In-line thermoelectric module

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:872839

Pento, Robert ^[1]; Marks, James E ^[2]; Staffanson, Clifford D ^[3]

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1. Algonquin, IL
2. Glenville, NY
3. S. Glens Falls, NY

A thermoelectric module with a plurality of electricity generating units each having a first end and a second end, the units being arranged first end to second end along an in-line axis. Each unit includes first and second elements each made of a thermoelectric material, an electrically conductive hot member arranged to heat one side of the first element, and an electrically conductive cold member arranged to cool another side of the first element and to cool one side of the second element. The hot member, the first element, the cold member and the second element are supported in a fixture, are electrically connected respectively to provide an electricity generating unit, and are arranged respectively in positions along the in-line axis. The individual components of each generating unit and the respective generating units are clamped in their in-line positions by a loading bolt at one end of the fixture and a stop wall at the other end of the fixture. The hot members may have a T-shape and the cold members an hourglass shape to facilitate heat transfer. The direction of heat transfer through the hot members may be perpendicular to the direction of heat transfer through the cold members, and both of these heat transfer directions may be perpendicular to the direction of current flow through the module.

• Research Organization: Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL), Niskayuna, NY
• DOE Contract Number: AC12-76SN00052
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 6020671
• OSTI ID: 872839
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/310/136/
arranged
axis
bolt
clamped
cold
components
conductive
connected
cool
current
current flow
direction
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electrically
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electrically connected
electricity
element
elements
facilitate
fixture
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generating
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generating units
heat
heat transfer
hot
hourglass
in-line
individual
individual component
individual components
loading
material
module
perpendicular
plurality
positions
provide
respective
respectively
shape
stop
supported
t-shape
thermoelectric
thermoelectric material
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top wall
transfer
unit
units
wall