Thermoelectric Module

Abstract

A thermoelectric module having an excellent durability is provide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a section view showing a schematic structure of a first thermoelectric module according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a thermoelectric module of an embodiment 1 according to the present invention that is viewed from a first support substrate, where the solid lines represent structural components formed on the thermoelectric element and on the first support substrate, and the dash lines represent structural components formed on the first support substrate;

FIG. 2B is a section view taken along lines A-A′ in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a thermoelectric module of a first modified example according to the embodiment 1 that is viewed from the above of the first support substrate;

FIG. 2D is a section view (1) taken along lines B-B′ in FIG. 2C;

FIG. 2E is a section view (2) taken along lines B-B′ in FIG. 2C;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric module of a second modified example according to the embodiment 1 that is viewed from the above of the first support substrate;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric module of a third modified example according to the embodiment 1 that is viewed from the above of the first support substrate;

FIG. 5 is a section view showing a structure of a thermoelectric module of a fourth modified example according to the embodiment 1;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a thermoelectric module of an embodiment 2 according to the present invention that is viewed from the above of a first support substrate;

FIG. 6B is a section view (1) taken along lines D-D′ in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C is a section view (2) taken along lines D-D′ in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a thermoelectric module of a first modified example according to the embodiment 2 that is viewed from the above of a first support substrate;

FIG. 7B is a section view (1) taken along lines E-E′ in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C is a section view (2) taken along lines E-E′ in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a thermoelectric module of a second modified example according to the embodiment 2 that is viewed from the above of a first support substrate;

FIG. 8B is a section view taken along lines F-F′ in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a thermoelectric module of a third modified example according to the embodiment 2 that is viewed from the above of a first support substrate;

FIG. 9B is a section view taken along lines G-G′ in FIG. 8A; and

FIG. 10 is a section view of a conventional thermoelectric module.

Claims

1. A thermoelectric module comprising: a first support substrate having a first inner surface, a first outer surface and a plurality of first connecting electrodes formed on the first inner surface;a second support substrate having a second inner surface opposed to the first inner surface, a second outer surface and a plurality of second connecting electrodes formed on the second inner surface;a plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements, which are provided alternately between the first inner surface and the second inner surface;a temperature-detecting element provided on the first inner surface;wherein each of the first connecting electrodes and the second connecting electrodes connects one of the P-type thermoelectric elements with neighboring one of the N-type thermoelectric elements to form a series connection.

2. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1 further comprising: a heat exchanger provided on the first outer surface or on the second outer surface, the heat exchanger having a channel through which a fluid flows;wherein the temperature-detecting element is provided on an outlet side from which the fluid outflows.

3. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1, wherein the first support substrate is a substrate of which temperature becomes low when electric current is applied thereto.

4. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1, wherein the first support substrate is a substrate of which temperature becomes high when electric current is applied thereto.

5. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements are regularly arrayed lengthwise and crosswise.

6. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-detecting element is provided between adjacent two of the first connecting electrodes.

7. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-detecting element is provided at a position surrounded by four of the first connecting electrodes.

8. The thermoelectric module according to claim 1, further comprising a wiring pattern connected to the temperature-detecting element on the first inner surface.

9. The thermoelectric module according to claim 8, wherein the temperature-detecting element and the wiring pattern are coated with a coating material having an insulating property and a wet resistance.

10. The thermoelectric module according to claim 8, further comprising: a sealing member formed in a periphery of the first support substrate and the second support substrate to form a sealed space for sealing the plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements between the first inner surface and the second inner surface.

11. The thermoelectric module according to claim 10, wherein the sealing member is made of two or more of sealing materials having different hardnesses.

12. The thermoelectric module according to claim 11, wherein the first and second support substrates have a square shape, the sealing materials formed so as to correspond to its two sides opposed to each other are equivalent and the sealing materials formed so as to correspond to its two sides contiguous to each other have different hardnesses.

13. The thermoelectric module according to claim 12, wherein the first and second support substrates have an rectangular shape, the sealing materials formed so as to correspond to long sides of the first and second support substrates have lower hardnesses than those of sealing materials formed so as to correspond to short sides thereof.

14. The thermoelectric module according to claim 10, wherein a dry gas is sealed in the sealed space.

15. The thermoelectric module according to claim 10, wherein the sealed space is depressurized.

16. The thermoelectric module according to claim 10, wherein the temperature-detecting element is provided in the sealed space.

17. A second thermoelectric module according to the present invention comprising: a first support substrate having a first inner surface, a first outer surface and a plurality of first connecting electrodes formed on the first inner surface;a second support substrate having a second inner surface opposed to the first inner surface, a second outer surface and a plurality of second connecting electrodes formed on the second inner surface;a plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements, which are provided alternately between the first inner surface and the second inner surface;a sealing member forming a sealed space between the first inner surface and the second inner surface, the sealed space including at least part of the plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements;wherein each of the first connecting electrodes and the second connecting electrodes connects one of the P-type thermoelectric elements with neighboring one of the N-type thermoelectric elements to form a series connection.

18. The thermoelectric module according to claim 17, further comprising a temperature-detecting element provided on the first inner surface in the sealed space.

19. The thermoelectric module according to claim 17, wherein all of the plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements are arrayed in the sealed space.

20. The thermoelectric module according to claim 17, wherein the sealing member is formed so as to be in contact with the P-type thermoelectric elements and the N-type thermoelectric elements that are located in an outermost side in the plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements.

21. The thermoelectric module according to claim 17, wherein the sealing member is formed so as to be in contact with the P-type thermoelectric elements and the N-type thermoelectric elements that are located in an outermost circumference in the plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements.

22. The thermoelectric module according to claim 17, wherein the sealing member is formed so as to be filled between the P-type thermoelectric elements contiguous to each other, between the N-type thermoelectric elements contiguous to each other, or between the P-type and N-type thermoelectric elements contiguous to each other.

23. The thermoelectric module according to claim 17, wherein the sealing member is formed so as to be filled between the P-type thermoelectric elements that are located in an outermost side and contiguous to each other, between the N-type thermoelectric elements that are located in an outermost side and contiguous to each other, or between the P-type and N-type thermoelectric elements that are located in an outermost side and contiguous to each other.

24. The thermoelectric module according to claim 17, wherein the sealing member is formed so as not to be in contact with and so as to be separate from the plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements.

25. The thermoelectric module according to claim 24, wherein the sealing member is formed on an outer side of the thermoelectric elements located in an outermost circumference.

26. The thermoelectric module according to claim 24, wherein inside the sealing member, a protection layer is formed so as to be in contact with the sealing member.

27. The thermoelectric module according to claim 17, wherein the sealing member includes two or more of sealing materials having different hardnesses.

28. The thermoelectric module according to claim 27, wherein the first and second support substrates have a square shape and the sealing member is formed so as to correspond to its two sides opposed to each other have an equivalent hardness and the sealing materials formed so as to correspond to its two sides contiguous to each other have different hardnesses.

29. The thermoelectric module according to claim 28, wherein the first and second support substrates have an rectangular shape and the sealing materials formed so as to correspond to long sides of the first and second support substrates have lower hardnesses than those of sealing materials formed so as to correspond to short sides thereof.

30. The thermoelectric module according to claim 17, wherein a dry gas is sealed in the sealed space.

31. The thermoelectric module according to claim 17, wherein the sealed space is depressurized.

32. The thermoelectric module according to claim 17, wherein the sealing member is made of a curing resin.