Patent ID: 7587902

Claim:
A thermoelectric system comprising: a plurality of thermoelectric modules; and a plurality of first heat transfer devices and a plurality of second heat transfer devices, at least some of the first heat transfer devices sandwiched between at least two thermoelectric modules, and at least some of the second heat transfer devices sandwiched between at least two thermoelectric modules, so as to form at least one stack of thermoelectric modules with alternating first and second heat transfer devices, wherein at least some of the first heat transfer devices project away from the at least one stack of thermoelectric modules in a first direction and at least some of the second heat transfer devices project away from the at least one stack of thermoelectric modules in a second direction different from the first direction, wherein at least some of the first heat transfer devices or the second heat transfer devices are arranged to provide thermal isolation in the direction of a working medium movement, and wherein at least some of the thermoelectric modules are sized to provide high power density operation.