Thermoelectric module with funneled heat flux
US6519947B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10N10/17
Abstract
A low-cost thermoelectric module utilizing a greatly reduced quantity of thermoelectric material as compared to similar prior art thermoelectric modules. An egg crate design containing thermoelectric elements is utilized in the present invention. However, the walls of the egg crate in the parts of the module separating the thermoelectric elements are made thick so that the total cross sectional area of the elements is less than 75 percent of the total module cross sectional area. The spaces above and below the elements are filled with a high heat and electric conducting material such as aluminum. This produces funnel-shaped conductors funneling heat and electric current into and out of each of the thermoelectric elements. The payoff to this approach is that the heat flux through the hot and cold module surfaces can be maintained while producing the same power output with about half the thermoelectric material or less. Avoiding any significant increase in heat flux through the module surface means avoiding increases in temperature drops normally encountered at the module surfaces.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.