A flexible wearable thermoelectric generator and its combination

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of thermoelectric generators, and relates to a flexible wearable thermoelectric generator and its combination, including a cold layer film, a single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module, an insulating substrate, a single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module, and a hot layer film arranged in sequence; n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements are embedded on the insulating substrate; the single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module, the n-type thermocouple elements, the p-type thermocouple elements, and the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module form a power generation group; the combination includes at least two flexible wearable thermoelectric generators, and different power generation groups within the same flexible wearable thermoelectric generator or different power generation groups of different flexible wearable thermoelectric generators are connected in series or in parallel; the manufacturing process of the present invention is simple, avoiding the problems of the original thermoelectric power generation device being fixedly connected, having too high rigidity, and being easily broken or damaged due to the external applied force during use, reducing the complexity of the manufacturing process, and improving the energy utilization rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of thermoelectric generators, and relates to a flexible wearable thermoelectric generator and its combination. Background Art

[0002] The human body is a relatively constant low-grade heat source. Using thermoelectric power generation technology, a part of the waste heat dissipated from the human skin can be converted into electrical energy to achieve green and sustainable power generation. In order to adapt to the curved surface of the human skin, it is required that the thermoelectric generator (TEG) has a certain flexibility for easy wearing to realize the recovery of waste heat from a large area of human skin. The existing flexible wearable TEGs usually adopt spraying, welding and complex chemical processes, and the manufacturing process is complex, which is not conducive to the popularization and use of flexible wearable TEGs. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a flexible wearable thermoelectric generator and its combination, which collect and dissipate heat through a single-row cold-layer copper sheet combination module and a single-row hot-layer copper sheet combination module, and provide a flexible thermoelectric generator with a simple manufacturing process, good adaptability and easy wearing.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0005] A flexible wearable thermoelectric generator includes a cold-layer thin film, a single-row cold-layer copper sheet combination module, an insulating substrate, a single-row hot-layer copper sheet combination module, and a hot-layer thin film arranged in sequence; matrix through-holes arranged linearly are formed on the insulating substrate, and n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements are embedded in the through-holes; each single-row cold-layer copper sheet combination module, a row of n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements, and each single-row hot-layer copper sheet combination module form a power generation group.

[0006] Optionally, the n-type thermocouple elements and the p-type thermocouple elements have the same size, and their thickness is greater than or equal to the thickness of the insulating substrate, and the n-type thermocouple elements and the p-type thermocouple elements are arranged in an alternating and spaced manner.

[0007] Optionally, the thickness of the n-type thermocouple elements and the p-type thermocouple elements is greater than the thickness of the insulating substrate, and they are symmetrically fixed on the insulating substrate, and the same thickness is exposed on both sides of the insulating substrate.

[0008] Optionally, the single-row cold-layer copper sheet combination module and the single-row hot-layer copper sheet combination module are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the n-type thermocouple elements and the p-type thermocouple elements.

[0009] Optionally, both the single-row cold-layer copper sheet combination module and the single-row hot-layer copper sheet combination module include a plurality of linearly arranged copper sheets, and the copper sheets at both ends are matched with an n-type thermocouple element or a p-type thermocouple element; the remaining copper sheets are all matched with an n-type thermocouple element and a p-type thermocouple element.

[0010] Optionally, the copper sheets located on both sides in the single-row hot-layer copper sheet combination module are connected to series wires or parallel wires.

[0011] Optionally, the copper sheets in the single-row cold-layer copper sheet combination module and the single-row hot-layer copper sheet combination module are arranged in a staggered manner, and the projection of the copper sheets in each single-row cold-layer copper sheet combination module on the copper sheets in the single-row hot-layer copper sheet combination module only covers one n-type thermocouple element or p-type thermocouple element.

[0012] Optionally, both the n-type thermocouple element and the p-type thermocouple element are square, and the through holes opened in the insulating substrate are also square. The n-type thermocouple element and the p-type thermocouple element are in transitional fit with the insulating substrate.

[0013] Optionally, both the n-type thermocouple element and the p-type thermocouple element are circular, and the through holes opened in the insulating substrate are also circular. The n-type thermocouple element and the p-type thermocouple element are in transitional fit with the insulating substrate.

[0014] Optionally, it includes at least two power generation groups.

[0015] A combination of flexible wearable thermoelectric generators, applying the above-mentioned flexible wearable thermoelectric generator, includes at least two flexible wearable thermoelectric generators. Each flexible wearable thermoelectric generator includes at least one power generation group. The different power generation groups within the same flexible wearable thermoelectric generator, or the different power generation groups of different flexible wearable thermoelectric generators, are connected in series or in parallel.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0017] The manufacturing process of the present invention is simple, avoiding the problems of the original thermoelectric power generation device such as rigid connection and fixation, excessive rigidity, and easy stiffness breakage and damage caused by external applied forces during use. It reduces the complexity of the manufacturing process and improves the energy utilization rate.

[0018] Other advantages, objectives, and features of the present invention will be described to some extent in the subsequent description, and to some extent, will be obvious to those skilled in the art based on the study of the following text, or can be taught from the practice of the present invention. The objectives and other advantages of the present invention can be realized and obtained through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be described in detail preferably with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0020] Figure 1 is the upper oblique view of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 is the explosion schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 Top view of a combined module of two single - row hot - layer copper sheets, two rows of n - type thermocouple elements and p - type thermocouple elements;

[0023] Figure 4 Fractured side view of the cooperation of two single - row hot - layer copper sheet combined modules, two rows of n - type thermocouple elements, p - type thermocouple elements and an insulating substrate, as well as two single - row cold - layer copper sheets;

[0024] Figure 5 Oblique upper side view of the series structure of two rows of n - type thermocouple elements and p - type thermocouple elements connected by series wires after removing the insulating substrate;

[0025] Figure 6 Oblique upper side view of the parallel structure of two rows of n - type thermocouple elements and p - type thermocouple elements connected by parallel wires after removing the insulating substrate;

[0026] Figure 7 Top view of the structure composed of three identical thermoelectric generators arranged side by side. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] The following uses specific examples to illustrate the implementation manners of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific implementation manners. Various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that the diagrams provided in the following embodiments only schematically illustrate the basic concept of the present invention. Without conflict, the following embodiments and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0028] Among them, the attached drawings are only for illustrative purposes, showing only schematic diagrams, not physical diagrams, and cannot be understood as a limitation to the present invention; in order to better illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, some components in the attached drawings will be omitted, enlarged or reduced, which do not represent the dimensions of the actual product; for those skilled in the art, it is understandable that some well - known structures and their descriptions in the attached drawings may be omitted.

[0029] In the drawings of the embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components; in the description of the present invention, it should be understood that if there are terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", etc. indicating the orientation or positional relationship, they are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. This is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms describing the positional relationship in the drawings are only for illustrative purposes and cannot be understood as a limitation of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0030] Please refer to Figures 1 - 7 , the component reference numerals in the drawings respectively represent: hot layer thin film 1, single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module 2, n-type thermocouple element and p-type thermocouple element 3, insulating substrate 4, single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module 5, cold layer thin film 6, n-type thermocouple element 7, p-type thermocouple element 8, hot layer copper sheet 9, cold layer copper sheet 10, series wire 11, parallel wire 12.

[0031] The present invention can be divided into five layers, from the outside to the inside, namely the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, the fourth layer, and the fifth layer. The first layer includes the cold layer thin film 6; the second layer includes the single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module 5; the third layer includes two rows of n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements 3, and the insulating substrate 4; the fourth layer includes the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module 2; the fifth layer includes the hot layer thin film 1.

[0032] The insulating substrate 4 is dug with square through holes. There are 24 through holes in two rows in total. The size of a single through hole is the same as that of a single n-type thermocouple element 7 or p-type thermocouple element 8. The square through holes in each row are distributed at a certain interval; the insulating substrate 4 has a certain flexibility and is a long thin sheet. The model thickness is set at 0.6 mm, and its actual thickness range should be between 0.05 mm and 2 mm.

[0033] The n-type thermocouple element 7 and the p-type thermocouple element 8 are of the same size and are square sheets. In the model, the designed side length is 4 mm and the thickness is 1 mm. Its actual thickness range should be slightly greater than or equal to the thickness of the insulating substrate 4 for the convenience of subsequent series connection. The single-row n-type thermocouple element and p-type thermocouple element 3 are composed of 6 pairs of n-type thermocouple elements 7 and p-type thermocouple elements 8. Each pair of n-type thermocouple elements 7 and p-type thermocouple elements 8 is composed of one n-type thermocouple element 7 and one p-type thermocouple element 8, arranged alternately, and the adjacent thermocouple elements are 2 mm apart, that is, the adjacent two n-type thermocouple elements are 8 mm apart. The n-type thermocouple element 7 and the p-type thermocouple element 8 can be made of bismuth telluride material.

[0034] The n-type thermoelectric couple elements and the p-type thermoelectric couple elements 3 are fixed on the insulating substrate 4 to form the thermoelectric couple element part of the power generation system. Each thermoelectric couple element is inserted into the corresponding square small hole of the insulating substrate 4 in a transition fit manner. In this embodiment, the n-type thermoelectric couple elements and the p-type thermoelectric couple elements 3 total two rows, and the thermoelectric couple elements expose the same thickness on the upper and lower surfaces of the insulating substrate 4.

[0035] The single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module 2 is composed of 7 hot layer copper sheets 9, which are arranged at intervals with a distance of 1 mm between them. The same single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module 2 is provided under the insulating substrate 3; the two copper sheets at the edges of the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module 2 are respectively in contact connection with an n-type and a p-type thermoelectric couple element and are fixed by gluing; each of the other five copper sheets in the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module 2 is respectively in contact with an n-type thermoelectric couple element and a p-type thermoelectric couple element and is fixed by gluing, playing the role of conducting electricity and heat; the two copper sheets of the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module 2 cannot be in contact with each other.

[0036] The single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module 5 is composed of 6 cold layer copper sheets 10, which are arranged at intervals with a distance of 1 mm between them. The hot layer copper sheet 9 and the cold layer copper sheet 10 have the same structure, both being rectangular thin sheets with a length set to 11 mm, a width of 5 mm, and a thickness set to 0.2 mm; two rows of the same single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module 5 are provided on the insulating substrate 3; each of the 6 copper sheets of the single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module 5 is respectively in contact with an n-type thermoelectric couple element and a p-type thermoelectric couple element and is fixed by gluing, playing the role of conducting electricity and heat; the two copper sheets of the single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module 5 cannot be in contact with each other.

[0037] The hot layer thin film 1 is mainly coated under the two rows of hot layer copper sheet combination modules 2 and is fixed by gluing.

[0038] The cold layer thin film 6 is mainly coated on the two rows of cold layer copper sheet combination modules 5 and is fixed by gluing.

[0039] Both the hot layer thin film 1 and the cold layer thin film 6 play an insulating role and form the outer shell of the thermoelectric generator of the present invention. Therefore, the above dimensions are only for the modeling structure when fitting the present invention and can be actually expanded, such as Figure 7 shown, arranging 3 thermoelectric generators in parallel, and the size of the hot layer film is also enlarged accordingly. Among them, the materials of the hot layer thin film 1 and the cold layer thin film 6 both adopt thin film materials with high thermal conductivity.

[0040] The material of the insulating substrate 4 adopts insulating aerogel with extremely low thermal conductivity.

[0041] The power generation elements of the thermoelectric generator do not include the hot layer thin film 1 and the cold layer thin film 6.

[0042] The present invention enhances the thermal energy utilization rate by connecting thermocouple materials in series. At the same time, the insulating substrate 4 adopted has an extremely low thermal conductivity, and less heat is dissipated from the substrate.

[0043] Preferably, using two layers of straight copper sheets up and down is beneficial to the conduction of thermal energy. Structurally, the straight copper sheets cover the two ends of the n-type and p-type thermocouple elements. Using an insulating substrate with an extremely low thermal conductivity makes the heat transfer mainly concentrated on the thermocouple elements. Material-wise, copper sheets are selected. Copper has high electrical and thermal conductivity and certain flexibility, ensuring the overall flexibility of the structure.

[0044] Preferably, the position of the thermocouple elements is designed at a position close to the center of the insulating substrate 4. Such a design results in less heat dissipation, so as to achieve the highest energy utilization rate.

[0045] Preferably, the present invention adopts a design of two rows of p-type and n-type thermocouple element pairs in order to simplify the model, which is beneficial for analyzing the structure and conducting experiments. The multi-row structure also has practical significance.

[0046] In Figure 1 it, the cold layer film 6 adopts a semi-transparent representation method to show the arrangement of the two-row cold layer copper sheet combination module 5. At the same time, the A side and B side of the thermoelectric generator are marked in the figure. When worn on the human skin surface (such as the arm), the A side or B side can be bent.

[0047] As Figure 2 shown, the present invention is composed of a hot layer film 1, two rows of hot layer copper sheet combination modules 2, two rows of n-type and p-type thermocouple elements 3, an insulating substrate 4, two rows of cold layer copper sheet combination modules 5, and a cold layer film 6 (the description order is from bottom to top). Among them, a single n-type thermocouple element 7 is represented in gray, and a single p-type thermocouple element 8 is represented in black.

[0048] Since the sizes of the hot layer film 1 and the cold layer film 6 are flexibly set according to specific parameters such as the specific number of rows and thermocouple pairs of the specific thermoelectric generator, and their functions are only equivalent to the role of the shell, having an insulating barrier effect. The hot layer film 1 is in contact with the human skin, and the cold layer film 6 is in contact with the outside. Therefore, the specific cooperation relationship between the film and the power generation elements of the thermoelectric generator does not need to be proposed here. Also, due to the insulating effect of the film, the film boundary should be slightly larger than the boundary of the power generation elements of the thermoelectric generator, and it can be set that the film boundary should be greater than 3 - 5 mm.

[0049] Figure 3It is composed of two rows of hot layer copper sheet combination modules 2, two rows of n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements 3, which form the bottom layer of the thermoelectric generator power generation element. The specific matching method is as follows: The n-type and p-type thermocouple elements are fixed on the upper surface of the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module 2 with conductive adhesive. Moreover, for the long side of a single hot layer copper sheet 9, the n-type and p-type thermocouple elements should be symmetrically distributed on both sides of the upper surface of the hot layer copper sheet 9 (viewed from Figure 3 the thermocouple elements are distributed at positions close to the upper and lower edges of the hot layer copper sheet 9); specifically as shown in Figure 3 , the single p-type thermocouple element 8 at the bottom right corner is 0.5 mm away from the three sides of the single hot layer copper sheet 9 it mates with (viewed from Figure 3 the three sides refer to the upper side, left side and right side of the copper sheet), and this matching is also used for the matching of the remaining p-type thermocouple elements with their hot layer copper sheets in this figure. For the n-type thermocouple elements as shown in the figure, the three sides become the lower side, left side and right side of the copper sheet; Each single hot layer copper sheet 9 at the outermost edge of each row is only provided with one thermocouple element, and its extra length can be used to connect the series wire 11 or the parallel wire 12; For each single hot layer copper sheet 9 in the middle of each row (the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module 2 removes the single hot layer copper sheets 9 at the outermost edges, as shown in Figure 3 , there are 5 single hot layer copper sheets 9 in the middle position in each row), these two rows of 10 copper sheets are each matched with a pair of n-type and p-type thermocouple elements, that is, a single n-type thermocouple element 7 and a single p-type thermocouple element 8. Among them, the single-row n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements 3 distributed on the upper surface of each row of hot layer copper sheet combination modules 2 are arranged alternately with n-type and p-type thermocouple elements, that is, every two adjacent thermocouple elements are of different types.

[0050] Figure 4 It is composed of two rows of hot layer copper sheet combination modules 2, two rows of n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements 3, an insulating substrate 4 and two rows of cold layer copper sheet combination modules 5. It is a structure formed by Figure 3 matching. First, it is matched with the insulating substrate 4, and then with two rows of cold layer copper sheet combination modules 5. The specific matching method is as follows: First, as shown in Figure 2 , the insulating substrate 4 has been drilled with holes, and the length and width of the holes are exactly the same as the length and width of the thermocouple elements, but the thickness model of the insulating substrate 4 is set to 0.6 mm, which is slightly smaller than the thickness of the thermocouple element of 1 mm. The thermocouple element passes through the substrate, and the insulating substrate 4 can be arranged in the middle of the thermocouple element, that is, the distance from the upper surface of the insulating substrate 4 to the lower surface of the cold layer copper sheet combination module 5 is equal to the distance from the lower surface of the insulating substrate 4 to the upper surface of the hot layer copper sheet combination module 2. Then, when the cold layer copper sheet combination module 5 is matched, the structure shown in Figure 4 is formed. Viewed from Figure 4It can be seen that when looking at the key power generation position of the present invention from the side, the distribution of the cold-layer copper sheet combination module 5 is exactly staggered with that of the hot-layer copper sheet combination module 2. This enables each thermocouple element to be connected to only one single hot-layer copper sheet 9 and one single cold-layer copper sheet 10, allowing each pair of n-type and p-type thermocouple elements in each row to achieve the purpose of series connection. At the same time, it should be emphasized that the connection method of the single-row cold-layer copper sheet combination module 5 with the single-row n-type and p-type thermocouple elements 3 is the same as that of the single-row hot-layer copper sheet combination module 2 with the single-row n-type and p-type thermocouple elements 3. A pair of n-type and p-type thermocouple elements should be symmetrically distributed on both sides of the lower surface of a single cold-layer copper sheet, as Figure 4 shown. The marked single n-type thermocouple element 7, single p-type thermocouple element 8 cooperate with a single cold-layer copper sheet 10. The left side of the single n-type thermocouple element 7 marked on the left side of the figure is 0.5 mm away from the left side of the single cold-layer copper sheet 10; the right side of the single p-type thermocouple element 8 marked on the right side of the figure is 0.5 mm away from the right side of the single cold-layer copper sheet 10.

[0051] Figure 5 is Figure 4 the upper oblique side view of the structure after removing the insulating substrate 4 and adding the series connection wire 11, that is Figure 5 composed of the series connection wire 11, two rows of hot-layer copper sheet combination modules 2, two rows of n-type and p-type thermocouple elements 3, and two rows of cold-layer copper sheet combination modules 5. The purpose of removing the insulating substrate 4 is to more clearly show the series connection principle of the two rows of thermocouple elements through the hot-layer copper sheet combination module 2, single-row cold-layer copper sheet combination module 5, and series connection wire 11. The positive and negative poles of each row of thermocouple elements are also marked in the figure, where the plus sign “+” is used to represent the positive pole and the minus sign “-” is used to represent the negative pole, and each row has its own positive and negative poles. As shown in the figure, according to the power generation principle and black representing p-type thermocouple elements and gray representing n-type thermocouple elements, it can be obtained that the leftmost of the first row (as Figure 5 shown, the leftmost thermocouple element in this row is gray) is the negative pole of this row, and the rightmost is the positive pole of this row. Similarly, the leftmost of the second row is a black p-type thermocouple element. At this time, the leftmost end of the second row is the positive pole of the second row, and the rightmost is the negative pole of this row; then use the series connection wire 11 to connect the negative pole of the first row with the positive pole of the second row, that is, to achieve the series connection purpose between rows. It should be emphasized that when connecting the negative pole of the first row of this model with the positive pole of the second row, the series connection wire 11 is used to connect the single hot-layer copper sheet 11 at the leftmost of the first row with the single hot-layer copper sheet at the leftmost of the second row. At the same time, in actual application, it should be connected according to the type of the outermost thermocouple element in each row, and handled flexibly. What is shown in the picture is only the setting of the model.

[0052] For Figure 6 , a parallel connection method is adopted to parallel two rows of thermocouple pairs. Similarly Figure 6The insulating substrate 4 is also removed, with the same purpose of more clearly demonstrating the parallel connection principle of its two rows of thermocouple pairs. Figure 5 The difference from Figure 6 is as follows: Figure 6 The arrangement order of the two rows of thermocouple pairs in Figure 5 is the same (different from the part in Figure 5 where the leftmost elements of the two rows are thermocouple elements of different types), that is, Figure 6 the leftmost elements of the two rows in

[0053] Figure 7 are both p-type thermocouple elements and are both positive electrodes; the rightmost elements of both rows are n-type thermocouple elements and are both negative electrodes. Therefore, according to the parallel connection principle, it can be obtained that two parallel wires 12 are required to connect the positive and negative electrodes of the two rows respectively, as shown in the figure, using the plus sign “+” to represent the positive electrode and the minus sign “-” to represent the negative electrode. At the same time, it is emphasized that looking at the type of the leftmost thermocouple element is only to illustrate its series or parallel connection principle, and is not limited to this series or parallel connection method. Figure 7 As shown in Figure 7 Figure 7

[0054]

[0055] The following gives the working principle and usage method of the present invention: The present invention is similar to a new type of flexible human wearable thermoelectric generator that can store energy through human body heat dissipation and is applied to human medical treatment and health monitoring. The heat dissipated from the human skin surface is converted into electrical energy through the thermocouple pairs of thermoelectric elements. By combining the cold layer and the hot layer copper sheet modules to connect the p-type and n-type thermocouple pairs in series, the thermal energy utilization rate can be enhanced.

[0055] The specific working mode and energy transfer process are as follows: Thermal energy is transferred from bottom to top, passing through the high-thermal-conductivity thermal layer film 1 of the insulating material, and then reaching the two rows of combined thermal layer copper sheet modules 2, and conducting through the combined thermal layer copper sheet modules 2. Since the insulating substrate 4 is a heat-insulating material, most of the heat remains near the combined thermal layer copper sheet modules 2, constituting the hot ends of the two rows of n-type and p-type thermocouple elements; at the same time, the corresponding cold ends are formed as follows: Since the environment is the cold source, the two rows of combined cold layer copper sheet modules 5 are closely attached to the lower surface of the high-thermal-conductivity cold layer film 6, which constitutes the cold ends of the n-type and p-type thermocouple elements 3; it can be seen that such a structure makes the two ends of the n-type thermocouple element 7 and the p-type thermocouple element 8, that is, the upper and lower ends in space, respectively form the hot and cold ends of the thermoelectric generator, one end is the hot end inward, and the other end is the cold end outward, thereby generating a temperature difference. This temperature difference causes a carrier migration phenomenon in each pair of n-type thermocouple elements 7 and p-type thermocouple elements 8. Because of the series connection of the copper sheets, the effects of the carrier migration phenomenon of each pair of n-type thermocouple elements 7 and p-type thermocouple elements 8 can be superimposed. If a wearable sensing device and an electronic circuit with a power of a few μW are externally connected, such as an ultra-low-power radio, a watch, etc., a circuit can be formed to generate current. Through experiments, the finally converted electrical energy can be measured to be in the micro-watt level, that is, it can meet the requirements of relevant microelectronic devices.

[0056] In this invention, the case of arranging two rows of p-type and n-type thermocouples alternately is taken as an example for elaboration. In a specific embodiment, two rows of p-type and n-type thermocouples are connected in series through copper sheets to form a flexible wearable thermoelectric generator for the human body, and each row of this generator is provided with 6 pairs, and each pair is composed of one n-type and one p-type thermocouple element. This invention does not exclude the protection of thermoelectric generators with more or fewer pairs of thermocouples in each row, nor does it exclude the protection of thermoelectric generators with different sizes, such as larger or smaller or thicker or thinner p-type and n-type thermocouple elements, nor does it exclude the protection of thermoelectric generators with other shapes having the same or similar power generation effects except for rectangles for the shapes of p-type and n-type thermocouple elements.

[0057] Regarding the specific dimensions of all components in the specification of this invention, parts such as the thermal layer film 1, the single copper sheet of the single-row combined thermal layer copper sheet module 2, and the single thermocouple element of the n-type and p-type thermocouple elements 3, etc., the dimensions of all parts are only the dimensions of the model in the specification drawings. In actual use, they should be uncertain. Therefore, for thermoelectric generators with the same structure but different dimensions, this patent should also give protection to them; this invention protects the connection between the thermocouple elements and the copper sheets using a conductive adhesive connection method; at the same time, this invention also protects different connection methods between rows, as shown in the specification drawings Figure 7 shown, where Figure 7 3 thermoelectric generators are arranged in parallel (either electrical parallel or electrical series connection can be used between rows); this invention gives a schematic structural diagram of series connection for adjacent rows, as shown in Figure 5As shown; The present invention also provides a structural schematic diagram of adjacent rows connected in parallel, such as Figure 6 As shown.

[0058] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present invention can be modified or equivalently replaced without departing from the purpose and scope of the present technical solution, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible wearable thermoelectric generator, characterized in that, it includes a cold layer film, a single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module, an insulating substrate, a single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module, and a hot layer film arranged in sequence; matrix through holes arranged linearly are formed on the insulating substrate, and n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements are embedded in the through holes; each single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module, a row of n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements, and each single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module form a power generation group; The n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements are of the same size, and their thickness is greater than or equal to the thickness of the insulating substrate, and the n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements are arranged staggeredly at intervals; Both the single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module and the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module include a plurality of linearly arranged copper sheets, and the copper sheets at both ends are matched with an n-type thermocouple element or a p-type thermocouple element; the remaining copper sheets are all matched with an n-type thermocouple element and a p-type thermocouple element; The copper sheets in the single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module and the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module are arranged staggeredly, and the projection of the copper sheets in each single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module on the copper sheets in the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module only covers an n-type thermocouple element or a p-type thermocouple element.

2. The flexible wearable thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thicknesses of the n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements are greater than the thickness of the insulating substrate, and they are symmetrically fixed on the insulating substrate, and the same thickness is exposed on both sides of the insulating substrate.

3. The flexible wearable thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The single-row cold layer copper sheet combination module and the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements.

4. The flexible wearable thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The copper sheets located on both sides in the single-row hot layer copper sheet combination module are connected to series wires or parallel wires.

5. The flexible wearable thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements are square, and the through holes formed on the insulating substrate are also square, and the n-type thermocouple elements and p-type thermocouple elements are in transitional fit with the insulating substrate.

6. The flexible wearable thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, it includes at least two power generation groups.

7. A system of a flexible wearable thermoelectric generator, characterized in that, it applies the flexible wearable thermoelectric generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, including at least two flexible wearable thermoelectric generators, and each flexible wearable thermoelectric generator includes at least one group of power generation groups, and the different power generation groups within the same flexible wearable thermoelectric generator or the different power generation groups of different flexible wearable thermoelectric generators are connected in series or in parallel.

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