Thermoelectric power generation system
A thermoelectric power generation system 20 includes a heat exchanger 1 having double tubes which are an inner tube 1 a and an outer tube 1 b , and a thermoelectric power generation module 2 mounted between the inner tube and the outer tube. The thermoelectric power generation module generates thermoelectric power using a temperature difference between a medium inside the inner tube and a medium outside the outer tube, and a highly thermal conductive elastic sheet 3 a, 3 b is mounted between the thermoelectric power generation module and the inner tube and/or the outer tube in close contact therewith.
1 . A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric power generation system including:
a heat exchanger including double tubes which are an inner tube and an outer tube, wherein the outer tube is a seamless cylindrical tube; and a thermoelectric power generation module mounted between the inner tube and the outer tube, wherein
in the thermoelectric power generation module, P-type thermoelectric elements and N-type thermoelectric elements are alternately arrayed and mounted on a flexible substrate,
the substrate is formed with multiple slits along a direction in which the P-type thermoelectric elements and the N-type thermoelectric elements are connected in series, and
the method comprises:
a step of winding the thermoelectric power generation module around the inner tube with the slits aligned with an axial direction of the inner tube,
a step of inserting the inner tube into the outer tube with the thermoelectric power generation module wound around the inner tube, and
a step of expanding the inner tube in a radial direction by applying a high pressure to an inside of the inner tube in order to mount the thermoelectric power generation module between the inner tube and the outer tube.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the step of inserting the inner tube into the outer tube, the inner tube is inserted into the outer tube with an elastic sheet wound between the inner tube and the thermoelectric power generation module.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the step of inserting the inner tube into the outer tube, the inner tube is inserted into the outer tube with an elastic sheet wound around an outer peripheral surface of the thermoelectric power generation module.