Thermoelectric module, thermoelectric power generating apparatus, and thermoelectric generator
A thermoelectric module includes a low temperature-side wiring line, a high temperature-side wiring line, a low temperature-side member, a plurality of low temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements made of a BiTe-based material, a high temperature-side member, a plurality of high temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements made of a material different from the BiTe-based material, an insulating member, a radiant heat blocking plate, a low temperature-side electrode, and a high temperature-side electrode. The radiant heat blocking plate is arranged on the side of the high temperature-side member with respect to the low temperature-side wiring line and the high temperature-side wiring line. A thermoelectric module that can restrain burning of wiring lines, as well as a thermoelectric power generating apparatus and a thermoelectric generator including the same can thereby be obtained.
1. A thermoelectric module comprising:
a low temperature-side member;
a plurality of low temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements arranged on a side of said low temperature-side member and made of a BiTe-based material;
a low temperature-side electrode connecting said plurality of low temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements electrically in series or in parallel;
a low temperature-side wiring line electrically connected to said low temperature-side electrode;
a high temperature-side member opposed to said low temperature-side member;
a plurality of high temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements arranged on a side of said high temperature-side member and made of a material different from said BiTe-based material;
a high temperature-side electrode connecting said plurality of high temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements electrically in series or in parallel;
a high temperature-side wiring line electrically connected to said high temperature-side electrode;
an insulating member sandwiched between said low temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements and said high temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements;
a radiant heat blocking plate arranged between said insulating member and said high temperature-side member, said radiant heat blocking plate being arranged on the side of said high temperature-side member with respect to said low temperature-side wiring line and said high temperature-side wiring line and said radiant heat blocking plate arranged apart from the insulating member and the high temperature-side member; and
a thermal circuit member directly connecting said radiant heat blocking plate to said low temperature-side member and not connecting said radiant heat blocking plate to said high temperature-side member.
2. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1 , wherein said thermal circuit member includes a spring member.
3. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1 , wherein said low temperature-side member includes a low temperature-side plate connected to said thermal circuit member.
4. The thermoelectric module according to claim 3 , wherein said low temperature-side member includes a low temperature-side soaking plate made of an insulating material and sandwiched between said plurality of low temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements and said low temperature-side plate.
5. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1 , wherein said radiant heat blocking plate includes
an insulating substrate, and
a covering part covering at least part of a surface of said insulating substrate on the side of said high temperature-side member.
6. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1 , wherein said high temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements contain one or more kinds of materials selected from the group consisting of a MgSi-based material, a SiGe-based material, a CoSb-based material, and a PbTe-based material.
7. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1 , wherein
said low temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements are attached to said low temperature-side electrode with a solder material, and
said high temperature-side thermoelectric conversion elements are attached to said high temperature-side electrode with a brazing material.
8. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1 , wherein said high temperature-side wiring line extends through said insulating member and is arranged on the side of said low temperature-side member with respect to said insulating member.
9. A thermoelectric power generating apparatus comprising a plurality of thermoelectric modules as defined in claim 1 ,
said low temperature-side wiring line electrically connecting said low temperature-side electrodes of said plurality of thermoelectric modules to each other,
said high temperature-side wiring line electrically connecting said high temperature-side electrodes of said plurality of thermoelectric modules to each other.
10. A thermoelectric generator further comprising:
the thermoelectric power generating apparatus as defined in claim 9 ;
a low-temperature heat transfer medium member, attached to said low temperature-side member of said thermoelectric power generating apparatus, through which a low-temperature heat transfer medium circulates; and
a high-temperature heat transfer medium member, attached to said high temperature-side member of said thermoelectric power generating apparatus, through which a high-temperature heat transfer medium circulates.
11. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 10 , further comprising a housing surrounding said thermoelectric power generating apparatus, said low-temperature heat transfer medium member and said high-temperature heat transfer medium member, wherein
an internal space of said housing is vacuum sealed.