Mounting device

Abstract

To provide a mounting device of a thermoelectric power generation module capable of inexpensively and stably thermally connecting the thermoelectric power generation module to heat sources of various shapes.SOLUTION: The attachment device 1 attaches the thermoelectric generation module 2 to the heat source 3. The attachment device 1 includes a heat dissipation member 15 that has flexibility and is thermally connected to the heat source 3, a heat transfer member 16 that supports the heat receiving side of the thermoelectric generation module 2 and thermally connects the heat dissipation member 15 and the thermoelectric generation module 2, and a holding member 17 that integrally holds the heat dissipation member 15, the heat transfer member 16, and the thermoelectric generation module 2 with respect to the heat source 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermoelectric power generation module mounting device for mounting a thermoelectric power generation module to a heat source. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, thermoelectric power generation modules have a structure in which an array of thermoelectric elements is sandwiched between ceramic flat plates on both sides. Heat is applied to one ceramic flat plate, and the other ceramic flat plate is cooled to prevent heat transfer, thereby utilizing the temperature difference to generate electricity through the Seebeck effect.

[0003] When utilizing exhaust heat to generate power in a thermoelectric power generation module, heat sources have a variety of shapes, including cylindrical ones such as pipes, and ones that are not flat, such as ones with concave and convex shapes, making it difficult to ensure an effective contact area for heat transfer with the flat thermoelectric power generation module.As a result, the thermoelectric power generation module is installed in a state where heat cannot be effectively transferred, for example, limited to installation locations, and the exhaust heat from the heat source cannot be effectively utilized, making it difficult to achieve efficient thermoelectric power generation.

[0004] For example, if a flat surface is provided on the piping that is the heat source in order to ensure a flat surface on the heat source side, there are conflicting conditions that make it difficult to address by changing the cross-sectional shape of the piping, such as concerns about affecting the exhaust gas inside the piping and the flow of steam.In addition, while it is possible to make the thermoelectric power generation module flexible so that it can fit the outer shape of the piping (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 and Non-Patent Document 1), this requires new materials and new technologies, and is not easy to implement in terms of cost and productivity. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2023 / 127590 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-91243 [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] [online], Osaka University, [Retrieved July 1, 2024], Internet<URL:https: / / resou.osaka-u.ac.jp / ja / research / 2018 / 20181214_1> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and has an object to provide a mounting device for a thermoelectric power generation module that can thermally connect a thermoelectric power generation module to heat sources of various shapes inexpensively and stably. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The thermoelectric power generation module mounting device of the present invention is a thermoelectric power generation module mounting device for mounting a thermoelectric power generation module to a heat source, and includes a flexible heat dissipation member that is thermally connected to the heat source, a heat transfer member that supports the heat receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module and thermally connects the heat dissipation member and the thermoelectric power generation module, and a holding member that holds the heat dissipation member, the heat transfer member, and the thermoelectric power generation module integrally to the heat source. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to thermally connect a thermoelectric power generation module to heat sources of various shapes inexpensively and stably. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a mounting device for a thermoelectric power generation module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an example of a thermoelectric power generation module, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing an example of a heat source. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a mounting device. The mounting device 1 is a mounting device for mounting a thermoelectric power generation module 2 to a heat source 3.

[0013] The thermoelectric power generation module 2 shown in FIG. 2( a) is configured by sandwiching a thermoelectric element 5 between a flat plate-shaped first plate 6 and another plate 7. The thermoelectric element 5 is a thermoelectric conversion element that converts thermal energy into electrical energy using the Seebeck effect and is configured as a flat plate made by joining two different metals or two different semiconductors. Wires 10 and 11 are electrically connected to the electrodes of the thermoelectric element 5. The first plate 6 and the other plate 7 are formed of an insulating material. In this embodiment, the first and other plate materials 6 and 7 are each made of, for example, a hard ceramic or the like that is basically indeformable, but they may also be deformable integrally with the thermoelectric element 5. The thermoelectric power generation module 2 is configured such that the first plate 6 is the heat receiving side and the other plate 7 is the heat dissipating side (cooling side). When the first plate 6 is heated and the other plate 7 is cooled, the thermoelectric element 5 generates electric power in response to the temperature difference. A member such as a metal plate for improving thermal conductivity may be placed on the outside of the first plate 6, opposite the thermoelectric elements 5, and thermally connected to it. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, the cooling side of the thermoelectric power generation module 2 is air-cooled to simplify the configuration and reduce the size, and a heat sink 13, which is a heat dissipator, is placed on the outside of the second plate 7 and thermally connected to it. The heat sink 13 may be formed integrally with the second plate 7.

[0014] 2(b), for example, a heat exhaust pipe from a factory, etc. In the illustrated example, the heat source 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape, but is not limited to this and may have any irregular shape.

[0015] 1 , the mounting device 1 is a shape-conforming mounting jig that absorbs the difference in shape between the thermoelectric power generation module 2 and the heat source 3 and effectively thermally connects the thermoelectric power generation module 2 to the heat source 3. The mounting device 1 includes a heat dissipation member 15 that is attached to the heat source 3 side, a heat transfer member 16 that supports the thermoelectric power generation module 2, and a holding member 17 that holds the heat dissipation member 15, the heat transfer member 16, and the thermoelectric power generation module 2 to the heat source 3.

[0016] The heat dissipation member 15 is a heat dissipation sheet made of a flexible material with high thermal conductivity. For example, the heat dissipation member 15 is a rubber-like material such as silicone. The heat dissipation member 15 is generally thicker than the heat transfer member 16. Preferably, the heat dissipation member 15 is made up of multiple members. In this embodiment, the heat dissipation member 15 includes a first heat dissipation member 20 and another heat dissipation member 21. The first heat dissipation member 20 is, for example, sheet-shaped and is configured to easily deform along the outer shape of the heat source 3 to form a contact surface that closely contacts the heat source 3 with no or almost no gaps. The other heat dissipation member 21 is interposed between the first heat dissipation member 20 and the heat transfer member 16 to thermally connect them. The other heat dissipation member 21 can be inserted or removed between the first heat dissipation member 20 and the heat transfer member 16 as needed, such as depending on the heat resistance limit temperature of the thermoelectric power generation module 2, thereby adjusting the amount of heat (temperature) transferred from the first heat dissipation member 20 to the heat transfer member 16. The number of other heat transfer members 16 is not limited to one, and multiple other heat transfer members 16 may be used. The one heat dissipation member 20 and the other heat dissipation member 21 may be made of the same material, or may be made of different materials or different grades of the same material.

[0017] Preferably, the heat dissipation member 15 is housed in a heat dissipation member holding member 23, and the shape of the heat dissipation member 15 is maintained in a state in which it is in close contact with the heat source 3. The heat dissipation member holding member 23 is a holder that has good heat conductivity and is made of, for example, metal, which is harder than the heat dissipation member 15. The heat dissipation member holding member 23 is formed, for example, in the shape of a cover, and is arranged to cover the heat dissipation member 15 that is in close contact with the heat source 3. In the example shown in the figure, the heat dissipation member 15 is held by the heat dissipation member holding member 23 in a state in which one heat dissipation member 20 surrounds the circumferential surface of the heat source 3, and another heat dissipation member 21 is overlapped on the one heat dissipation member 20 in a planar manner.

[0018] In this embodiment, the heat transfer member 16 is a flat heat transfer plate. The entire or substantially entire planar main surface of the heat transfer member 16 is placed on the heat dissipation member 15, which is in close contact with the heat dissipation member 15 (the other heat dissipation member 21 in this embodiment), and the entire or substantially entire planar main surface of the heat transfer member 16 is placed on the heat receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module 2, which is the first plate member 6 in this embodiment, with no or substantially no gap between them, thereby thermally connecting the heat dissipation member 15 and the thermoelectric power generation module 2. Preferably, the heat transfer member 16 has a higher material density than the heat dissipation member 15 (the first and second heat dissipation members 20 and 21) and is made of a hard material, such as a resin material. That is, the heat transfer member 16 has a higher heat transfer efficiency than the heat dissipation member 15. The heat transfer member 16 may be bendable or non-deformable. For example, the heat transfer member 16 has a hardness approximately 10 times that of the heat dissipation member 15.

[0019] The holding member 17 is a holding belt that holds and fixes the heat dissipation member 15, the heat transfer member 16, and the thermoelectric power generation module 2 together in a state where they are in close contact with each other and are integrally attached to the heat source 3. For example, the holding member 17 is wrapped around the heat dissipation member holding member 23 and the thermoelectric power generation module 2, thereby holding the heat dissipation member 15, the heat transfer member 16, and the thermoelectric power generation module 2 together in a state where they are in close contact with each other and are substantially free of gaps, and thus the holding member 17 has sufficient holding power even at high temperatures.

[0020] The mounting device 1 transfers heat from the heat source 3 to the entire or almost entire heat receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module 2 via the heat dissipation member 15 and the heat transfer member 16, and in response to the temperature difference caused by the heat dissipation side of the thermoelectric power generation module 2 being cooled by the heat sink 17, a potential difference is generated between the wirings 10 and 11 by the thermoelectric element 5, thereby generating thermoelectric power.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the flexible heat dissipation member 15 is thermally connected to the heat source 3, the heat transfer member 16 supports the heat receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module 2, thermally connecting the heat dissipation member 15 and the thermoelectric power generation module 2, and the heat dissipation member 15, the heat transfer member 16, and the thermoelectric power generation module 2 are integrally held to the heat source 3 by the holding member 17. Therefore, when there is a difference in shape between the thermoelectric power generation module 2 and the heat source 3, the mounting device 1 accommodates the difference in shape and minimizes gaps caused by the difference in shape, without requiring any special deformation of the thermoelectric power generation module 2 and the heat source 3 or making the thermoelectric power generation module 2 flexible to fit the outer shape of the heat source 3. This makes it possible to inexpensively and stably thermally connect the thermoelectric power generation module 2 to heat sources 3 of various shapes. Therefore, heat can be effectively transferred from the heat source 3 to the thermoelectric power generation module 2, enabling highly efficient thermoelectric power generation.

[0022] In particular, at least the heat receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module 2 is flat, and at least the portion of the heat transfer member 16 that supports the heat receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module 2 is planar, so that the heat transfer member 16 and the heat receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module 2 can be tightly attached without any gaps, and heat can be efficiently transferred to the heat receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module 2.

[0023] Furthermore, by forming the heat transfer member 16 from a material that is harder and / or has better heat transfer efficiency than the heat dissipation member 15, heat can be transferred more efficiently from the heat dissipation member 15 to the heat receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module 2.

[0024] Furthermore, by maintaining the shape of the heat dissipation member 15 attached to the heat source 3 by the heat dissipation member holding member 23, the flexible heat dissipation member 15 can be reliably maintained in close contact with the heat source 3.

[0025] Furthermore, by configuring the heat dissipation member 15 with one heat dissipation member 20 attached to the heat source 3 and another heat dissipation member 21 that thermally connects the one heat dissipation member 20 and the heat transfer member 16, when the heat resistance limit temperature of the thermoelectric power generation module 2 is lower than the temperature range of the heat source 3, the other heat dissipation member 21 can increase the overall volume of the heat dissipation member 15, lowering the temperature of the heat transferred to the thermoelectric power generation module 2 and protecting the thermoelectric power generation module 2. In other words, the temperature of the heat transferred from the heat source 3 to the thermoelectric power generation module 2 can be adjusted depending on whether the other heat dissipation member 21 is used or not and the amount used. [Industrial Applicability]

[0026] The present invention can be suitably used, for example, when attaching a thermoelectric power generation module to an exhaust heat pipe in a factory. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1 Mounting device 2 Thermoelectric power generation module 3 Heat source 15 Heat dissipation material 16 Heat transfer material 17 Retaining member 20. One heat dissipation member 21 Other heat dissipation materials 23 Heat dissipation member holding member

Claims

1. A thermoelectric power generation module mounting device for mounting a thermoelectric power generation module to a heat source, comprising: a heat dissipation member that is flexible and thermally connected to the heat source; a heat transfer member that supports a heat receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module and thermally connects the heat dissipation member and the thermoelectric power generation module; a holding member that holds the heat dissipation member, the heat transfer member, and the thermoelectric power generation module integrally with respect to the heat source; A mounting device for a thermoelectric power generation module, comprising:

2. At least the heat-receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module is flat, At least a portion of the heat transfer member that supports the heat receiving side of the thermoelectric power generation module is flat.

2. The thermoelectric power generation module mounting device according to claim 1.

3. The heat transfer member is made of a material harder than the heat dissipation member.

2. The thermoelectric power generation module mounting device according to claim 1.

4. The heat transfer member is made of a material that has better heat transfer efficiency than the heat dissipation member.

2. The thermoelectric power generation module mounting device according to claim 1.

5. A heat dissipation member holding member is provided to maintain the shape of the heat dissipation member attached to the heat source.

2. The thermoelectric power generation module mounting device according to claim 1.

6. The heat dissipation member includes one heat dissipation member attached to the heat source and another heat dissipation member that thermally connects the one heat dissipation member and the heat transfer member.

2. The thermoelectric power generation module mounting device according to claim 1.

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