Thermoelectric generation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12225820-B2
Application number	US-202117797816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2021
Priority date	Mar 31, 2020
Publication date	Feb 11, 2025
Grant date	Feb 11, 2025

Abstract

A thermoelectric generation device includes: a first substrate having a first surface; a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface; a plurality of thermoelectric generation modules each of which has a plurality of thermoelectric elements and electrodes connecting the thermoelectric elements and which is arranged between the first surface and the second surface; and wiring that is arranged on the first surface and that connects the plurality of thermoelectric generation modules.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A thermoelectric generation device comprising:
a first substrate that is a single-layer substrate having (i) a first surface and (ii) a cooling surface disposed opposite to the first surface in a first direction, the first substrate extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;
a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate in the first direction, the second substrate having (i) a second surface facing the first surface and (ii) a heating surface opposite to the second surface in the first direction;
a plurality of thermoelectric generation modules, each of which has a plurality of thermoelectric elements and electrodes connecting the thermoelectric elements, each of the plurality of thermoelectric elements being arranged between the first surface and the second surface; and
a wiring that is arranged on the first surface and that connects the plurality of thermoelectric generation modules, the wiring extending in the second direction,
wherein the first surface includes a plurality of module regions in which the plurality of thermoelectric generation modules are disposed, respectively, the plurality of module regions being spaced apart from one another in (i) the second direction and (ii) a third direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction,
wherein the wiring includes a central wiring that extends in the second direction through a central wiring region of the first surface that separates the plurality of module regions of the first surface from one another in the third direction, and
wherein an end portion of the central wiring symmetrically extends in the third direction and is disposed outside the plurality of module regions.

2. The thermoelectric generation device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the thermoelectric generation modules has a series circuit in which the plurality of thermoelectric elements are connected in series by the electrodes, and
wherein the wiring connects the electrodes arranged at end portions of the series circuits of the thermoelectric generation modules.

3. The thermoelectric generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the first surface further includes a periphery wiring region arranged in at least a part of a periphery of the plurality of module regions, and
wherein the wiring further includes a periphery wiring that is disposed in the periphery wiring region.

4. The thermoelectric generation device according to claim 1 , further comprising a heat insulating material covering the wiring.

5. The thermoelectric generation device according to claim 1 , further comprising lead pins connected to both end portions of output circuits in units of the thermoelectric generation modules.

6. The thermoelectric generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the wiring is arranged only on the first surface among the first surface and the second surface.

7. The thermoelectric generation device according to claim 1 , further comprising a case that is disposed outside of the first substrate and the second substrate and that is in contact with the cooling surface and the heating surface.

8. The thermoelectric generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrodes comprise a plurality of first electrodes that are disposed between the first surface and first sides of the plurality of thermoelectric elements, and
wherein the plurality of first electrodes are in direct contact with the first surface of the first substrate.

9. The thermoelectric generation device according to claim 8 , wherein the electrodes further comprise a plurality of second electrodes that are disposed between the second surface and second sides of the plurality of thermoelectric elements, and
wherein the plurality of second electrodes are in direct contact with the second surface of the second substrate.

Assignees

• Kelk Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Yonghoon

Classifications

• H10N10/82

  Interconnections · CPC title

• H02N11/00

  Generators or motors not provided for elsewhere; Alleged perpetua mobilia obtained by electric or magnetic means (by hydrostatic pressure F03B17/04; {by mechanical means F03G7/10;} by dynamo-electric means, {including arrangements of permanent magnets interacting with other permanent magnets,} H02K53/00) · CPC title

• H10N10/17 Primary

  characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device · CPC title