Patent DE-102010042603-A1 (DE)
Title: Thermoelectric generator device comprises a fluid-tight first housing, a fluid-tight second housing, which is arranged in first housing, a fluid-tight third housing, which is arranged in second housing, and thermoelectric module
Inventor: HAEFELE CHRISTIAN
IPC: H02N11/00
Filed: 2010-10-19
Abstract: The thermoelectric generator device comprises: a fluid-tight first housing (12); a fluid-tight second housing (22), which is arranged in the first housing; a fluid-tight third housing (46), which is arranged in the second housing; and a thermoelectric module, which is arranged between the second and third housings, where a first medium flow (66) is guided between the first and second housings, and a second medium flow (60) is guided into the third housing. The thermoelectric module stands with a first side in thermal contact with the second housing. The thermoelectric generator device comprises: a fluid-tight first housing (12); a fluid-tight second housing (22), which is arranged in the first housing; a fluid-tight third housing (46), which is arranged in the second housing; and a thermoelectric module, which is arranged between the second and third housings, where a first medium flow (66) is guided between the first and second housings and a second medium flow (60) is guided into the third housing. The thermoelectric module stands with a first side in thermal contact with the second housing and with a second side in thermal contact with the third housing. A side made of the first and second sides has a hot side, and an other side has a cold side. A main flow direction of the first medium flow is transversely oriented to the main flow direction of a second medium flow. The second and third housings comprise a flat wall region facing towards the second and third housings respectively. The thermoelectric module is: applied on the flat wall region; and positioned at the side lying opposite to the third housing, which is positioned between the thermoelectric modules lying opposite to the second housing. The thermoelectric modules form a spacer for positioning the third housing into the second housing. An inner space between the second and third housings is completely closed in a fluid-tight manner. Low pressure prevails in the inner space between the second and third housings relative to the inner space of the third housing and the inner space between the first and second housings. The thermoelectric module is: arranged at a heat transfer device; and slidably supported between the second and third housings, where the third housing is a housing of the heat transfer device. Parallel fluid-tightly separate channels for the second medium flow are formed into the third housing. The inner space between the second and third housings has an area, which has a height smaller than the thermoelectric module. Bellows are integrated in the first, second and/or third housings and fixed to a front wall including common wall of the first housing. The second housing and/or third housing is held: over the common wall at the first housing; and at the first housing by a soldered connection and a plug connection. An input and output terminals for the first and second medium flows are assigned to the first and third housings respectively. The input and output terminals are connected with the first housing and/or arranged at the first housing. Connections for the first and second medium flows are arranged at the side of the first housing lying transverse to each other. The second housing is arranged into the first housing such that it is flushable from the first medium flow. The medium flow of the first and second medium is a cooling flow and hot flow or vice versa. A heat-conducting film such as a graphite film is arranged between the thermoelectric module and the second and/or third housings. The thermoelectric module is positioned at a carrier on which electrical conductions and/or electrical connections are arranged. The carrier comprises a window opening at which the thermoelectric module is positioned for thermal contact with the second housing and the third housing. The thermoelectric module: protrudes over the carrier with the first side facing towards the second housing and the second side facing towards the third housing; and comprises a first sub-module and second sub-module, which are electrically connected by a first bridge, where the second sub-module is connected via a second bridge with the first sub-module of an adjacent thermoelectric module. The first and second bridges are: formed as thermal contact elements for the second housing or third housing; and arranged at different sides based on the carrier of thermoelectric modules. The first and second sub-modules sit at the spaced window openings of the carrier. An independent claim is included for a method for producing a thermoelectric generator device.