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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Thermoelectric converter

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5232940

A thermoelectric convertor is described which consists of: a heat source having a mating face; a heat sink having a mating face; and a thermoelectric conversion module disposed between the heat source and the heat sink and engaging the faces, the module including a plurality of thermoelectric elements, and an electrically insulative holder, the holder having a first side disposed adjacent the heat source and a second side disposed adjacent the heat sink; the holder comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel first walls and spaced, parallel second walls extending normal to the first walls and defining therewith an array of compartments each containing a respective the thermoelectric element, the module further comprising a compressed resilient, thermally conductive pad positioned in each compartment the first walls defining columns of element pairs, each pair including a P-type thermoelectric element and an N-type thermoelectric element. The first walls extend from the first side to the second side, the second walls defining rows of elements with adjacent elements in a row being of opposite type, every other of the second walls extending to the first side but short of the second side. The remaining second wall extend to the second side but short of the first side, whereby each column of elements can be electrically series connected within the envelope of the holder.

Assignee:
GA Technologies, Inc., San Diego, CA
Patent Number(s):
US 4611089
OSTI ID:
5232940
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English