Thermoelectric device, in particular thermoelectric generator or heat pump

A motor vehicle, comprising:

• at least one thermoelectric device including:
• a first housing element and a second housing element respectively composed of an electrically conductive material;
• at least two thermoelectric elements arranged between the first housing element and the second housing element, the at least two thermoelectric elements having a first side facing towards the first housing element and a second side facing towards the second housing element, wherein the at least two thermoelectric elements are positioned spaced from one another and electrically connected via at least one conductor bridge;
• a first electrical insulator of an electrically insulating and thermally conductive material disposed at the first side between the at least two thermoelectric elements and the first housing element;
• and
• a second electrical insulator of an electrically insulating and thermally conductive material disposed at the second side between the at least two thermoelectric elements and the second housing part;
• wherein at least one of (i) the first electrical insulator is joined to the first housing element via a first materially cohesive connection, and (ii) the second electrical insulator is joined to the second housing element via a second materially cohesive connection, and wherein at least one of the first materially cohesive connection and the second materially cohesive connection includes at least one of a soldered connection and a sintered connection.

A thermoelectric device for a vehicle, comprising:

• a first housing element opposite a second housing element with respect to a layer direction, the first housing element and the second housing element respectively composed of an electrically conductive material;
• at least two thermoelectric elements arranged between the first housing element and the second housing element, the at least two thermoelectric elements having a first side facing towards the first housing element and a second side facing towards the second housing element, wherein the at least two thermoelectric elements are positioned spaced from one another along a transverse direction extending transversely to the layer direction;
• a layered arrangement disposed between the first housing element and the first side of the at least two thermoelectric elements in the layer direction, the layered arrangement including an electrical insulator of an electrically insulating and thermally conductive material and at least one conductor bridge electrically connecting the at least two thermoelectric elements, the at least one conductor bridge arranged between the at least two thermoelectric elements and the electrical insulator with respect to the layer direction;
• and
• wherein the layered arrangement further includes a plurality of join layers respectively defining a materially cohesive connection, the plurality of join layers including a first join layer contacting the first housing element and a second join layer sandwiched between the electrical insulator and the at least one conductor bridge.