Thermoelectric power generation device performance testing device and use method

Abstract

The invention provides a thermoelectric power generation device performance test device and a use method, and the device comprises a vacuum cavity which is internally provided with a carrying platform for carrying at least one tested device; the refrigeration unit and the heating unit are connected with the vacuum cavity and can adjust the temperature difference between the two surfaces of the tested device; the pressure adjusting unit is connected with the vacuum cavity and is used for pre-tightening the tested device; and the output unit is electrically connected with the tested device. The invention provides a use method of a temperature difference power generation device performance test device, a vacuum cavity is detachably divided into an upper part and a lower part, a refrigeration unit is connected with the lower part cavity through a carrying platform, and a heating unit is connected with the upper part cavity through a pressure adjusting unit. When the upper cavity is lifted, the pressure adjusting unit and the heating unit can be driven to move synchronously so as to place a tested device or replace the carrying table. The device has the advantages that the testing efficiency of the thermoelectric power generation device can be improved, the accuracy of performance testing is guaranteed, operation and maintenance are convenient, and the testing efficiency and quality are high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of temperature difference power generation, and in particular relates to a performance testing device for a temperature difference power generation device and a use method thereof. Background Art

[0002] In the existing technology, thermoelectric power generation devices are mainly used in the aerospace field to make isotope thermoelectric power sources, and on the ground, there is a lot of "waste heat" that can be used, including waste water heat, waste fire heat, waste gas heat, etc. To increase the utilization of environmental waste heat, it is first required to accurately evaluate the thermoelectric performance of thermoelectric power generation devices in order to speed up the research progress and improve the thermoelectric performance of thermoelectric power generation devices.

[0003] At present, the testing technology for the thermoelectric performance of thermoelectric power generation devices is mainly for the testing of a single device, and the testing efficiency can no longer meet the needs of rapid development; the machine structure is complex, and the efficiency is low when replacing the carrier and other components due to changes in the test size, which affects the overall test progress; during the test, the cold and hot end temperatures or the device preload are unstable, resulting in large errors in the test results of the thermoelectric performance of the thermoelectric power generation device and poor performance comparison. There are technical problems such as the existing test equipment being difficult to meet the needs of efficient testing of multiple devices, the complex structure of the machine making it inconvenient to operate or maintain, and the cold and hot end temperatures or preload of the device being tested being unstable, which affects the test results. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a performance testing device for a temperature difference power generation device and a method for using the same, which is particularly suitable for improving the overall testing efficiency of multiple devices and ensuring the testing quality.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a performance testing device for a temperature difference power generation device, comprising a vacuum cavity, in which a carrier is arranged to carry at least one device under test; a refrigeration unit and a heating unit, both of which are connected to the vacuum cavity to adjust the temperature difference between the cold and hot surfaces of the device under test; and a pressure regulating unit, which is connected to the vacuum cavity to pre-tighten the device under test between the refrigeration unit and the heating unit.

[0006] Furthermore, the vacuum cavity includes an upper cavity and a lower cavity, the refrigeration unit is connected to the lower cavity through a carrier, the heating unit is connected to the upper cavity through a pressure regulating unit, and the upper cavity and the lower cavity are detachably connected.

[0007] Furthermore, the pressure regulating unit includes a connecting portion and a regulating cylinder movably connected to the connecting portion, the regulating cylinder is connected to the heating unit, and the connecting portion is connected to the vacuum chamber.

[0008] Furthermore, the pressure regulating unit also includes a heat insulating portion, and the regulating cylinder is connected to the heating unit via the heat insulating portion.

[0009] Furthermore, it also includes a heat preservation unit, and the heat insulation part and the heating unit are both connected to the heat preservation unit.

[0010] Furthermore, the heat insulating part and the heating unit are both arranged in the heat preservation unit and the heat preservation unit can be mounted on the heating unit for fixation.

[0011] Furthermore, the carrier is provided with a plurality of test areas, and the number of the pressure regulating units and the number of the heating units are both plural and correspond one to one with the test areas respectively.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a method for using a performance testing device for a temperature difference power generation device and a method for using the device, comprising the following steps:

[0013] By lifting the upper cavity, the pressure regulating unit and the heating unit can be driven to move synchronously to place the device under test or replace the carrier.

[0014] The advantages and positive effects of the present invention are: by adopting the above technical scheme, the test efficiency of the temperature difference power generation device can be improved and the accuracy of the performance test can be guaranteed; it has the advantages of convenient operation and maintenance, high test efficiency and quality, etc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the external structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] In the figure:

[0018] 1. Gas pipeline 2. Vacuum chamber 3. Refrigeration unit

[0019] 4. Carrier 5. Device under test 6. Heat spreader

[0020] 7. Heating element 8. Heat insulation part 9. Pressure plate

[0021] 10. Adjustment cylinder 11. Sealing ring 12. Pressure sensor

[0022] 13. Insulation unit 14. Connector 21. Upper cavity

[0023] 22. Lower cavity DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the drawings. The described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the invention, rather than all the embodiments.

[0025] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions.

[0026] The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "installation", "connection", "fixation" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, and may refer to direct connection, installation or fixation, or indirect connection, installation or fixation, and the present invention does not limit this.

[0027] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the structure or unit referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0028] like Figure 1 to Figure 2 As shown, a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a performance test device for a temperature difference power generation device of the present invention comprises a vacuum chamber 2, inside of which a carrier 4 is arranged to carry at least one device under test 5; a refrigeration unit 3 and a heating unit, both connected to the vacuum chamber 2 to adjust the temperature difference between the cold and hot surfaces of the device under test 5; a pressure regulating unit, connected to the vacuum chamber 2 to pre-tighten the device under test 5 between the refrigeration unit 3 and the heating unit; and an output unit, electrically connected to the device under test 5 to output the test result.

[0029] In this embodiment, the refrigeration unit 3 includes a cooling member connected to the carrier 4. The cooling member is arranged outside the vacuum chamber 2, which can not only ensure that the cold surface of the device under test 5 has a lower temperature during the test to ensure the cooling and heat dissipation effect, but also facilitate maintenance and replacement, which can better improve the maintenance efficiency and machine utilization rate, thereby improving the overall test efficiency of the thermoelectric power generation device. The main body of the test structure is in the vacuum chamber 2, which can avoid long-term high temperature causing serious oxidation of some metal devices, thereby reducing errors in the thermoelectric performance test of the thermoelectric power generation device; testing in a vacuum environment can also increase the heating window and ensure the heating effect of the hot surface, better meeting the diversified and high-quality and efficient testing requirements of the thermoelectric power generation device. The carrier 4 can be used for testing one or more devices under test 5 at the same time, which can improve the test efficiency and better meet the efficient development requirements of thermoelectric power generation technology. The heating unit includes a heat spreader 6 and a heating body 7. The heat spreader 6 can contact the hot surface of the device under test 5 and heat the hot surface through the heating body 7, so that a temperature difference is formed between the hot surface and the cold surface. In this embodiment, a heat spreader 6 and a heating body 7 are sequentially arranged above the device under test 5. The heating body 7 generates a large amount of heat through an external power supply. The heat spreader 6 evenly spreads the heat generated by the heating body 7 and smoothly conducts it to the hot end surface of the device under test 5. The heat spreader 6 is made of copper material with good thermal conductivity, and insulating sheets are arranged on the contact surfaces of the two ends of the heat spreader 6 with the device under test 5 and the heating body 7 to avoid short circuit. In this embodiment, the cooling member and the heat spreader 6 can be provided with temperature sensors to ensure the accuracy of the test. The temperature sensor installation method is a prior art and is not described separately in the present invention.

[0030] In this embodiment, the vacuum chamber 2 includes an upper chamber 21 and a lower chamber 22, and the carrier 4 is installed in the lower chamber 22. The refrigeration unit 3 is connected to the lower chamber 22 through the carrier 4; the heating unit is connected to the upper chamber 21 through the pressure regulating unit, and the upper chamber 21 and the lower chamber 22 are detachably connected. The carrier 4 can be used to place one or more thermoelectric power generation devices to be tested for thermoelectric performance, which refers to the device under test 5 in this embodiment. The carrier 4 is interconnected with the base of the vacuum chamber 2, that is, the carrier 4 and the lower chamber 22 form a whole. Different sizes of thermoelectric power generation devices can be adapted by replacing carriers 4 of different sizes or models. In this embodiment, the contact surfaces of the carrier 4 with the device under test 5 and the base of the lower chamber 22 have good smoothness and flatness, ensuring the test quality.

[0031] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a method for using a temperature difference power generation device performance testing device, comprising the following steps:

[0032] By lifting the upper cavity 21 , the pressure regulating unit and the heating unit can be driven to move synchronously to place the device under test 5 or replace the carrier 4 .

[0033] In this embodiment, the upper cavity 21, the heating unit, and the pressure regulating unit can be connected as a whole; the lower cavity 22, the carrier 4, and the refrigeration unit 3 can be connected as another whole. The performance test device of the temperature difference power generation device can be divided into two parts. Compared with the traditional method of replacing the device under test 5 or the carrier 4, which requires multiple disassembly, this embodiment can drive multiple parts to move by lifting the upper cavity 21, and can quickly replace the carrier 4 or replace the device under test 5 on the carrier 4. It is easy to use, can improve the overall test efficiency, and can also reduce the impact on the service life and test quality of the device due to multiple and repeated disassembly.

[0034] In this embodiment, the pressure regulating unit includes a connecting portion and an adjusting cylinder 10 movably connected to the connecting portion, the adjusting cylinder 10 is connected to the heating unit, and the connecting portion is connected to the vacuum chamber 2. In this embodiment, the connecting portion is connected to the upper cavity 21, the adjusting cylinder 10 is connected to the heat spreader 6, and the heating body 7 is arranged between the adjusting cylinder 10 and the heat spreader 6. A sealing ring 11 is arranged outside the connecting portion and forms a sealed space with the inside of the adjusting cylinder 10. The sealing ring 11 can be made of rubber material. In this embodiment, gas can be introduced into the sealed space to form a high-pressure environment. The gas introduction method can be, for example, a method in which the connecting portion is connected to the gas pipeline 1 and gas is filled into the adjusting cylinder 10, and the high-pressure gas is used to generate a downward force on the adjusting cylinder 10; in other embodiments, pressure regulation can also be achieved by introducing liquid and the like based on the general technical knowledge of those skilled in the art. The pressure regulating unit also includes a pressure equalizing plate 9 and a pressure sensor 12. The regulating cylinder 10 is connected to the heating unit through the pressure equalizing plate 9, that is, the regulating cylinder 10 is connected to the heat plate 6 through the pressure equalizing plate 9, and the pressure sensor 12 is arranged between the regulating cylinder 10 and the pressure equalizing plate 9. The pressure received can be evenly transmitted to the heating unit through the pressure equalizing plate 9 to avoid the problem of excessive or insufficient local pressure, ensure the accuracy of the test and the service life of each component; the pressure sensor 12 can display the pressure on the device under test 5 in real time, ensure that the pressure reaches the target requirement, and ensure that the pressure of multiple devices under test 5 can be kept consistent or adjusted in a variety of ways according to the required test conditions when testing. This embodiment can improve the pre-tightening effect of the device under test 5, improve the accuracy of performance testing, reduce test errors, ensure test quality and meet diversified test requirements.

[0035] In this embodiment, the pressure regulating unit also includes a heat insulating portion 8, and the regulating cylinder 10 is connected to the heating unit through the heat insulating portion 8. The pressure regulating unit also includes a connector 14, and the connector 14 is used to connect the regulating cylinder 10 and the heating unit to form a whole, and in this embodiment, the connector 14 is connected to the pressure equalizing plate 9 and the heat equalizing plate 6, the heat insulating portion 8 is arranged between the pressure equalizing plate 9 and the heating unit, and the heat insulating portion 8 is sleeved outside the connector 14, and the heat insulating portion 8 is arranged above the top of the heating body 7. The heat insulating portion 8 is prepared by heat insulating tiles, and the heat insulating portion 8 can withstand a certain pressure with good heat insulation performance. The force of the regulating cylinder 10 can be transmitted to the heating unit through the heat insulating portion 8 to pre-tighten the device under test 5. The heat insulating portion 8 can not only play the role of isolating the temperature, but also play the role of connection, support, and force transmission simultaneously. The connector 14 can simultaneously play the role of connection, support, and force transmission, ensuring that the structure is more stable and extending the service life of the heat insulating portion 8.

[0036] In this embodiment, a heat preservation unit 13 is also included, and the heat insulation part 8 and the heating unit are both connected to the heat preservation unit 13. The heat insulation part 8 and the heating unit are both arranged in the heat preservation unit 13, and the heat preservation unit 13 can be mounted on the heating unit for fixing. In this embodiment, the top area of ​​the heat spreader 6 is larger than the bottom area of ​​the heat insulation part 8 to mount the heat preservation unit 13, and a groove is provided at the bottom of the heat spreader 13 to be mounted above the heat spreader 6, and the heat spreader 6 can be accommodated in the groove. The bottom of the heat preservation unit 13 is flush with the bottom of the heat spreader 6, and the heat preservation unit 13 is penetrated by the installation holes, and the number of the installation holes is adapted to the number of the heat insulation part 8. The heat insulation part 8 is sleeved in the heat preservation unit 13 through the installation holes, and the installation holes are connected to the grooves. The heat preservation unit 13 can be made of basalt wool aerogel material, which has better heat preservation and heat insulation effects, can make the hot surface reach a higher temperature more easily, quickly realize the temperature difference between the cold and hot surfaces of the thermoelectric power generation device, and can realize a higher temperature difference requirement, and increase the test window to meet various test requirements. In this embodiment, the connecting part is connected to the gas pipeline 1 and gas is filled into the sealed space in the regulating cylinder 10. Under the action of the high-pressure gas, the regulating cylinder 10 generates a downward force and transmits it to the device under test 5 through the pressure sensor 12, the pressure equalizing plate 9, the insulation part 8, the heating body 7, and the heat equalizing plate 6 in sequence, thereby ensuring the pre-tightening effect of the device under test 5 and the accuracy of the thermoelectric performance test.

[0037] In this embodiment, the carrier 4 is provided with a plurality of test areas, and the number of pressure regulating units and heating units are both multiple and correspond to the test areas one by one. The carrier 4 can be provided with a plurality of fixed grooves, and the size and shape of the fixed grooves can be adapted to the device under test 5 to form a plurality of test areas. A plurality of heat spreaders 6 and a plurality of heating bodies 7 are adapted to the number of test areas and correspond to each other one by one, and each heating unit adopts an independent hot end power supply for independent control, so as to realize the heating test requirements of the same or different hot surfaces of the devices under test 5; the number of the heat insulation part 8, the pressure spreader 9, the pressure sensor 12, the regulating cylinder 10, the connecting part and the gas pipeline 1 arranged from bottom to top is also multiple and corresponds to the test areas one by one, so as to meet the various pressure condition requirements during the test. This embodiment can test a plurality of devices under test 5 at the same time, meet the requirements of the same or different test conditions, improve the test efficiency and facilitate the popularization and use.

[0038] The present invention can simultaneously test the thermoelectric performance of multiple thermoelectric power generation devices, and can realize rapid and batch testing of the thermoelectric performance of thermoelectric power generation devices, and can complete the thermoelectric performance testing of a large number of thermoelectric power generation devices in a short time;

[0039] Adopt independent hot-end power supply and cold-end water cooling design, the temperature difference between the cold and hot ends can be adjusted to improve the test flexibility, meet various test requirements, and have wide applicability. The design of independent hot-end power supply can meet the various requirements of the same or different temperature differences of multiple devices under test 5, and realize the thermoelectric performance test of different components under different temperature differences;

[0040] The overall structure realizes a constant pressure mode and adopts a large number of sensors to accurately control the test conditions, making it easy to carry out large-scale tests under the same test conditions. It is better suitable for evaluating the thermoelectric performance comparison of different temperature difference power generation devices and meeting the rapid development needs of temperature difference power generation technology.

[0041] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above, but the contents described are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and cannot be considered to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention. All equivalent changes and improvements made within the scope of the present invention should still fall within the scope of the patent coverage of the present invention.

Claims

1. A performance test device for a thermoelectric power generation device, characterized in that: include: A vacuum chamber, wherein a carrier is arranged inside the chamber to carry at least one device under test; A refrigeration unit and a heating unit are both connected to the vacuum chamber to adjust the temperature difference between the cold and hot surfaces of the device under test; A pressure regulating unit is connected to the vacuum chamber to pre-tighten the device under test between the refrigeration unit and the heating unit.

2. The performance testing device for a thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vacuum chamber comprises an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the refrigeration unit is connected to the lower chamber via the carrier, the heating unit is connected to the upper chamber via the pressure regulating unit, and the upper chamber and the lower chamber are detachably connected.

3. The performance testing device for a thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure regulating unit comprises a connecting portion and a regulating cylinder movably connected to the connecting portion, the regulating cylinder is connected to the heating unit, and the connecting portion is connected to the vacuum chamber.

4. The performance testing device for a thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The pressure regulating unit further comprises a heat insulating portion, and the regulating cylinder is connected to the heating unit via the heat insulating portion.

5. The performance testing device for a thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 4, characterized in that: It also includes a heat preservation unit, and the heat insulation part and the heating unit are both connected to the heat preservation unit.

6. The performance testing device for a thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The heat insulating part and the heating unit are both arranged in the heat preservation unit, and the heat preservation unit can be laid on the heating unit for fixation.

7. The performance testing device for a thermoelectric power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The carrier is provided with a plurality of test areas, and the number of the pressure regulating units and the heating units are both plural and correspond to the test areas one by one.

8. A performance test device for a thermoelectric power generation device and a method of using the same, comprising the performance test device for a thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The usage steps include: By lifting the upper cavity, the pressure regulating unit and the heating unit can be driven to move synchronously to place the device under test or replace the carrier.

Images