Thermoelectric converter
First Claim
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1. A thermoelectric converter comprising:
- a thermoelectric converting portion having an N-type thermoelectric element, a first electrode, and a P-type thermoelectric element and a second electrode which are stacked sequentially in the order stated in a way such that said first electrode completely separates said N-type thermoelectric element from said P-type thermoelectric element, being in contact with and separating adjacent and opposite surfaces of said N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements, respectively;
one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode;
endothermic means thermally connected to the endothermic electrode for absorbing heat; and
radiative means thermally connected to the radiative electrode for radiating heat.
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Abstract
A thermoelectric converter has a N-type thermoelectric element, a P-type thermoelectric element, an endothermic electrode and a radiative electrode. One surface of the N-type thermoelectric element is attached to one surface of the endothermic electrode and the other surface is attached to one surface of the radiative electrode. One surface of the P-type thermoelectric element is attached to the other surface of the radiative electrode and the other surface is attached to the other endothermic electrode.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A thermoelectric converter comprising:
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a thermoelectric converting portion having an N-type thermoelectric element, a first electrode, and a P-type thermoelectric element and a second electrode which are stacked sequentially in the order stated in a way such that said first electrode completely separates said N-type thermoelectric element from said P-type thermoelectric element, being in contact with and separating adjacent and opposite surfaces of said N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements, respectively; one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; endothermic means thermally connected to the endothermic electrode for absorbing heat; and radiative means thermally connected to the radiative electrode for radiating heat. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 28)
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2. A thermoelectric converter comprising:
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a first electrode having one surface; an N-type thermoelectric element having first and second opposite surfaces, the first surface being coupled to said one surface of said first electrode; a second electrode having first and second opposite surfaces, the first of which is coupled to said second surface of the N-type thermoelectric element; a P-type thermoelectric element which has one surface coupled to the said second surface of the second electrode in a location adjacent a coupled location of said N-type thermoelectric element on said second electrode; one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; endothermic means thermally connected to the endothermic electrode for absorbing heat; and radiative means thermally connected to the radiative electrode for radiating heat. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 25, 29)
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3. A thermoelectric converter comprising:
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two rows of thermoelectric converting portions, each thermoelectric converting portion having an N-type thermoelectric element, a first electrode, a P-type thermoelectric element and a second electrode which are stacked sequentially from one side to another side of each row in the order stated, in a way such that said first electrode completely separates said N-type thermoelectric element from said P-type thermoelectric element, being contact with and separating adjacent and opposite surfaces of said N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements, one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; connecting means for connecting electrically one row of thermoelectric converting portions with the other row of thermoelectric converting portions at the same sides thereof; endothermic means thermally connected to the endothermic electrode for absorbing heat; and radiative means thermally connected to the radiative electrode for radiating heat. - View Dependent Claims (18, 26)
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19. A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of:
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making a thermoelectric converting portion having an N-type thermoelectric element, a first electrode, a P-type thermoelectric element and a second electrode which are stacked sequentially in the order stated, so that said first electrode is completely between said N-type thermoelectric element and said P-type thermoelectric element and in contact with adjacent surfaces of said N and P-type and thermoelectric elements, one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; connecting an endothermic means to said endothermic electrode; applying current to said thermoelectric converting portion in a direction of stacking thereof, so that said endothermic means absorbs heat and the radiative electrode radiates heat. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification