Thermoelectric generator and method for the fabrication thereof

Benson, D K; Tracy, C E

Title: Thermoelectric generator and method for the fabrication thereof

Full Record
Other Related Research

Abstract

A method is described for fabricating a thermoelectric generator comprising the steps of: forming substrates with a thermally conductive and electrically conductive metallic plate on at least one surface of each substrate; forming at least one thin thermoelectric semiconductor element on the plates of some of the substrates to form a first thermal and electrical junction at the interface of the substrate plate and the thermoelectric semiconductor element on the substrates; using others of the substrates as superstrates and connecting the plate of each superstrate to the side of the thermoelectric semiconductor element opposite the substrate to form a second thermal and electrical junction at the interface of each superstrate plate and the respective thermoelectric semiconductor. Modules are formed with each module comprising the thin thermoelectric semiconductor element located between a substrate and a superstrate; and using modules to form a thermoelectric generator by arranging the modules so that one junction of each module is positioned adjacent and in thermal contact with a hot fluid carrying conduit and the other junction of each module is positioned adjacent and in thermal contact with a cold fluid carrying conduit.

Inventors:: Benson, D K; Tracy, C E

Publication Date:: Tue Mar 17 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI Identifier:: 6676783

Patent Number(s):: US 4650919

Assignee:: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: Filed date 1 Aug 1984

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS; FABRICATION; CONNECTORS; ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY; ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS; METALS; POSITIONING; SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS; SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS; SUBSTRATES; THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY; THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS; CONDUCTOR DEVICES; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES; ELEMENTS; EQUIPMENT; JUNCTIONS; MATERIALS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems; 300301* - Thermoelectric Generators- Design & Development; 300303 - Thermoelectric Generators- Materials, Components, & Auxiliaries

Citation Formats


                    Benson, D K, and Tracy, C E. Thermoelectric generator and method for the fabrication thereof.  United States: N. p., 1987. 
        Web.

Copy to clipboard


                    Benson, D K, & Tracy, C E. Thermoelectric generator and method for the fabrication thereof.  United States.

Copy to clipboard


                    Benson, D K, and Tracy, C E. 1987.  
        "Thermoelectric generator and method for the fabrication thereof".  United States.

Copy to clipboard


                    
@article{osti_6676783,

  title        = {Thermoelectric generator and method for the fabrication thereof},

  author       = {Benson, D K and Tracy, C E},

  abstractNote = {A method is described for fabricating a thermoelectric generator comprising the steps of: forming substrates with a thermally conductive and electrically conductive metallic plate on at least one surface of each substrate; forming at least one thin thermoelectric semiconductor element on the plates of some of the substrates to form a first thermal and electrical junction at the interface of the substrate plate and the thermoelectric semiconductor element on the substrates; using others of the substrates as superstrates and connecting the plate of each superstrate to the side of the thermoelectric semiconductor element opposite the substrate to form a second thermal and electrical junction at the interface of each superstrate plate and the respective thermoelectric semiconductor. Modules are formed with each module comprising the thin thermoelectric semiconductor element located between a substrate and a superstrate; and using modules to form a thermoelectric generator by arranging the modules so that one junction of each module is positioned adjacent and in thermal contact with a hot fluid carrying conduit and the other junction of each module is positioned adjacent and in thermal contact with a cold fluid carrying conduit.},

  doi          = {},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6676783},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Tue Mar 17 00:00:00 EST 1987},

  month        = {Tue Mar 17 00:00:00 EST 1987}

}

Copy to clipboard

Patent:

Search for the full text at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Save / Share:

Export Metadata

Save to My Library

Similar records in OSTI.GOV collections:

Thermoelectric generator and method for the fabrication thereof

Patent Benson, D; Tracy, C

A thermoelectric generator using semiconductor elements for responding to a temperature gradient to produce electrical energy with all of the semiconductor elements being of the same type is disclosed. A continuous process for forming substrates on which the semiconductor elements and superstrates are deposited and a process for forming the semiconductor elements on the substrates are also disclosed. The substrates with the semiconductor elements thereon are combined with superstrates to form modules for use as thermoelectric generators.
Full Text Available
Thermoelectric generator and method for the fabrication thereof

Patent Benson, David; Tracy, C

A thermoelectric generator using semiconductor elements for responding to a temperature gradient to produce electrical energy with all of the semiconductor elements being of the same type is disclosed. A continuous process for forming substrates on which the semiconductor elements and superstrates are deposited and a process for forming the semiconductor elements on the substrates are also disclosed. The substrates with the semiconductor elements thereon are combined with superstrates to form modules for use thermoelectric generators.
Full Text Available
Thermoelectric generating composite functioning apparatus

Patent Fukazawa, T; Kuno, H; Okabe, N; ...

This patent describes a thermoelectric generating composite functioning apparatus provided in the combustion chamber of a diesel engine, comprising: N-type and P-type thermoelectric semiconductor elements disposed in parallel and respectively formed in the shape of a bar, and in mutual contact at adjacent end portions of the bars to form a P-N junction located in the combustion chamber; a low thermal conductivity insulator interposed between the N-type and P-type thermoelectric semiconductor elements except the P-N junction; a housing integrally formed in the state having the P-N junction for containing the N-type and P-type semiconductor elements; lead terminals provided in themore »« less
Thermoelectric device with recuperative heat exchangers

Patent Hed, A

A thermoelectric device operating as a heat pump is described comprising: (i) a vessel forming a liquid-tight container and having a cold end portion thereof adapted to be in thermal contact with an external heat source from which heat is to be withdrawn; (ii) a plurality of thermocouples joined into a continuous plate having a first side and a second side opposite thereto, said plate being positioned in the vessel; (iii) each thermocouple comprising a leg of p-semiconductive material and a leg of n-semiconductive material, each leg having two ends and each thermocouple having an intra couple electrical connection meansmore »« less
Producing thin film photovoltaic modules with high integrity interconnects and dual layer contacts

Patent Jansen, K; Maley, N

High performance photovoltaic modules are produced with improved interconnects by a special process. Advantageously, the photovoltaic modules have a dual layer back (rear) contact and a front contact with at least one layer. The front contact and the inner layer of the back contact can comprise a transparent conductive oxide. The outer layer of the back contact can comprise a metal or metal oxide. The front contact can also have a dielectric layer. In one form, the dual layer back contact comprises a zinc oxide inner layer and an aluminum outer layer and the front contact comprises a tin oxidemore »« less

Similar Records