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs are electrically connected in series and thermally connected in parallel such that a temperature differential between the bottom and top plates results in the generation of power.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A foil segment for a thermoelectric generator, the foil segment comprising:

a substrate having opposing front and back substrate surfaces;
and
a series of elongate alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs disposed in spaced parallel arrangement on the front substrate surface, each of the n-type and p-type legs being formed of a Bi2Te3-type thermoelectric material having a thickness in the range of from about 5 microns to about 100 microns, each n-type and p-type thermoelectric leg having a width and a length, the width being in the range of from about 10 microns to about 100 microns, the length being in the range of from about 100 microns to about 500 microns;
wherein:
each one of the p-type thermoelectric legs is electrically connected to an adjacent one of the n-type thermoelectric legs at opposite ends of the p-type thermoelectric legs such that the series of n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs are electrically connected in series and thermally connected in parallel;
the Bi2Te3-type thermoelectric material for the p-type thermoelectric legs being a semiconductor compound having the following formula:
(Bi0.15Sb0.85)2Te3 plus about 10 at % Te excess to about 30 at % Te excess.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low power thermoelectric generator

Life of this patent

Low power thermoelectric generator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6