Thermoelectric generator of vehicle

Abstract

A thermoelectric generator may include a high temperature member having an exhaust pipe, and a ring-shaped first heat transfer plate equipped with a first flange installed on an external wall of the exhaust pipe and formed along a longitudinal direction of the exhaust pipe, a low temperature member having a first coolant pipe enclosing an external wall of the exhaust pipe, and a ring-shaped second heat transfer plate installed inside the first coolant pipe, and on which a second flange extends along a longitudinal direction of the first coolant pipe, and ring-shaped thermoelectric modules, which may be formed by joining a P-shaped semiconductor and an N-shaped semiconductor.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-20110135138 filed on December 15, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. technical field [0003] The present invention relates to a thermoelectric generator for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a thermoelectric generator for a vehicle that uses heat from exhaust gas from a vehicle to generate electricity. Background technique [0004] A thermoelectric element is an element utilizing the thermoelectric phenomenon in which thermal energy is converted into electrical energy by converting a temperature difference between the two ends of the element into electricity, or in which electrical energy is converted into heat energy by passing electricity through the element and by causing a temperature difference between the two ends. Such thermoelectric elements are used in small-scale cooling, heating o...

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Problems solved by technology

However, in the conventional thermoelectric generator of the vehicle, the heat energy of the exhaust gas is not sufficiently transferred to the high-temperature components, so the recovery rate of the heat energy of the exhaust gas decreases, and thus the thermoelectric efficiency of the thermoelectric generator decreases

[0010] Also, in a conventional thermoelectric generator for a vehicle, although the cooling device 30 occupies a large area, the heat exchange area is small, so the heat transfer rate is low compared to the size, and the thermoelectric generation efficiency is low.

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