Patent ID: 8227682

Claim:
A thermoelectric generator for generating electricity from a temperature differential between a first fluid and a second fluid, the thermoelectric generator comprising: a plurality of thermoelectric modules, wherein: each of the thermoelectric modules comprises a first side and a second side; and each of the thermoelectric modules generates electricity when there is a difference in temperature between the first side and the second side; a first thermal module, wherein: the first thermal module comprises a first block including a first passage through the first fluid flows through the first block; and the first thermal module is configured to exchange heat with the first sides of at least two of the plurality of thermoelectric modules; and a plurality of second thermal modules, wherein: each of the plurality of second thermal modules comprises a respective second block including a respective second passage through which the second fluid flows through the respective second block; and a side of each of the second thermal modules is configured to exchange heat with exactly one of the thermoelectric modules through the second side of the respective thermoelectric module; at least two of the plurality of second thermal modules reside on one side of the first thermal module, both of their respective thermoelectric modules being in contact with one planar face of the first thermal module; the two second thermal modules that are on one side of the first thermal module are flexibly coupled to each other; and each of the second thermal modules accommodates all axis mechanical variance in its respective thermoelectric module.