Power generation plant

Abstract

The present application relates to a power generation apparatus. A power generation apparatus according to one embodiment of the present application includes: a conduit through which a first fluid passes; a first thermoelectric module and a second thermoelectric module arranged on a first surface of the conduit and spaced apart from each other; a connector arranged on the first surface of the conduit between the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module; and a shielding member arranged on the connector on the first surface of the conduit, wherein the shielding member includes a first face and a second face, a height of the second face being higher than a height of the first face.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority and benefit to Korean Patent Application No. 2019-0159249, filed on December 3, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a power generation device, and more specifically, to a power generation device that generates electricity by utilizing the temperature difference between the low-temperature section and the high-temperature section of a thermoelectric device. Background Technology

[0004] The thermoelectric effect is a phenomenon that occurs due to the movement of electrons and holes in a material, and it means a direct energy conversion between heat and electricity.

[0005] A thermoelectric device is a general term for a device that utilizes the thermoelectric effect and has the following structure: in which a P-type thermoelectric material and an N-type thermoelectric material are arranged between metal electrodes and bonded to the metal electrodes to form a PN junction pair.

[0006] Thermoelectric devices can be classified as follows: devices that utilize the change in resistance based on temperature, devices that utilize the Seebeck effect (which generates an electromotive force due to a temperature difference), and devices that utilize the Peltier effect (which generates or absorbs heat due to an electric current).

[0007] Thermoelectric devices have been applied in various fields, including household appliances, electronic components, and communication devices. For example, thermoelectric devices can be used in cooling equipment, heating equipment, and power generation equipment. Therefore, the demand for the thermoelectric performance of thermoelectric devices is gradually increasing.

[0008] Recently, there has been a need to generate electricity using high-temperature waste heat from engines and thermoelectric devices in vehicles, ships, etc. In this case, a conduit through which a first fluid passes can be arranged on the low-temperature side of the thermoelectric device, a heat sink can be arranged on the high-temperature side of the thermoelectric device, and a second fluid can pass through the heat sink. Therefore, due to the temperature difference between the low-temperature and high-temperature parts of the thermoelectric device, electricity can be generated, and the power generation performance can depend on the structure of the power generation equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a power generation device that generates electricity by utilizing the temperature difference between the low-temperature section and the high-temperature section of a thermoelectric device.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, a power generation device is provided, comprising: a conduit through which a first fluid passes; a first thermoelectric module and a second thermoelectric module disposed on a first surface of the conduit and spaced apart from each other; a connector disposed on the first surface of the conduit between the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module; and a shielding member disposed on the first surface of the conduit on the connector, wherein the shielding member includes a first surface and a second surface, the height of the second surface being higher than the height of the first surface.

[0011] Each of the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module may include: a thermoelectric device disposed on a first surface; and a heat sink disposed on the thermoelectric device, wherein the upper surface of the first surface may be disposed at a height lower than or equal to the height of the lower surface of the heat sink.

[0012] A wire extending from at least one of the thermoelectric devices in the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module can be connected to the connector, and the lower surface of the second side can be arranged at a height higher than the height of the wire and the height of the connector.

[0013] The shielding member may further include a third surface disposed between the first surface and the second surface, and having a height that is higher than that of the first surface but lower than that of the second surface.

[0014] The third surface can be positioned at a height higher than the height of the wire, and the second surface can be positioned at a height higher than the height of the connector.

[0015] The shielding component may further include: a first connecting surface connecting the upper surface of the first surface and the upper surface of the third surface; and a second connecting surface connecting the upper surface of the third surface and the upper surface of the second surface, wherein the first connecting surface may be inclined relative to the upper surface of the first surface at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°.

[0016] The first surface of the shielding component can be symmetrically arranged between the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module.

[0017] The area of ​​the third surface can be greater than the area of ​​the second surface.

[0018] The shielding member may include a plurality of second surfaces that are identical to and spaced apart from each other.

[0019] The third surface can be arranged between two second surfaces that are spaced apart from each other, and the second connecting surface can be arranged symmetrically to connect the upper surface of the second surface and the upper surface of the third surface.

[0020] The power generation device may also include an insulating member disposed between the first surface and the lower surface of the shielding member.

[0021] The insulating component may be disposed on the side surface of the wire and connector on the first surface.

[0022] The insulating member may not be arranged on at least a portion of the space between the wire and the lower surface of the shielding member, or between the connector and the lower surface of the shielding member.

[0023] The upper surface of the second surface can be arranged to have a maximum height from the lower surface of the heat sink, which is 0.25 times the height difference between the lower surface and the upper surface of the heat sink.

[0024] The temperature of the second fluid is different from that of the first fluid. The second fluid passes sequentially through the heat sink of the first thermoelectric module, the upper surface of the shielding member, and the heat sink of the second thermoelectric module.

[0025] The flow direction of the first fluid may be different from the flow direction of the second fluid.

[0026] The flow direction of the first fluid can be perpendicular to the flow direction of the second fluid.

[0027] The conduit may include a first conduit and a second conduit adjacent to the first conduit, and the shielding member may be arranged between a first thermoelectric module disposed on a first surface of the first conduit and a first thermoelectric module disposed on a first surface of the second conduit.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention, a power generation device is provided, comprising: a conduit through which a first fluid passes; a first thermoelectric module and a second thermoelectric module disposed on a first surface of the conduit and spaced apart from each other; a first connector disposed on the first surface of the conduit between the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module; a first shielding member disposed on the first surface of the conduit on the first connector; a third thermoelectric module and a fourth thermoelectric module disposed on a second surface of the conduit facing the first surface and spaced apart from each other; a second connector disposed on the second surface of the conduit between the third thermoelectric module and the fourth thermoelectric module; and a second shielding member disposed on the second surface of the conduit on the second connector, wherein each of the first shielding member and the second shielding member includes a first surface and a second surface, the height of the second surface being greater than the height of the first surface.

[0029] Each of the first to fourth thermoelectric modules may include: a thermoelectric device disposed on a corresponding surface of the conduit; and a heat sink disposed on the thermoelectric device, wherein the distance between the surface of the conduit and the first surface may be less than or equal to the minimum distance between the surface of the conduit and the heat sink. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a power generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a power generation device;

[0033] Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 Another cross-sectional view of the power generation equipment;

[0034] Figure 4 It shows Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the power generation equipment;

[0035] Figure 5 It shows Figure 1 A partial enlarged view of the power generation equipment;

[0036] Figure 6 It shows a cross-sectional view of the thermoelectric device;

[0037] Figure 7 It shows a perspective view of the thermoelectric device;

[0038] Figure 8 This is a partial perspective view showing a power generation device including a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 9 It shows Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the power generation equipment;

[0040] Figure 10 It shows Figure 8 An enlarged view of the area near the shielding components of the power generation equipment;

[0041] Figure 11 This is a perspective view showing a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 12This is a cross-sectional view of a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 13 This shows a set of top and cross-sectional views of the shielding member according to the comparative example;

[0044] Figure 14 It shows according to Figure 13 A comparative example, a view showing the height difference between the shielding component and the heat sink;

[0045] Figures 15A to 15C This is a view showing the flow of gas through the shielding member according to a comparative example;

[0046] Figure 16 This is a set of top and cross-sectional views showing a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 17 It shows according to Figure 16 A view of the height difference between the shielding member and the heat sink in an embodiment; and

[0048] Figures 18A to 18C It shows according to Figure 16 A view of the flow of fluid through the shielding member in an embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0049] In the following description, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0050] However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments to be described, but can be implemented using various other embodiments, and at least one component of these embodiments can be selectively connected, replaced and used within the scope of the spirit of the invention to achieve the spirit of the invention.

[0051] Furthermore, unless otherwise explicitly and specifically defined by context, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) are to be interpreted as having the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art, and the meanings of common terms, such as those defined in common dictionaries, will be interpreted in light of the contextual meaning of the relevant art.

[0052] Furthermore, the terminology used in the embodiments of the present invention is considered in a descriptive sense and is not intended to limit the invention.

[0053] In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form includes its plural form, and in the case of describing “at least one (or one or more) of A, B and C”, this may include one or more of all combinations that can be combined with A, B and C.

[0054] In the description of the components of this invention, terms such as "first", "second", "A", "B", "a" and "b" may be used.

[0055] These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another, and the nature, order, etc., of the element are not limited by these terms.

[0056] It should be understood that when an element is described as being “connected or coupled” to another element, this description can include two cases: the element is directly connected or coupled to another element; and the element is connected or coupled to another element but there is another element arranged between them.

[0057] When describing any element as being formed or arranged "above or below" another element, this description includes two cases: the two elements are formed or arranged in direct contact with each other; and one or more other elements are arranged between the two elements. Additionally, when describing an element as being formed "above or below" another element, this description can include the case where one element is on the upper or lower side of the formation relative to the other element.

[0058] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a power generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a power generation device. Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 Another cross-sectional view of the power generation equipment, Figure 4 It shows Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the power generation equipment, and Figure 5 It shows Figure 1 A partial enlarged view of the power generation equipment.

[0059] refer to Figures 1 to 4 The power generation device 1000 includes a conduit 1100, a first thermoelectric module 1200, a second thermoelectric module (not shown), and a gas guiding member 1400. Multiple power generation devices 1000 can be arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals to form a power generation system. Although not shown in the figures, a second fluid can pass between two power generation devices 1000 arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval. For example, the second thermoelectric module of one power generation device 1000 and the first thermoelectric module 1200 of another adjacent power generation device 1000 are arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval, and the second fluid can pass between them.

[0060] The power generation device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention can generate electricity by utilizing the temperature difference between a first fluid flowing in a conduit 1100 and a second fluid passing outside the conduit 1100. In this specification, the temperature of the first fluid flowing in the conduit 1100 may be lower than the temperature of the second fluid passing through the heat sinks of a first thermoelectric module 1200 and a second thermoelectric module, which are arranged outside the conduit 1100. In this specification, the first fluid may also be referred to as a cooling fluid, and the second fluid may also be referred to as a gas or a high-temperature fluid.

[0061] Therefore, the first thermoelectric module 1200 can be arranged on one surface of the conduit 1100, and the second thermoelectric module can be arranged on the other surface of the conduit 1100. In this case, of the two surfaces of each of the first and second thermoelectric modules, the surface facing the conduit 1100 can become its low-temperature portion, and electricity can be generated by utilizing the temperature difference between the low-temperature portion and the high-temperature portion.

[0062] The first fluid introduced into the conduit 1100 can be water, but it is not limited to this; it can be one of various fluids with cooling properties. The temperature of the first fluid introduced into the conduit 1100 can be below 100°C, preferably below 50°C, more preferably below 40°C, but it is not limited to this. The temperature of the first fluid passing through and exiting the conduit 1100 can be higher than the temperature of the first fluid introduced into the conduit 1100. The conduit 1100 includes a first surface 1110, a second surface 1120 arranged parallel to and facing the first surface 1110, a third surface 1130 arranged between the first surface 1110 and the second surface 1120, and a fourth surface 1140 arranged between the first surface 1110 and the second surface 1120 and facing the third surface 1130, and the first fluid passes through the conduit formed by the first surface 1110, the second surface 1120, the third surface 1130, and the fourth surface 1140. The first fluid is introduced through the first fluid inlet of the conduit 1100 and discharged through the first fluid outlet of the conduit 1100. An inlet flange (not shown) and an outlet flange (not shown) may be further arranged on the first fluid inlet side and the first fluid outlet side of the conduit 1100, respectively, to facilitate the introduction and discharge of the first fluid and to support the conduit 1100. Alternatively, a plurality of first fluid inlets 1152 may be formed in a fifth surface 1150, which is one of two surfaces between the first surface 1110, the second surface 1120, the third surface 1130, and the fourth surface 1140 of the conduit 1100, and a plurality of first fluid outlets 1162 may be formed in a sixth surface 1160, which is the other of the two surfaces between the first surface 1110, the second surface 1120, the third surface 1130, and the fourth surface 1140 of the conduit 1100. The plurality of first fluid inlets 1152 and the plurality of first fluid outlets 1162 may be connected to a plurality of first fluid passage pipes 1170 in the conduit 1100. Therefore, the first fluid introduced through the first fluid inlet 1152 can pass through the first fluid through pipe 1170 and be discharged through the first fluid outlet 1162. In this case, since the first fluid can be uniformly dispersed in the conduit 1100 even when the flow rate of the first fluid is insufficient to completely fill the conduit 1100 or when the surface area of ​​the conduit 1100 is large, a uniform thermoelectric conversion efficiency can be obtained on the entire surface of the conduit 1100, and the inlet flange and outlet flange can be omitted.

[0063] In this configuration, the first fluid inlet 1152 can be connected to the first fluid inlet pipe 1182 via the first assembly member 1180, and the first fluid outlet 1162 can be connected to the first fluid outlet pipe 1192 via the second assembly member 1190.

[0064] In this configuration, the first fluid inlet pipe 1182 and the first fluid outlet pipe 1192 may be arranged to protrude from the fifth surface 1150 and the sixth surface 1160 of the conduit 1100.

[0065] Although not shown in the figure, heat sinks can be arranged on the inner wall of the conduit 1100. The number, shape, and area occupied by the heat sinks on the inner wall of the conduit 1100 can be varied depending on the temperature of the first fluid, the temperature of the waste heat, the required power generation capacity, etc. For example, the area occupied by the heat sinks on the inner wall of the conduit 1100 can be in the range of 1% to 40% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the conduit 1100. Therefore, high thermoelectric conversion efficiency can be obtained even without interfering with the flow of the first fluid. In this case, the heat sinks can have a shape that does not interfere with the flow of the first fluid. For example, the heat sinks can be formed in the direction of the first fluid flow. That is, the heat sinks can have a plate-like shape extending from the first fluid inlet toward the first fluid outlet, and the plurality of heat sinks can be arranged to be spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals. These heat sinks can be integrally formed with the inner wall of the conduit 1100.

[0066] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the conduit 1100 may be configured as a plurality of conduits 1100. For example, the conduit 1100 may include a first conduit 1100-1 and a second conduit 1100-2 adjacent to the first conduit 1100-1. Therefore, since the first fluid can be uniformly dispersed in the first conduit 1100-1 and the second conduit 1100-2 even when the flow rate of the first fluid is insufficient to completely fill the conduit 1100, a uniform thermoelectric conversion efficiency can be obtained on the entire surface of the conduit 1100.

[0067] Meanwhile, the first thermoelectric module 1200 is arranged on the first surface 1110 of the conduit 1100, and the second thermoelectric module is arranged on the second surface 1120 of the conduit 1100, and the first thermoelectric module 1200 and the second thermoelectric module are arranged symmetrically.

[0068] The first thermoelectric module 1200 and the second thermoelectric module can be connected to the conduit 1100 using screws. Therefore, the first thermoelectric module 1200 and the second thermoelectric module can be stably connected to the surface of the conduit 1100. Alternatively, at least one of the first thermoelectric module 1200 and the second thermoelectric module can also be bonded to the surface of the conduit 1100 using thermal interface materials (TIM) 1212 or 1312.

[0069] Meanwhile, the first thermoelectric module 1200 and the second thermoelectric module respectively include thermoelectric devices 1210 and 1310 arranged on the first surface 1110 and the second surface 1120, and heat sinks 1220 and 1320 arranged on the thermoelectric devices 1210 and 1310. In this case, the distance between the first surface 1110 and the first heat sink 1220 can be greater than the distance between the first surface 1110 and the thermoelectric device 1210, and the distance between the second surface 1120 and the second heat sink 1320 can be greater than the distance between the second surface 1120 and the thermoelectric device 1310. As described above, the conduit 1100 through which the first fluid flows is arranged on one of the two surfaces of each of the thermoelectric devices 1210 and 1310, and the heat sinks 1220 and 1320 are arranged on the other surface of each of the two surfaces of the thermoelectric devices 1210 and 1310. When the second fluid passes through the heat sinks 1220 and 1320, the temperature difference between the heat-absorbing and heat-dissipating surfaces of the thermoelectric devices 1210 and 1310 can increase, thereby improving the thermoelectric conversion efficiency. In this case, the directions of the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow can be different. For example, the direction of the first fluid flow may be substantially perpendicular to the direction of the second fluid flow.

[0070] In this case, refer to Figure 5 Heat sinks 1220 and 1320 can be connected to thermoelectric devices 1210 and 1310 by multiple connecting members 1230 and 1330. For this purpose, through-holes S through which the connecting members 1230 and 1330 pass can be formed in at least some of the heat sinks 1220 and 1320 and thermoelectric devices 1210 and 1310. In this case, individual insulators 1240 and 1340 can be further arranged between the through-holes S and the connecting members 1230 and 1330. The individual insulators 1240 and 1340 can be insulators surrounding the outer peripheral surfaces of the connecting members 1230 and 1330, or insulators surrounding the inner walls of the through-holes S. Therefore, the insulation distance of the thermoelectric module can be increased.

[0071] In this case, the structure of each thermoelectric device 1210 and 1310 can have Figure 6 and Figure 7 The structure of the thermoelectric device 100 shown is illustrated. (Reference) Figure 6 and Figure 7 The thermoelectric device 100 includes a lower substrate 110, a lower electrode 120, a P-type thermoelectric leg 130, an N-type thermoelectric leg 140, an upper electrode 150, and an upper substrate 160.

[0072] The lower electrode 120 is disposed between the lower substrate 110 and the lower surfaces of the P-type thermoelectric leg 130 and the N-type thermoelectric leg 140, and the upper electrode 150 is disposed between the upper substrate 160 and the upper surfaces of the P-type thermoelectric leg 130 and the N-type thermoelectric leg 140. Therefore, multiple P-type thermoelectric legs 130 and multiple N-type thermoelectric legs 140 are electrically connected through the lower electrode 120 and the upper electrode 150. A pair of P-type thermoelectric legs 130 and N-type thermoelectric legs 140 disposed between the lower electrode 120 and the upper electrode 150 and electrically connected to each other can form a unit cell.

[0073] For example, when a voltage is applied to the lower electrode 120 and the upper electrode 150 via leads 181 and 182, the substrate through which current flows from the P-type thermocouple 130 to the N-type thermocouple 140 can absorb heat due to the Peltier effect to serve as a cooling element, and the substrate through which current flows from the N-type thermocouple 140 to the P-type thermocouple 130 can be heated due to the Peltier effect to serve as a heating element. Alternatively, when a temperature difference is applied between the lower electrode 120 and the upper electrode 150, charges move in the P-type thermocouple 130 and the N-type thermocouple 140 due to the Seebeck effect to generate electricity.

[0074] In this case, the P-type thermoelectric leg 130 and the N-type thermoelectric leg 140 can be bismuth telluride (Bi-Te) based thermoelectric legs primarily comprising Bi and Te. The P-type thermoelectric leg 130 can be a Bi-Te based thermoelectric leg comprising at least one of antimony (Sb), nickel (Ni), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), lead (Pb), boron (B), gallium (Ga), Te, Bi, and indium (In). For example, relative to 100 wt% (weight percentage) of the total weight, the P-type thermoelectric leg 130 can comprise 99 wt% to 99.999 wt% of Bi-Sb-Te as the main material and 0.001 wt% to 1 wt% of at least one of Ni, Al, Cu, Ag, Pb, B, Ga, and In. The N-type thermoelectric leg 140 can be a Bi-Te based thermoelectric leg comprising at least one of Se, Ni, Al, Cu, Ag, Pb, B, Ga, Te, Bi, and In. For example, relative to 100 wt% of the total weight, the N-type thermoelectric leg 140 may comprise 99 wt% to 99.999 wt% of Bi-Se-Te and 0.001 wt% to 1 wt% of Ni, Al, Cu, Ag, Pb, B, Ga, and In as the main material. Therefore, in this specification, the thermoelectric leg may also be referred to as a semiconductor structure, semiconductor device, semiconductor material layer, conductive semiconductor structure, thermoelectric structure, thermoelectric material layer, etc.

[0075] The P-type thermoelectric leg 130 and the N-type thermoelectric leg 140 can be formed as block-shaped or stacked thermoelectric legs. Typically, the block-shaped P-type thermoelectric leg 130 or the block-shaped N-type thermoelectric leg 140 can be formed by a process in which the thermoelectric material is heat-treated to produce an ingot, the ingot is ground and sieved to obtain powder for the thermoelectric leg, the powder is sintered, and the sintered granules are cut. In this case, the P-type thermoelectric leg 130 and the N-type thermoelectric leg 140 can be polycrystalline thermoelectric legs. When the powder for the thermoelectric leg is sintered to form a polycrystalline thermoelectric leg, the powder can be compressed by a pressure in the range of 100 MPa to 200 MPa. For example, when sintering the P-type thermoelectric leg 130, the powder for the thermoelectric leg can be sintered at 100 MPa to 150 MPa, preferably at 110 MPa to 140 MPa, and more preferably at 120 MPa to 130 MPa. Furthermore, when the powder used for the N-type thermoelectric leg 140 is sintered, the powder for the thermoelectric leg can be sintered at a pressure of 150 MPa to 200 MPa, preferably 160 MPa to 195 MPa, and more preferably 70 MPa to 190 MPa. As described above, when the P-type thermoelectric leg 130 and the N-type thermoelectric leg 140 are polycrystalline thermoelectric legs, the strength of the P-type thermoelectric leg 130 and the N-type thermoelectric leg 140 can be increased. Stacked P-type thermoelectric legs 130 or stacked N-type thermoelectric legs 140 can be formed during the process of coating a sheet-like substrate with a paste including thermoelectric materials to form a unit component, and during the process of stacking and cutting these unit components.

[0076] In this case, the pair of P-type thermoelectric legs 130 and N-type thermoelectric legs 140 can have the same shape and volume, or they can have different shapes and volumes. For example, because the P-type thermoelectric legs 130 and N-type thermoelectric legs 140 have different electrical conductivity characteristics, the height or cross-sectional area of ​​the N-type thermoelectric leg 140 can be different from the height or cross-sectional area of ​​the P-type thermoelectric leg 130.

[0077] In this case, the P-type thermoelectric leg 130 or the N-type thermoelectric leg 140 can have a cylindrical shape, a polygonal prism shape, an elliptical prism shape, etc.

[0078] The performance of a thermoelectric device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be expressed as a quality factor (ZT). This quality factor (ZT) can be expressed by Formula 1.

[0079] [Formula 1]

[0080] ZT = α 2 σ T / k

[0081] Here, α is the Seebeck coefficient [V / K], σ is the conductivity [S / m], and α 2 σ is the power factor [W / mK] 2 Additionally, T represents temperature, and k represents thermal conductivity [W / mK]. k can be expressed as a cp ρ and a are the thermal diffusivity [cm] 2 / S], cp is the specific heat [J / gK], and ρ is the density [g / cm³]. 3 ].

[0082] To obtain the quality factor of a thermoelectric element, a Z-meter is used to measure the Z value [V / K], and the measured Z value can be used to calculate the quality factor (ZT).

[0083] Here, each of the lower electrode 120 disposed between the lower substrate 110 and the P-type thermoelectric legs 130 and N-type thermoelectric legs 140, and the upper electrode 150 disposed between the upper substrate 160 and the P-type thermoelectric legs 130 and N-type thermoelectric legs 140, may comprise at least one of Cu, Ag, Al, and Ni, and may have a thickness of 0.01 mm to 0.3 mm. When the thickness of the lower electrode 120 or the upper electrode 150 is less than 0.01 mm, its electrode function deteriorates, and therefore its conductivity may decrease; and when its thickness is greater than 0.3 mm, its resistance increases, and therefore its conductivity efficiency may decrease.

[0084] Furthermore, each of the lower substrate 110 and upper substrate 160 facing each other can be a metal substrate, and its thickness can be from 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. If the thickness of the metal substrate is less than 0.1 mm or greater than 1.5 mm, its heat dissipation or thermal conductivity may become excessively high, potentially reducing the reliability of the thermoelectric element. Additionally, when the lower substrate 110 and upper substrate 160 are metal substrates, an insulating layer 170 can be further formed between the lower substrate 110 and the lower electrode 120, and between the upper substrate 160 and the upper electrode 150. The insulating layer 170 can include a material having a thermal conductivity of 1 W / K to 20 W / K.

[0085] In this case, the dimensions of the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate 160 can also be different. For example, the volume, thickness, or area of ​​one of the substrates, the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate 160, can be larger than the volume, thickness, or area of ​​the other substrate. Therefore, the heat absorption or dissipation performance of the thermoelectric element can be enhanced. Preferably, at least one of the volume, thickness, and area of ​​the lower substrate 110 can be larger than that of the upper substrate 160. In this case, when the lower substrate 110 is arranged in a high-temperature region for the Seebeck effect or as a heating region for the Peltier effect, or when a sealing member (described later) for protecting the thermoelectric device from external environmental influences is arranged on the lower substrate 110, at least one of the volume, thickness, and area of ​​the lower substrate 110 can be larger than that of the upper substrate 160. In this case, the area of ​​the lower substrate 110 can be 1.2 to 5 times larger than the area of ​​the upper substrate 160. When the area of ​​the lower substrate 110 is less than 1.2 times the area of ​​the upper substrate 160, the effect of improving thermal conductivity is not significant. Furthermore, when the area of ​​the lower substrate 110 is more than 5 times the area of ​​the upper substrate 160, the thermal conductivity may be significantly reduced, and it may be difficult to maintain the basic shape of the thermoelectric module.

[0086] Alternatively, a heat dissipation pattern, such as an irregular pattern, may be formed on at least one surface of the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate 160. This enhances the heat dissipation performance of the thermoelectric element. When the irregular pattern is formed on the surface in contact with the P-type thermoelectric leg 130 or the N-type thermoelectric leg 140, the bonding characteristics between the thermoelectric leg and the substrate can also be improved. The thermoelectric device 100 includes a lower substrate 110, a lower electrode 120, a P-type thermoelectric leg 130, an N-type thermoelectric leg 140, an upper electrode 150, and an upper substrate 160.

[0087] Although not shown in the figures, the sealing member may be further disposed between the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate 160. The sealing member may be disposed between the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate 160 and on the respective side surfaces of the lower electrode 120, the P-type thermoelectric leg 130, the N-type thermoelectric leg 140, and the upper electrode 150. Therefore, the lower electrode 120, the P-type thermoelectric leg 130, the N-type thermoelectric leg 140, and the upper electrode 150 can be sealed to protect them from external moisture, heat, contamination, etc.

[0088] In this configuration, the lower substrate 110 disposed on the conduit 1100 can be an aluminum substrate, and this aluminum substrate can be bonded to each of the first surface 1110 and the second surface 1120 via a TIM. Because the aluminum substrate has high thermal conductivity, heat can be easily transferred between one of the two surfaces of each thermoelectric device 1210 and 1310 and the conduit 1100 in which the first fluid flows. Furthermore, when the aluminum substrate and the conduit 1100 in which the first fluid flows are bonded via a TIM, the heat conduction between the aluminum substrate and the conduit 1100 in which the first fluid flows is not disturbed.

[0089] Refer again Figures 1 to 4 A first fluid flows through the conduit 1100 in a first direction, and the gas can branch in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the first surface 1110 and the second surface 1120. For this purpose, a gas guiding member 1400 can be arranged on each conduit 1100 in the direction in which the second fluid is introduced, or multiple gas guiding members can be arranged on each conduit 1100 in the direction in which the second fluid is introduced. For example, if the third surface 1130 of the conduit 1100 is formed facing the direction of introduction of the second fluid and the fourth surface 1140 of the conduit 1100 is formed facing the direction of discharge of the second fluid, the gas guiding member 1400 can be arranged on the third surface 1130 side of the conduit 1100. Alternatively, according to aerodynamic principles, the gas guiding member 1400 can also be arranged on the fourth surface 1140 side of the conduit 1100.

[0090] In this case, the temperature of the gas introduced into the power generation device is higher than the temperature of the gas discharged after passing through the heat sink included in the thermoelectric module of the power generation device. For example, the gas introduced into the power generation device may be a gas with waste heat generated by the engine of a vehicle, ship, etc., but it is not limited thereto. For example, the temperature of the gas introduced into the power generation device may be 100°C or higher, preferably 200°C or higher, more preferably 220°C to 250°C, but it is not limited thereto.

[0091] The gas guiding member 1400 can be arranged above the third surface 1130 of the conduit 1100 and has a shape in which the distance between the gas guiding member 1400 and the third surface 1130 increases in a direction toward the center between the two ends of the third surface 1130. For example, the gas guiding member 1400 can be umbrella-shaped or roof-shaped. Therefore, the second fluid (e.g., waste heat) can be diverted due to the gas guiding member 1400 and can be guided to contact the first thermoelectric module 1200 and the second thermoelectric module arranged on the two surfaces of the power generation device.

[0092] Meanwhile, in a power generation device 1000, the width W1 between the outer side of the first heat sink 1220 of the first thermoelectric module 1200 and the outer side of the second heat sink 1320 of the second thermoelectric module can be greater than the width W2 of the gas guiding member 1400. In this case, the outer side of each first heat sink 1220 and the outer side of each second heat sink 1320 can point to the side opposite to the side facing the conduit 1100. In this case, the first heat sink 1220 and the second heat sink 1320 can be formed in a direction that does not interfere with the gas flow. For example, each of the first heat sink 1220 and the second heat sink 1320 can have a plate-like shape extending in the second direction. Alternatively, each of the first heat sink 1220 and the second heat sink 1320 can also have a folded shape to form a flow channel in the second direction of gas flow. In this configuration, the maximum width W1 between the first heat sink 1220 of the first thermoelectric module 1200 and the second heat sink 1320 of the second thermoelectric module can refer to the distance between the farthest point of the first heat sink 1220 from the conduit 1100 and the farthest point of the second heat sink 1320 from the conduit 1100, and the maximum width W2 of the gas guiding member 1400 can refer to the width of the gas guiding member 1400 in the region closest to the third surface 1132 of the conduit 1100. Therefore, the flow of gas introduced in the second direction can be unaffected by the gas guiding member 1400 and can be directly transferred to the first heat sink 1220 and the second heat sink 1320. Thus, because the contact area between the gas and the first and second heat sinks 1220 and 1320 is increased, the heat absorbed by the first and second heat sinks 1220 from the gas can be increased, and the power generation efficiency can be improved.

[0093] Meanwhile, a thermal insulation component 1700 and a shielding component 1800 can be further arranged between the third surface 1130 of the conduit 1100 and the gas guiding component 1400 to increase the sealing and thermal insulation effect between the first thermoelectric module 1200, the conduit 1100 and the second thermoelectric module.

[0094] Meanwhile, the third surface 1130 of the gas guiding member 1400, the shielding member 1800, the thermal insulation member 1700, and the conduit 1100 can be connected together, thus forming an air layer between the gas guiding member 1400 and the shielding member 1800. This air layer between the gas guiding member 1400 and the shielding member 1800 further improves the thermal insulation performance.

[0095] Alternatively, to further improve thermal insulation performance, an additional insulating member 1740 may be arranged between the thermal insulation member 1700 and the shielding member 1800.

[0096] Alternatively, although not shown in the figure, one surface of the gas guiding member 1400 may also extend to have a hollow triangular shape, so that the gas guiding member 1400 may be incorporated into the shielding member 1800.

[0097] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first thermoelectric module 1200 arranged on the first surface 1110 of the conduit 1100 can be configured as a plurality of first thermoelectric modules 1200, and the second thermoelectric module arranged on the second surface 1120 of the conduit 1100 can be configured as a plurality of second thermoelectric modules. The size and number of thermoelectric modules can be adjusted according to the required power generation.

[0098] In this configuration, at least some of the multiple first thermoelectric modules 1200 arranged on the first surface 1110 of the conduit 1100 can be electrically connected, and at least some of the multiple second thermoelectric modules arranged on the second surface 1120 of the conduit 1100 can also be electrically connected. For this purpose, wires are connected to some of the multiple electrodes included in the thermoelectric device and are led out to the outside of the thermoelectric device; the led-out wires can be connected to connectors arranged outside the thermoelectric device.

[0099] Meanwhile, the wires and connectors are vulnerable to external heat or moisture, and may be damaged if the second fluid passing through the heat sink comes into direct contact with them. Therefore, the power generation equipment according to embodiments of the present invention may further include a shielding member for covering the wires and connectors. However, when the shielding member is arranged between thermoelectric modules, it may interfere with the flow path of the second fluid. In embodiments of the present invention, it is desirable to provide a shielding member with a structure that covers the wires and connectors even without interfering with the flow path of the second fluid.

[0100] The power generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: a first shielding member 2100 disposed between two adjacent first thermoelectric modules 1200-1 and 1200-2 among a plurality of first thermoelectric modules 1200; and a second shielding member (not shown) disposed between two adjacent second thermoelectric modules 1300-1 and 1300-2 among a plurality of second thermoelectric modules.

[0101] Figure 8 This is a partial perspective view showing a power generation device including a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 It shows Figure 8 Cross-sectional view of the power generation equipment. Figure 10 It shows Figure 8 An enlarged view of the area near the shielding components of the power generation equipment. Figure 11 This is a perspective view showing a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 12 This is a cross-sectional view showing a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 1 to 7 The same repeated content will be omitted. For ease of description, only an example of multiple first thermoelectric modules arranged on the first surface of the conduit will be described, but the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the same structure as the multiple first thermoelectric modules can also be applied to multiple second thermoelectric modules arranged on the second surface of the conduit.

[0102] refer to Figures 8 to 12 A plurality of first thermoelectric modules 1200 are arranged on a first surface 1110 of the conduit 1100. Each of the plurality of first thermoelectric modules 1200 includes a thermoelectric device 1210 arranged on the first surface 1110 and a heat sink 1220 arranged on the thermoelectric device 1210. Additionally, each of the first thermoelectric modules 1200 includes a wire 300 extending from the thermoelectric device 1210 and a connector 400 connected to the wire 300. In this case, the wire 300 may correspond to... Figure 6 Leads 181 and 182.

[0103] A wire 300 extending from a thermoelectric device 1210-1 included in a first thermoelectric module 1200-1 and a wire 300 extending from a thermoelectric device 1210-2 of another first thermoelectric module 1200-2 adjacent to the first thermoelectric module 1200-1 can be connected to a connector 400.

[0104] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first shielding member 2100 can be arranged between a first thermoelectric module 1200-1 and another first thermoelectric module 1200-2 adjacent to the first thermoelectric module 1200-1, and can cover the wire 300 and connector 400 arranged between the first thermoelectric module 1200-1 and the other first thermoelectric module 1200-2 adjacent to the first thermoelectric module 1200-1. Therefore, the wire 300 and connector 400 can be arranged between the first surface 1110 of the conduit 1100 and the first shielding member 2100.

[0105] In this case, an insulating member 3000 can be further arranged between the first surface 1110 of the conduit 1100 and the first shielding member 2100. Therefore, since the insulation between the first fluid in the conduit 1100 and the second fluid on the first shielding member 2100 can be maintained, the power generation performance of the power generation device can be maximized.

[0106] For example, the insulating member 3000 can be disposed between the first surface 1110 and the wire 300 and connector 400. Alternatively, the insulating member 3000 can be disposed on the first surface 1110 and on the side surface of the wire 300 and connector 400. In this case, the insulating member 3000 may not be disposed between the wire 300 and connector 400 and the first shielding member 2100. That is, holes through which the wire 300 and connector 400 pass can also be formed in the insulating member 3000. Therefore, since the height of the first shielding member 2100 is not increased due to the insulating member 3000, the influence of the insulating member 3000 on the flow of the second fluid can be eliminated.

[0107] Therefore, the second fluid passing through the power generation device according to an embodiment of the invention can flow sequentially through the first heat sink 1220-1 of one of the two adjacent first thermoelectric modules 1200-1 and 1200-2, the first shielding member 2100, and the second heat sink 1220-2 of the other of the two adjacent first thermoelectric modules 1200-1 and 1200-2. The direction of the second fluid flow can be a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in which the first fluid is introduced and discharged from the conduit 1100.

[0108] Similarly, the second shielding member 2200 can be arranged between one second thermoelectric module and another second thermoelectric module adjacent to it, and can cover the wires and connectors between the one second thermoelectric module and the other second thermoelectric module adjacent to it. Therefore, the wires and connectors can be arranged between the second surface 1120 of the conduit 1100 and the second shielding member. In this specification, for ease of description, the first shielding member 2100 is mainly described; however, structures identical to those of the first shielding member 2100 can also be applied to the second shielding member 2200.

[0109] In this configuration, the first shielding member 2100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first surface 2110 and a second surface 2120, the second surface 2120 being higher than the first surface 2110. Additionally, the first shielding member 2100 may also include a third surface 2130, the third surface 2130 being higher than the first surface 2110 but lower than the second surface 2120. In this case, the first surface 2110 may be positioned at a height lower than or equal to the height of the lower surface 1222 of the heat sink 1220. In this specification, height can be a distance relative to the surface of the conduit 1100 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the conduit 1100. When the first shielding member 2100 is positioned between two adjacent first thermoelectric modules 1200-1 and 1200-2, the first surface 2110 of the first shielding member 2100 may be symmetrically formed between the two first thermoelectric modules 1200-1 and 1200-2. Therefore, the second fluid passing through the first heat sink 1220-1 can be introduced into the second heat sink 1220-2 along the first shielding member 2100 in a state where its flow is undisturbed.

[0110] Furthermore, the third surface 2130 can be positioned at a height higher than the height of the wire 300, and the second surface 2120 can be positioned at a height higher than the heights of the wire 300 and the connector 400. For example, the second surface 2120 can be positioned at a maximum height from the lower surface 1222 of the heat sink 1220, which is less than 0.25 times, preferably less than 0.2 times, and more preferably less than 0.18 times, the height difference H between the lower surface 1222 and the upper surface 1224 of the heat sink 1220. Therefore, since the area covered by the second surface 2120 for each of the first heat sink 1220-1 and the second heat sink 1220-2 can be minimized, the flow of the second fluid can be undisturbed.

[0111] In this case, the area of ​​the third surface 2130 can be larger than the area of ​​the second surface 2120. That is, the second surface 2120 can be formed to cover the connector 400, and the entire area except for the first surface 2110 and the second surface 2120 can be the third surface 2130. As shown in the figure, the first surface 2110 can be formed along the first heat sink 1220-1 and the second heat sink 1220-2. In addition, the second surface 2120-1 can be formed to cover the first connector and the second connector, the first connector being connected to a wire with one of a first polarity and a second polarity leading from a first thermoelectric module 1200-1, and the second connector being connected to a wire with one of a first polarity and a second polarity leading from another first thermoelectric module 1200-2. Additionally, the second surface 2120-2 can be configured to cover the third and fourth connectors. The third connector is connected to a wire extending from a first thermoelectric module 1200-1 and having the other polarity of a first polarity and a second polarity. The fourth connector is connected to a wire extending from another first thermoelectric module 1200-2 and having the other polarity of a first polarity and a second polarity. As described above, the second surface 2120 can comprise a plurality of second surfaces 2120-1 and 2120-2 spaced apart from each other. In this case, the first and second connectors can be a single connector or separate connectors, and the third and fourth connectors can be a single connector or separate connectors.

[0112] Furthermore, the entire area of ​​the first shielding member 2100, excluding the first surface 2110 and the second surface 2120, can be a third surface 2130. In the case where the second surface 2120 comprises multiple second surfaces spaced apart from each other, the third surface 2130 can be arranged between two spaced-apart second surfaces 2120-1 and 2120-2. Therefore, since the area of ​​the second surface 2120 can be minimized, the first shielding member 2100 can avoid interfering with the gas passage from the first heat sink 1220-1 to the second heat sink 1220-2.

[0113] Meanwhile, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first shielding member 2100 includes a first connecting surface 2140 connecting the first surface 2110 and the third surface 2130, and a second connecting surface 2150 connecting the third surface 2130 and the second surface 2120.

[0114] In this configuration, the first connecting surface 2140 can be tilted relative to the first surface 2110 at an angle θ1 greater than 0° and less than 90°, preferably greater than 10° and less than 75°, and more preferably greater than 20° and less than 60°. Similarly, the second connecting surface 2150 can be tilted relative to the second surface 2120 at an angle θ2 greater than 0° and less than 90°, preferably greater than 10° and less than 75°, and more preferably greater than 20° and less than 60°. Therefore, gas passing through the first heat sink 1220-1 can be introduced into the second heat sink 1220-2 along the first shielding member 2100 without significant resistance.

[0115] Meanwhile, with the third surface 2130 arranged between two adjacent second surfaces 2120-1 and 2120-2, the second connecting surface 2150-1 and the second connecting surface 2150-2 can be arranged symmetrically to connect the third surface 2130 to the second surface 2120-1 and the third surface 2130 to the second surface 2120-2, respectively.

[0116] The simulation results of gas flow when using a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0117] Figure 13 This shows a set of top and cross-sectional views of the shielding member according to the comparative example. Figure 14 It shows according to Figure 13 A comparative example, a view showing the height difference between the shielding member and the heat sink, and Figures 15A to 15C This is a view showing the flow of gas through the shielding member according to a comparative example.

[0118] Figure 16 This is a set of top and cross-sectional views showing a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 17 It shows according to Figure 16 A view of the height difference between the shielding member and the heat sink in an embodiment, and Figures 18A to 18C It shows according to Figure 16 A view of the gas flow through the shielding member in an embodiment.

[0119] In this case, the simulation is performed under the following conditions: the height difference between the lower and upper surfaces of the heat sink is 6.5 mm based on the first surface 1110 of the conduit 1100, the height of the connector 400 is 3 mm, the height of the wire 300 is 2.6 mm, the height of the insulating member is 1.4 mm, and the thickness of the shielding member is 0.5 mm.

[0120] according to Figures 13 to 1In the comparative example of 5, the gap between the shielding member and the connector is set to 2 mm, and the gap between the shielding member and the wire is set to 2.4 mm. Therefore, the open height of the heat sink (i.e., the height difference between the upper surface of the shielding member and the upper surface of the heat sink) is 3.6 mm, and the open area of ​​the heat sink (i.e., the open area of ​​the heat sink from the upper surface of the shielding member to the upper surface of the heat sink) is 55.4% of the maximum open area of ​​the heat sink (i.e., the open area from the lower surface of the heat sink to the upper surface).

[0121] according to Figures 16 to 1 In embodiment 8, the gap between the shielding member and the connector is set to 1 mm, and the gap between the shielding member and the wire is set to 0.6 mm. Therefore, the heat sink opening height from the third side is 5.4 mm, the heat sink opening height from the second side is 4.6 mm, and the heat sink opening area is 79.4% of the maximum heat sink opening area.

[0122] Therefore, when using the shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention, the problem of airflow being interfered with by the shielding member can be minimized because the open area of ​​the heat sink is increased.

[0123] Specifically, it simulated Figure 13 Gas flow in the structure shown Figure 15B It is shown in Figure 15A A magnified view of the pressure vector of the gas flowing in region A, and Figure 15C This is a magnified view showing the pressure streamlines of the gas flowing in region A. Additionally, simulations were performed. Figure 16 Gas flow in the structure shown Figure 18B It is shown in Figure 18A A magnified view of the pressure vector of the gas flowing in region A, and Figure 18C It is shown in Figure 18A An enlarged view of the pressure streamlines of the gas flowing in region A.

[0124] exist Figure 15B In region A1 (where gas passes through the heat sink), the pressure vector distribution is from 1.493e + 005 Pa to 1.495e + 005 Pa; in region A2 (where gas passes through the shielding member), the pressure vector distribution is approximately 1.488e + 005 Pa; and in region A3 (where gas passes through the heat sink), the pressure vector distribution is approximately 1.490e + 005 Pa. Additionally, in... Figure 15CIn region A1 (where gas passes through the heat sink), the pressure streamline distribution is from 1.493e + 005 Pa to 1.495e + 005 Pa; in region A2 (where gas passes through the shielding member), the pressure streamline distribution is approximately 1.488e + 005 Pa; and in region A3 (where gas passes through the heat sink), the pressure streamline distribution is approximately 1.490e + 005 Pa.

[0125] In addition, Figure 18B In region A1 (where gas passes through the heat sink), the pressure vector distribution is from 1.493e + 005 Pa to 1.495e + 005 Pa; in region A2 (where gas passes through the shielding member), the pressure vector distribution is approximately 1.490e + 005 Pa; and in region A3 (where gas passes through the heat sink), the pressure vector distribution is approximately 1.490e + 005 Pa.

[0126] In addition, Figure 18C In region A1 (where gas passes through the heat sink), the pressure streamline distribution is from 1.493e + 005 Pa to 1.495e + 005 Pa; in region A2 (where gas passes through the shielding member), the pressure streamline distribution is approximately 1.490e + 005 Pa; and in region A3 (where gas passes through the heat sink), the pressure streamline distribution is approximately 1.490e + 005 Pa.

[0127] Therefore, when using the shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention, the gas passing through two adjacent thermoelectric modules can flow more smoothly.

[0128] According to embodiments of the present invention, a power generation device with high power generation performance can be obtained. In particular, according to embodiments of the present invention, a power generation device that is simple to assemble and has high power generation performance can be obtained by reducing the number of components used and the volume occupied.

[0129] Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, a power generation device with improved heat transfer efficiency to the thermoelectric device can be obtained. Additionally, according to embodiments of the present invention, the power generation capacity can be adjusted by regulating the number of power generation devices.

[0130] Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the area in contact between the second fluid and the heat sink of the thermoelectric module can be maximized, thereby maximizing the power generation efficiency.

[0131] Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and variations may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A power generation device, comprising: The conduit through which the first fluid passes; A first thermoelectric module and a second thermoelectric module are arranged on the first surface of the conduit and spaced apart from each other. A connector, which is disposed on the first surface of the conduit between the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module; A shielding member, the shielding member being disposed on the connector on the first surface of the conduit, and An insulating member is disposed between the first surface of the conduit and the lower surface of the shielding member. The shielding member includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface has a first height relative to the first surface of the conduit, and the second surface has a second height relative to the first surface of the conduit. The second height is greater than the first height.

2. The power generation equipment according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module includes: a thermoelectric device disposed on the first surface; and a heat sink disposed on the thermoelectric device; and The upper surface of the first surface is positioned at a height that is lower than or equal to the height of the lower surface of the heat sink.

3. The power generation equipment according to claim 2, wherein: A wire leading from at least one of the thermoelectric devices in the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module is connected to the connector; and The lower surface of the second side is positioned at a height higher than the height of the wire and the height of the connector.

4. The power generation equipment according to claim 3, wherein, The shielding member further includes a third surface, which is arranged between the first surface and the second surface, and the height of the third surface is higher than the height of the first surface but lower than the height of the second surface.

5. The power generation equipment according to claim 4, wherein: The third surface is positioned at a height higher than the height of the wire; and The second surface is positioned at a height higher than that of the connector.

6. The power generation equipment according to claim 5, wherein: The shielding component further includes: a first connecting surface, which connects the upper surface of the first surface and the upper surface of the third surface; and a second connecting surface, which connects the upper surface of the third surface and the upper surface of the second surface; and The first connecting surface is inclined at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° relative to the upper surface of the first surface.

7. The power generation equipment according to claim 6, wherein, The first surface of the shielding member is symmetrically arranged between the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module.

8. The power generation equipment according to claim 7, wherein, The area of ​​the third surface is greater than the area of ​​the second surface.

9. The power generation equipment according to claim 8, wherein, The shielding member includes a plurality of second surfaces that are identical to the second surface and spaced apart from each other.

10. The power generation equipment according to claim 9, wherein: The third surface is arranged between two spaced-apart second surfaces; and The second connecting surfaces are arranged symmetrically to connect the upper surface of the second surface and the upper surface of the third surface.

11. The power generation equipment according to claim 3, wherein, The insulating member is disposed on the first surface on the side surfaces of the wire and the connector.

12. The power generation equipment according to claim 11, wherein, The insulating member is not arranged on at least a portion of the space between the wire and the lower surface of the shielding member, or between the connector and the lower surface of the shielding member.

13. The power generation equipment according to claim 3, wherein, The upper surface of the second surface is arranged to have a maximum height from the lower surface of the heat sink, the maximum height being 0.25 times the height difference between the lower surface and the upper surface of the heat sink.

14. The power generation equipment according to claim 3, wherein, The temperature of the second fluid is different from that of the first fluid, and the second fluid sequentially passes through the heat sink of the first thermoelectric module, the upper surface of the shielding member, and the heat sink of the second thermoelectric module.

15. The power generation equipment according to claim 14, wherein, The flow direction of the first fluid is different from the flow direction of the second fluid.

16. The power generation equipment according to claim 15, wherein, The flow direction of the first fluid is perpendicular to the flow direction of the second fluid.

17. The power generation equipment according to claim 1, wherein: The catheter includes a first catheter and a second catheter adjacent to the first catheter; and The shielding member is arranged between the first thermoelectric module disposed on the first surface of the first conduit and the first thermoelectric module disposed on the first surface of the second conduit.

18. A power generation device, comprising: The conduit through which the first fluid passes; A first thermoelectric module and a second thermoelectric module are arranged on the first surface of the conduit and spaced apart from each other. A first connector is disposed on the first surface of the conduit between the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module; A first shielding member is disposed on the first connector on the first surface of the conduit; An insulating member is disposed between the first surface of the conduit and the lower surface of the first shielding member; A third thermoelectric module and a fourth thermoelectric module are arranged on the second surface of the conduit facing the first surface and spaced apart from each other; The second connector is disposed on the second surface of the conduit between the third thermoelectric module and the fourth thermoelectric module; as well as A second shielding member is disposed on the second surface of the conduit on the second connector. The first shielding member includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface has a first height relative to the first surface of the conduit, and the second surface has a second height relative to the first surface of the conduit. The second height is greater than the first height.

19. The power generation equipment according to claim 18, wherein: Each of the first through fourth thermoelectric modules includes: a thermoelectric device disposed on a corresponding surface of the conduit; and a heat sink disposed on the thermoelectric device; and The distance between the surface of the conduit and the first surface is less than or equal to the minimum distance between the surface of the conduit and the heat sink.

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