In-line thermoelectric module
Abstract
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,more »
- Inventors:
-
- Algonquin, IL
- Glenville, NY
- S. Glens Falls, NY
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL), Niskayuna, NY (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872839
- Patent Number(s):
- 6020671
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02N - ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC12-76SN00052
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- in-line; thermoelectric; module; plurality; electricity; generating; units; arranged; axis; unit; elements; material; electrically; conductive; hot; heat; element; cold; cool; supported; fixture; connected; respectively; provide; positions; individual; components; respective; clamped; loading; bolt; stop; wall; t-shape; hourglass; shape; facilitate; transfer; direction; perpendicular; directions; current; flow; thermoelectric module; electrically conductive; heat transfer; current flow; electrically connected; top wall; generating unit; generating units; individual components; individual component; thermoelectric material; /310/136/
Citation Formats
Pento, Robert, Marks, James E, and Staffanson, Clifford D. In-line thermoelectric module. United States: N. p., 2000.
Web.
Pento, Robert, Marks, James E, & Staffanson, Clifford D. In-line thermoelectric module. United States.
Pento, Robert, Marks, James E, and Staffanson, Clifford D. Sat .
"In-line thermoelectric module". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872839.
@article{osti_872839,
title = {In-line thermoelectric module},
author = {Pento, Robert and Marks, James E and Staffanson, Clifford D},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000}
}