System and method for suppressing sublimation using opacified aerogel

A system for sublimation suppression comprising:

• an opacified aerogel surrounding a portion of a thermoelectric element, whereby the aerogel suppresses sublimation;
• wherein the opacified aerogel is opacified with various opacifying or reflecting constituents;
• and
• wherein the density of the opacified aerogel is higher on an upper portion of the aerogel and lower on a lower portion of the aerogel, such that the upper portion corresponds to a hot side of the thermoelectric element, and the lower portion corresponds to a cool side of the thermoelectric element.

A system for sublimation suppression comprising:

• an opacified aerogel surrounding a portion of a thermoelectric module;
• the aerogel being opacified with an opacifying or reflecting constituent;
• the opacifying constituent selected from a group consisting of ceramic powder, graphite powder, carbon black, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, and reflective metal flake;
• the opacified aerogel having a concentration gradient of opacifying constituent such that one portion of aerogel has a higher concentration of opacifying constituent than another portion;
• and
• the opacified aerogel having a higher density on an upper portion and a lower density on a lower portion, the upper portion corresponding to the hot side of a thermoelectric element, and the lower portion corresponding to the cool side of a thermoelectric element.

A method for suppressing sublimation comprising acts of:

• surrounding a portion of a thermoelectric element with an opacified aerogel;
• opacifying an aerogel with various opacifying or reflecting constituents;
• and
• creating a concentration gradient of opacifying constituent within the opacified aerogel such that one portion of the opacified aerogel has a higher concentration of opacifying constituent than another portion.

A method for suppressing sublimation comprising acts of:

• surrounding a portion of a thermoelectric element with an opacified aerogel;
• opacifying an aerogel with various opacifying or reflecting constituents;
• and
• creating an opacified aerogel such that an upper portion of the opacified aerogel has a high density and a lower portion of the opacified aerogel has a lower density, the upper portion corresponding to the hot side of a thermoelectric element, and the lower portion corresponding to the cool side of a thermoelectric element.

A method for suppressing sublimation comprising acts of

• surrounding a portion of a thermoelectric element with an opacified aerogel;
• opacifying an aerogel with various opacifying or reflecting constituents;
• selecting an opacifying constituent from a group consisting of ceramic powder, graphite powder, carbon black, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, and reflective metal flake;
• creating a concentration gradient of opacifying constituent within the opacified aerogel such that one portion of the opacified aerogel has a higher concentration of opacifying constituent than another portion;
• and
• creating an opacified aerogel such that an upper portion of the opacified aerogel has a high density and a lower portion of the opacified aerogel has a lower density, the upper portion corresponding to the hot side of a thermoelectric element, and the lower portion corresponding to the cool side of a thermoelectric element.