1810 results about "Thermoelectric conversion" patented technology

A thermoelectric conversion material and a thermoelectric conversion device having a novel structure of an increased figure of merit are provided by forming nano-wires of thermoelectric material in a smaller cross-sectional size. The thermoelectric conversion material comprises nano-wires obtained by introducing a thermoelectric material (semiconductor material) into columnar pores of a porous body. The porous body is formed by providing a structure in which columns of a column-forming material containing a first component (for example, aluminum) are distributed in a matrix containing a second component (for example, silicon or germanium or a mixture of them) being eutectic with the first component, and then removing the column-forming material from the structure. The average diameter of the nano-wires of the thermoelectric material is 0.5 nm or more and less than 15 nm, and the spacing of the nano-wires is 5 nm or more and less than 20 nm.

New thermoelectric materials and devices are disclosed for application to high efficiency thermoelectric power generation. New functional materials based on oxides, rare-earth-oxides, rare-earth-nitrides, rare-earth phosphides, copper-rare-earth oxides, silicon-rare-earth-oxides, germanium-rare-earth-oxides and bismuth rare-earth-oxides are disclosed. Addition of nitrogen and phosphorus are disclosed to optimize the oxide material properties for thermoelectric conversion efficiency. New devices based on bulk and multilayer thermoelectric materials are described. New devices based on bulk and multilayer thermoelectric materials using combinations of at least one of thermoelectric and pyroelectric and ferroelectric materials are described. Thermoelectric devices based on vertical pillar and planar architectures are disclosed. The advantage of the planar thermoelectric effect allows utility for large area applications and is scalable for large scale power generation plants.

A heating and cooling device includes a case having an air passage, a blower for sending air to the air passage, a thermoelectric conversion element and a controller. The thermoelectric conversion element is disposed in the case, and has a heat-absorbing part and a heat-emitting part, which are switched based on a current direction. The thermoelectric conversion element heats or cools air sent by the blower by switching the current direction. The controller stops electricity supplied to the thermoelectric conversion element, when air sent by the blower toward the thermoelectric conversion element is stopped while the thermoelectric conversion element is supplied with electricity.

A solar energy conversion package includes a photovoltaic (PV) cell, a thermionic or thermoelectric conversion unit and a thermal heating system. Solar radiation is concentrated by a lens or reflector and directed to the PV cell for electrical power conversion. A water circulation system maintains the PV cell at working temperatures. The thermionic or thermoelectric conversion cell is coupled between these cells in the thermal path to generate additional power. Additional efficiencies may be gained by partitioning the solar radiation with prisms or wavelength specific filters or reflective coatings into discrete spectrum segments optimized for each conversion unit for maximizing efficiency of electrical energy conversion and equipment design. Integrating all three of these conversion techniques produces a synergistic system that exceeds the performance conventional solar conversion systems.

A thermoelectric direct conversion device is foemed of a plurality of thermoelectric direct conversion semiconductor pairs each including a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor; a plurality of high-temperature electrodes and a plurality of low-temperature electrodes each electrically connecting the p-type semiconductor and the n-type semiconductor; a high-temperature insulating plate and a low-temperature insulating plate each thermally connected to the plurality of thermoelectric direct conversion semiconductor pairs via the plurality of high-temperature electrodes and the plurality of low-temperature electrodes, respectively; at least one diffusion barrier layer is disposed between the high- or low-temperature electrodes and the thermoelectric direct conversion semiconductor pairs, and the entire device is hermetically sealed up within an airtight case containing a vacuum or inert gas atmosphere, whereby diffusion between the electrodes and the semiconductor pairs is prevented to provide a thermoelectric conversion devise exhibiting excellent power generation performances for a long time period.

To provide a grain oriented ceramic capable of exerting excellent piezoelectric properties, a production method thereof, and a piezoelectric material, a dielectric material, a thermoelectric conversion element and an ion conducting element each using the grain oriented ceramic, there is provided a grain oriented ceramic comprising, as the main phase, an isotropic perovskite-type compound which is represented by formula (1): {Li_x(K_1−yNa_y)_1−x}(Nb_1−z−wTa_zSb_w)O₃ in which x, y, z and w are in respective composition ranges of 0≦x≦0.2, 0≦y≦1, 0≦z≦0.4, 0≦w≦0.2 and x+z+w>0. The main phase comprises a polycrystalline body containing from 0.0001 to 0.15 mol of any one or more additional element selected from metal elements, semimetal elements, transition metal elements, noble metal elements and alkaline earth metal elements belonging to Groups 2 to 15 of the Periodic Table, per mol of the compound represented by formula (1). A specific crystal plane of each crystal grain constituting said polycrystalline body is oriented.

According to one embodiment, a thermoelectric conversion module includes a thermoelectric conversion portion, a first external electrode, and a second external electrode. The thermoelectric conversion portion includes a single thermoelectric conversion portion element, or electrically connected thermoelectric conversion portion elements. The thermoelectric conversion portion element includes a high temperature electrode, low temperature electrodes, and an n-type and a p-type thermoelectric conversion semiconductor layer disposed between the high temperature electrode and the low temperature electrodes. The first and the second external electrode are electrically connected to one of the low temperature electrode and another one of the low temperature electrode respectively. The first external electrode and the second external electrode are disposed opposite each other with the thermoelectric conversion portion therebetween in such a manner that the centerlines of the first and second external electrodes are aligned substantially in line with each other.

To provide a thermoelectric conversion module enabling cost reduction by reducing time and work required for assembly, and so on. A thermoelectric conversion module 10 comprises a tubular element unit 21 having a plurality of ring-like thermoelectric elements 22 coaxially arranged with air as an insulator sandwiched inbetween, wherein the ring-like thermoelectric element 22 is covered approximately entirely with electrodes 23a, 23b at its outer circumference surface 22a and inner circumference surface 22b, respectively, and generates electricity by temperature difference between the outer circumference surface 22a and the inner circumference surface 22b, a lead wire 31 electrically connecting the electrode 23a covered on the outer circumference surface 22a of one ring-like thermoelectric element 22 among the plurality of ring-like thermoelectric elements 22 to the electrode 23b covered on the inner circumference surface 22b of another ring-like thermoelectric element 22 adjacent to this one ring-like thermoelectric element 22, and a doubled cylindrical support unit 41 consisting of a SUS tube 42 whose outer circumference surface 42a supports the tubular element unit 21 and a SUS tube 43 whose inner circumference surface 43b supports the tubular element unit 21.

The present invention provides a thermoelectric element comprising an electrically conductive substrate, a p-type thermoelectric material, and an n-type thermoelectric material; the p-type thermoelectric material being positioned on the substrate via an electrically conductive thermal buffer material, and the n-type thermoelectric material being positioned on the substrate via an electrically conductive thermal buffer material; wherein each thermoelectric material comprises a specific oxide and each electrically conductive thermal buffer material comprises an electrically conductive material having a thermal expansion coefficient between that of the thermoelectric material to which the thermal buffer material is bonded and that of the substrate. The invention also provides a thermoelectric module comprising a plurality of the thermoelectric elements. The thermoelectric element and the thermoelectric module have both a high thermoelectric conversion efficiency and excellent properties in terms of thermal stability, chemical durability, etc.

The present invention provides a method for producing a half Heuslar alloy including quench-solidifying a molten alloy at a cooling rate of 1×10² to 1×10³° C./sec to produce a Heuslar alloy represented by the formula: ABC (wherein A and B each is at least one member selected from transition metals such as Fe, Co, Ni, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Hf, Nb, Mo, Ta and W, and C is at least one member selected from Group 13 or 14 element such as Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge and Sn), and a high-performance thermoelectric power generating device using the thermoelectric semiconductor alloy.

The thermoelectric conversion efficiency of a thermoelectric conversion device is increased by increasing the figure of merit of a spin-Seebeck effect element.

An inverse spin-Hall effect material is provided to at least one end of a thermal spin-wave spin current generating material made of a magnetic dielectric material so that a thermal spin-wave spin current is converted to generate a voltage in the above described inverse spin-Hall effect material when there is a temperature gradient in the above described thermal spin-wave spin current generating material and a magnetic field is applied using a magnetic field applying means.

A thermoelectric conversion material is formed of a polycrystal structure of crystal grains composed of a silicon-rich phase, and an added element-rich phase in which at least one type of added element is deposited at the grain boundary thereof, the result of which is an extremely large Seebeck coefficient and low thermal conductivity, allowing the thermoelectric conversion rate to be raised dramatically, and affording a silicon-based thermoelectric conversion material composed chiefly of silicon, which is an abundant resource, and which causes extremely low environmental pollution.

The thermoelectric conversion module is provided, comprising a plurality of thermoelectric elements, and respective thermoelectric elements are electrically connected by metal caps attached to both ends of each thermoelectric element. In addition, the metal cap may be integrally formed with electrodes on both ends of each thermoelectric element.

A thermoelectric energy conversion unit includes: a thermoelectric conversion module having plural thermoelectric conversion elements disposed away from each other; a heat receiving member; a cooling member, the cooling member and the heat receiving member holding the thermoelectric conversion module; and a non-oxidizing gas charged in a space formed between the heat receiving member and the cooling member.

In an exhaust heat recovery system, electric power generation efficiency of a thermoelectric conversion element can be improved, and warming-up of a catalyst can be completed early, without using a complicated device. The exhaust heat recovery system according to the invention includes an exhaust pipe in which exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine flows; a catalyst which purifies the exhaust gas; a heat recovery portion which is fitted to the exhaust pipe, and which recovers heat contained in the exhaust gas; a thermoelectric conversion element which generates electric power using thermoelectric conversion; and a heat pipe which connects the heat recovery portion to the thermoelectric conversion element, and which transfers the heat recovered in the heat recovery portion to the thermoelectric conversion element. An operation starting temperature of the heat pipe is set so as to be higher than an activation temperature of the catalyst.

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric conversion system for receiving heat by radiation from a heat source and an efficiency improving method of the thermoelectric conversion system, the system including at least one thermoelectric conversion module 5 having at least a pair of thermoelectric elements 2, a heat receiving zone 6 placed not to contact a heat source 3 for receiving heat by radiation from the heat source 3 and a radiating zone 7 positioned on an opposite side to the heat receiving zone 6 and cooled by a coolant 4, generating electric power by a temperature difference between the heat receiving zone 6 and the radiating zone 7, a continuous or divided heat receiving surface 18 formed by one or a plurality of surfaces facing the heat source 3 of the heat receiving zone 6, and each of the heat receiving surface 18 is given a different quantity of heat from the heat source 3, the system comprising the heat receiving surface 18 has a plurality of different emissivities according to the quantity of heat received from the heat source 3.

A liquid crystal projector includes a light modulating device, a cooling device, a dehumidification device, and a housing. The light modulating device forms an optical image by modulating light flux emitted from a light source based on image information. The cooling device cools air to be supplied to the light modulating device. The dehumidification device dehumidifies and dries air to be supplied to the corresponding cooling device. The housing includes a cooling medium flow path for circulating air among the light modulating device, the cooling device, and the dehumidification device. The cooling device includes a thermoelectric conversion material interposed between a pair of heat transmission plates arranged to face each other.

An apparatus for improving the efficiency and usability of a solar energy collection panel is provided. In one embodiment, the collection panel comprises a plurality of layers. The first layer is a photovoltaic layer that converts the solar energy into electricity. That layer is coupled to a thermoelectric conversion layer that sinks heat from the photovoltaic layer and generates electricity based on the temperature difference between the top and bottom of the layer. A fluid heating layer is then coupled to and sinks heat from the thermoelectric layer to heat up a fluid, e.g. air or water. Each of these layers is stacked together and placed above an insulation layer that supports the layers and thermally isolates them from the surrounding environment. In another embodiment, a flexible coiled solar energy collection panel is provided. In still another embodiment, a modular rail system is provided for simple and customizable installation.

The present invention provides a thermoelectric element in which a thin film of p-type thermoelectric material and a thin film of n-type thermoelectric material, which are formed on an electrically insulating substrate, are electrically connected, in which the p-type thermoelectric material and the n-type thermoelectric material are selected from specific complex oxides with a positive Seebeck coefficient and specific complex oxides with a negative Seebeck coefficient, respectively. The present invention also provides a thermoelectric module using the thermoelectric element(s) and a thermoelectric conversion method. In the thermoelectric element of the present invention, since a p-type thermoelectric material and an n-type thermoelectric material are formed into a thin film on an electrically insulating substrate, the thermoelectric element of the invention can be formed on substrates having various shapes, thereby providing thermoelectric elements having various shapes.

The invention discloses a fuel cell whole vehicle thermal management system, which is characterized by comprising a power electronic cooling system, a fuel cell cooling system, a power cell thermal management system and an air conditioning system. One side of the thermoelectric conversion device and the power battery thermal management system form a power battery coolant circuit, and the other side is connected in series with the coolant circuit of the power electronic cooling system; The thermoelectric device is arranged in the air conditioning system and is in contact with the coolant flowing out of the air conditioning compressor of the air conditioning system and the coolant flowing through the cab evaporator or the battery refrigeration exchanger, respectively. The whole heat management system of the fuel cell vehicle integrates different heat management subsystems of the whole vehicle and realizes cooling of the power electronic system by using the semiconductor material throughheat conversion mode; the whole heat management system of the fuel cell vehicle integrates different heat management subsystems of the whole vehicle. In the same way, the regenerative effect of the air conditioning system is realized, the liquid impact phenomenon of the air conditioning compressor is avoided, and the energy efficiency ratio and the service life of the air conditioning system are improved.

A thermoelectric conversion module (10) comprises first and second electrode members (13, 14), and thermoelectric elements (11, 12) arranged between the electrode members (13, 14). The thermoelectric elements (11, 12) are made of a half-Heusler material and are electrically and mechanically connected to the first and second electrode members (13, 14) via bonding parts (17). The bonding parts (17) include a bonding material which contains at least one selected from Ag, Cu and Ni as a main component and at least one of active metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, V and Nb in a range from 1 to 10% by mass.