Thermoelectric power generation apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9745882-B2
Application number	US-201514806581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2015
Priority date	Nov 26, 2014
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A thermoelectric power generation apparatus includes a heat transfer module configured to be attached to an exhaust manifold or an exhaust pipe; a thermoelectric module configured to be supplied with heat from the heat transfer module; and a cooling module configured to absorb heat from the thermoelectric module. Thus, it is possible to implement a thermoelectric power generation system in the vehicle without changing a shape of an exhaust system and a shape of the thermoelectric module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thermoelectric power generation apparatus mounted in an exhaust system of a vehicle, comprising:
a heat transfer module including a heat conductor configured to have a mounting part wound around an outer side of an exhaust manifold or an exhaust pipe and a plate-like extension vertically extending to a longitudinal central axis of the exhaust manifold or the exhaust pipe;
a thermoelectric module including a semiconductor part having a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor, the thermoelectric module positioned between the cooling module and the plate-like extension;
a cooling module including a cooling water chamber configured to supply cooling water to cool the thermoelectric module, and a cooling water channel configured to supply cooling water to the cooling water chamber; and
a clamp configured to fix the thermoelectric module between the cooling module and the plate-like extension,
wherein the clamp includes:
a bolt penetrating through the cooling module and the plate-like extension;
a nut fastened with the bolt; and
spring washers positioned at an inner side of a head portion of the bolt and an inner side of the nut, respectively.

2. The thermoelectric power generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer module further includes:
a heat insulator configured to cover the mounting part.

3. The thermoelectric power generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling module is positioned to be horizontal to the plate-like extension, and
the thermoelectric module is positioned between the cooling module and the plate-like extension.

4. The thermoelectric power generation apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the thermoelectric module and the cooling module are positioned on both surfaces of the plate-like extension, respectively.

5. The thermoelectric power generation apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein insides of the cooling modules which are positioned on both surfaces of the plate-like extension, respectively, are connected to each other.

6. The thermoelectric power generation apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the cooling modules which are positioned on both surface of the plate-like extension, respectively, are connected to each other through the cooling water channel.

7. A thermoelectric power generation apparatus for converting thermal energy of exhaust gas to electricity, the apparatus comprising:
an exhaust gas passage through which the exhaust gas passes through;
a cooling module including a cooling chamber;
a heat transfer module including a first portion surrounding the exhaust gas passage and a second portion connected to the first portion and extending radially away from the exhaust gas passage, the heat transfer module extending along a direction parallel to a discharge direction of the exhaust gas;
a thermoelectric module including a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor, the thermoelectric module disposed between the cooling chamber and the second portion of the heat transfer module; and
a clamp configured to fix the thermoelectric module between the cooling module and the plate-like extension,
wherein the clamp includes:
a bolt penetrating through the cooling module and the plate-like extension;
a nut fastened with the bolt; and
spring washers positioned at an inner side of a head portion of the bolt and an inner side of the nut, respectively.

8. The thermoelectric power generation apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the exhaust gas passage is one of an exhaust manifold and an exhaust pipe of a vehicle.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kwak Jin Woo
• Lyo In Woong
• Song Kyong Hwa
• Baek Hong Kil
• Chu In Chang
• Noh Su Jung
• Lee Seung Woo
• Lee Han Saem

Classifications

• F01N5/025 Primary

  the device being thermoelectric generators · CPC title

• F01N2260/024

  using a liquid · CPC title

• Y02T10/16

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• H02N2/181

  Circuits; Control arrangements or methods · CPC title

• H02N2/18 Primary

  producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators (for measurement devices G01) · CPC title