THERMOELECTRIC MODULE AND DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR GENERATING AN ELECTRIC CURRENT IN A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20140216514A1
• Filed: 05/29/2012
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Simonin, Michel
• Application Number:
  US14/122,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20140216514A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/205
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/17 characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermoelectric module including at least one thermoelectric element (3, 3p, 3n) which is capable of generating an electric current by means of a temperature gradient applied between two of the surfaces thereof, one so-called first surface (4a) from among said surfaces having an area that is greater than that of the other so-called second surface (4b), said module being configured to establish an exchange of heat between said first surface (4a) and a first fluid, and to establish an exchange of heat between said second surface (4b) and a second fluid, said second fluid having a heat-exchange coefficient that is greater than that of said first fluid. The invention further relates to a thermoelectric device including such a module.

Claims

1. Thermoelectric module comprising at least one thermoelectric element (3, 3p, 3n) which is capable of generating an electric current under the action of a temperature gradient exerted between two of its faces, one (4a), so-called first, of said faces having a greater surface area than the other (4b) so-called second face, said module being configured in order to establish a heat exchange between said first face (4a) and a first fluid and to establish a heat exchange between said second face (4b) and a second fluid, said second fluid having a higher thermal exchange coefficient than said first fluid.

2. Module according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric element (3, 3p, 3n) is in the form of a ring or portion of a ring, the first surface (4a) is defined by an external peripheral surface of the ring and the second surface (4b) is defined by an internal peripheral surface of the ring.

3. Module according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first and/or second surfaces (4a, 4b) are of cylindrical shape.

4. Module according to claim 3, wherein the first surface (4a) has for example a radius between 1.5 and 4 times the radius of the second surface (4b).

5. Module according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said thermoelectric element (3, 3p, 3n) has two opposing parallel planar faces (6a, 6b).

6. Module according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of said thermoelectric elements (3, 3p, 3n).

7. Module according to claim 6, comprising a cold liquid circulation channel (7) in contact with said second surface (4b) of said thermoelectric elements (3, 3p, 3n) and/or a gas circulation channel (8) in contact with said first surface (4a) of said thermoelectric elements (3, 3p, 3n).

8. Module according to claim 7, wherein the gas circulation channel (8) is provided with secondary exchange surfaces (9).

9. Module according to either claim 7 or claim 8, comprising an external insulating casing (11) defining an external wall of the gas circulation channel (8).

10. Module according to any of claims 7 to 9, comprising a plurality of tubes (12) each positioned in the axial extension of the other in such a way as to define said cold fluid circulation channel (7) and/or a plurality of tubes (13) each positioned in the axial extension of the other so as to be able to define successive portions of an internal wall of said gas circulation channel (8).

11. Module according to claim 10, wherein sealing joints (14, 15) are provided between said successive cold liquid circulation tubes (12) and/or between said successive gas circulation tubes (13), ensuring electrical insulation respectively between said cold liquid circulation tubes (12) and/or between said gas circulation tubes (13).

12. Module according to claim 11, wherein the cold liquid circulation tubes and/or gas circulation tubes (12, 13) are provided with shoulders (16, 17) against which the thermoelectric elements and/or the sealing joints (14, 15) are supported.

13. Module according to any of claims 6 to 8, comprising a cold liquid circulation tube (12) on which are mounted at least two thermoelectric elements (3, 3p, 3n) of the same type alternating along the direction of longitudinal extension with a thermoelectric element of the other type.

14. Module according to claim 12, wherein thermoelectric elements (3, 3p, 3n) are coated with a layer of electrically insulating and thermally conductive material at least partially defining an internal wall of the gas circulation channel (8).

15. Module according to either claim 13 or claim 14, comprising a secondary exchange surface (9), provided in the gas circulation channel (8) and configured in order to ensure the retention of thermoelectric elements (3, 3p, 3n).

16. Module according to any of claims 7 to 9 or 13 to 15, comprising a plurality of cold liquid circulation channels (12), parallel to one another, each channel (12) co-operating with a plurality of thermoelectric elements (3, 3p, 3n) each forming an angular cylinder section and each positioned in the extension of the other along the longitudinal direction of extension of the corresponding channel (12).

17. Thermoelectric device comprising a plurality of modules according to any of claims 7 to 16.

18. Device according to claim 17, comprising a body (30) having a plurality of recesses (32) which house said modules (34).

19. Device according to claim 18, wherein said modules (34) are retained in said recesses (32) by secondary exchange surfaces (9).

20. Device according to either claim 18 or claim 19, wherein said recesses (32) are disposed in particular in such a way that the gas circulation channels (7, 8) of the different modules (34) are parallel to one another.

21. Device according to any of claims 18 to 20, wherein said body (30) is covered with an external shock-absorbing casing (38).

22. Device according to any of claims 17 to 21, comprising a gas circulation channel (36) bypassing said modules (34).