公开(公告)号：US06519947B1

公开(公告)日：2003-02-18

申请号：US09919246

申请日：2001-07-31

申请人： John C. Bass ,  Daniel T. Allen ,  Norbert B. Elsner

发明人： John C. Bass ,  Daniel T. Allen ,  Norbert B. Elsner

IPC分类号： F25B2102

CPC分类号： H01L35/30 ,  H01L35/32

摘要： A low-cost thermoelectric module utilizing a greatly reduced quantity of thermoelectric material as compared to similar prior art thermoelectric modules. An egg crate design containing thermoelectric elements is utilized in the present invention. However, the walls of the egg crate in the parts of the module separating the thermoelectric elements are made thick so that the total cross sectional area of the elements is less than 75 percent of the total module cross sectional area. The spaces above and below the elements are filled with a high heat and electric conducting material such as aluminum. This produces funnel-shaped conductors funneling heat and electric current into and out of each of the thermoelectric elements. The payoff to this approach is that the heat flux through the hot and cold module surfaces can be maintained while producing the same power output with about half the thermoelectric material or less. Avoiding any significant increase in heat flux through the module surface means avoiding increases in temperature drops normally encountered at the module surfaces.

摘要翻译： 与类似的现有技术的热电模块相比，一种低成本的热电模块利用大量减少的热电材料。 在本发明中使用含有热电元件的蛋箱设计。 然而，在分离热电元件的模块的部分中的蛋箱壁被制成较厚的部件，使得元件的总截面积小于总模块横截面面积的75％。 元件之上和之下的空间填充有高热导电材料，例如铝。 这产生漏斗形导体将热和电流漏入和流出每个热电元件。 这种方法的回报是通过热和冷模块表面的热通量可以被保持，同时产生具有大约一半的热电材料或更少的相同的功率输出。 避免通过模块表面的热通量的任何显着增加意味着避免模块表面通常遇到的温度下降的增加。

公开(公告)号：US06307142B1

公开(公告)日：2001-10-23

申请号：US09548532

申请日：2000-04-13

申请人： Daniel T. Allen ,  John C. Bass ,  Norbert B. Elsner

发明人： Daniel T. Allen ,  John C. Bass ,  Norbert B. Elsner

IPC分类号： H01L3530

CPC分类号： H01L35/30 ,  F28D15/0275 ,  H01L35/02

摘要： A combustion heat powered portable electronic device. At least one thermoelectric module is sandwiched between a hot block heated by a combustion heat source and a cold-side heat sink and provides electric power to a portable electronic device from the temperature difference. An electric circuit provides power for purposes of operating the portable electronic device either directly or indirectly by charging a rechargeable battery which in turn provides power to the electronic device. In a preferred embodiment the combustion heat source is a catalytic combustion unit. The hot block and/or cold side heat sink can be integrated into a single unit with the thermoelectric module. In a preferred embodiment the cold side heat sink is cooled by fins cooled by air driven by a forced air fan powered by the thermoelectric module.

摘要翻译： 燃烧热动力便携式电子装置。 至少一个热电模块被夹在由燃烧热源加热的热块与冷侧散热片之间，并从温度差向便携式电子设备供电。 电路为直接或间接地操作便携式电子设备的电力提供电力，该充电电池又向电子设备供电。 在优选实施例中，燃烧热源是催化燃烧单元。 热块和/或冷侧散热器可以与热电模块集成到单个单元中。 在优选实施例中，冷侧散热器由通过由热电模块供电的强制风扇驱动的空气冷却的翅片来冷却。

公开(公告)号：US20100229911A1

公开(公告)日：2010-09-16

申请号：US12590653

申请日：2009-11-12

申请人： Frederick A. Leavitt ,  Norbert B. Elsner ,  John C. Bass ,  John W. McCoy

发明人： Frederick A. Leavitt ,  Norbert B. Elsner ,  John C. Bass ,  John W. McCoy

IPC分类号： H01L35/20

CPC分类号： H01L35/32 ,  H01L35/16 ,  H01L35/34

摘要： A long life, low cost, high-temperature, high efficiency thermoelectric module. Preferred embodiments include a two-part (a high temperature part and a cold temperature part) egg-crate and segmented N legs and P legs, with the thermoelectric materials in the three segments chosen for their chemical compatibility or their figure of merit in the various temperature ranges between the hot side and the cold side of the module. The legs include metal meshes partially embedded in thermoelectric segments to help maintain electrical contacts notwithstanding substantial temperature variations. In preferred embodiments a two-part molded egg-crate holds in place and provides insulation and electrical connections for the thermoelectric N legs and P legs. The high temperature part of the egg-crate is comprised of a ceramic material capable of operation at temperatures in excess of 500° C. and the cold temperature part is comprised of a thermoplastic material having very low thermal conductivity.

摘要翻译： 寿命长，成本低，高温，高效率的热电模块。 优选实施例包括两部分（高温部分和冷温部分）蛋箱和分段的N腿和P腿，其中三个部分中的热电材料被选择用于它们的化学相容性或其各种品质因数 模块的热侧和冷端之间的温度范围。 腿部包括部分地嵌入热电段中的金属网，以帮助维持电接触，尽管有相当大的温度变化。 在优选实施例中，两部分模制蛋箱保持就位并为热电N腿和P腿提供绝缘和电连接。 蛋箱的高温部分由能够在超过500℃的温度下操作的陶瓷材料组成，并且冷温部分由具有非常低导热性的热塑性材料组成。

公开(公告)号：US07342170B2

公开(公告)日：2008-03-11

申请号：US10818130

申请日：2004-04-05

申请人： Saeid Ghamaty ,  Norbert B. Elsner ,  John C. Bass

发明人： Saeid Ghamaty ,  Norbert B. Elsner ,  John C. Bass

IPC分类号： H01L35/12

CPC分类号： H01L35/22 ,  H01L35/26 ,  H01L35/34

摘要： A super-lattice thermoelectric device. The device is comprised of p-legs and n-legs, each leg being comprised of a large number of very thin alternating layers of two materials with differing electron band gaps. The n-legs in the device are comprised of alternating layers of Si and SiC. The p-legs are comprised of alternating layers of B4C and B9C. In preferred embodiments the layers are about 100 angstroms thick. Thermoelectric modules made according to the present invention are useful for both cooling applications as well as electric power generation. This preferred embodiment is a thermoelectric 10×10 egg crate type module about 6 cm×6 cm×0.76 cm designed to produce 70 Watts with a temperature difference of 300 degrees C. with a module efficiency of about 30 percent. The module has 98 active thermoelectric legs, with each leg having more than 3 million super-lattice layers.

摘要翻译： 超晶格热电器件。 该装置由p腿和n腿组成，每个腿由大量具有不同电子带隙的两种材料的非常薄的交替层组成。 器件中的n脚由Si和SiC的交替层组成。 P腿由B 4 C和B 9 C的交替层组成。 在优选的实施方案中，这些层是约100埃厚。 根据本发明制造的热电模块对于冷却应用以及发电都是有用的。 该优选实施例是一种约6cm×6cm×0.76cm的热电10×10蛋箱型模块，其设计为产生70瓦，温度差为300摄氏度，模块效率约为30％。 该模块具有98个活动热电腿，每个支腿具有超过3百万个超格子层。

公开(公告)号：US07038234B2

公开(公告)日：2006-05-02

申请号：US10818028

申请日：2004-04-05

申请人： Saeid Ghamaty ,  Norbert B. Elsner ,  John C. Bass

发明人： Saeid Ghamaty ,  Norbert B. Elsner ,  John C. Bass

IPC分类号： H01L29/09 ,  H01L31/328 ,  H01L31/336 ,  H01L31/72 ,  H01L31/109

CPC分类号： H01L35/22 ,  H01L29/155 ,  H01L35/26 ,  H01L35/32 ,  H01L35/34 ,  Y10S257/93

摘要： A super-lattice thermoelectric device. The device includes p-legs and n-legs, each leg having a large number of alternating layers of two materials with differing electron band gaps. The n-legs in the device are comprised of alternating layers of silicon and silicon germanium. The p-legs includes alternating layers of B4C and B9C. In preferred embodiments the layers are about 100 angstroms thick. Applicants have fabricated and tested a first Si/SiGe (n-leg) and B4C/B9C (p-leg) quantum well thermocouple. Each leg was only 11 microns thick on a 5 micron Si substrate. Nevertheless, in actual tests the thermocouple operated with an amazing efficiency of 14 percent with a Th of 250 degrees C. Thermoelectric modules made according to the present invention are useful for both cooling applications as well as electric power generation. This preferred embodiment is a thermoelectric 10×10 egg crate type module about 6 cm×6 cm×0.76 cm designed to produce 70 Watts with a temperature difference of 300 degrees C with a module efficiency of about 30 percent.

摘要翻译： 超晶格热电器件。 该装置包括p腿和n腿，每个腿具有大量具有不同电子带隙的两种材料的交替层。 器件中的n脚由硅和硅锗的交替层组成。 P腿包括B 4 C和B 9 C的交替层。 在优选的实施方案中，这些层是约100埃厚。 申请人已经制造和测试了第一Si / SiGe（n-leg）和B 4 C / B 9 C（p-leg）量子阱热电偶。 在5微米Si衬底上，每条腿仅为11微米厚。 然而，在实际测试中，热电偶以250摄氏度的T 达到惊人的14％的效率运行。根据本发明制造的热电模块可用于两个冷却应用以及电力 代。 该优选实施例是大约6cm×6cm×0.76cm的热电10×10蛋箱型模块，设计成产生70瓦，温度差为300摄氏度，模块效率约为30％。

公开(公告)号：US5875098A

公开(公告)日：1999-02-23

申请号：US823233

申请日：1997-03-24

申请人： Frederick A. Leavitt ,  John C. Bass ,  Norbert B. Elsner

发明人： Frederick A. Leavitt ,  John C. Bass ,  Norbert B. Elsner

IPC分类号： H01L35/32 ,  H01L35/34 ,  H05K7/20

CPC分类号： H01L35/32 ,  H01L35/34 ,  Y10S257/93

摘要： A thermoelectric module having a gapless insulating eggcrate providing insulated spaces for a large number of p-type and n-type thermoelectric elements. The absence of gaps in the walls of the spaces virtually eliminates the possibility of interwall shorts between the elements. Electrical connections on both the hot and cold sides of the module electrically connect the elements in series or in parallel as desired. Usually, most or all of the elements will be connected in series. In a preferred embodiment, the gapless eggcrate is formed from a high temperature plastic. In a preferred embodiment, two lead wires are added before adding the hot and cold side electrical connections. In this embodiment, electrical connections on the hot and cold sides comprise a thin layer of molybdenum and a coating of aluminum over the molybdenum. The surfaces are ground down to expose the insulating eggcrate walls except where connections between the elements are desired. In this preferred embodiment a seal is then applied over both the hot and cold surfaces. The seal preferably is comprised of a very thin electrically insulating layer and over this electrically insulating layer a thin metal layer is provided.

摘要翻译： 一种具有无间隙绝缘蛋鸡的热电模块，为大量p型和n型热电元件提供绝缘空间。 在空间的墙壁上没有间隙实际上消除了元件之间的内部短路的可能性。 模块的热端和冷端两侧的电气连接按需要串联或并联电连接。 通常，大部分或全部元素将被串联连接。 在优选的实施方案中，无缝隙的卵切屑由高温塑料形成。 在优选实施例中，在添加热侧和冷侧电连接之前，添加两根引线。 在该实施例中，热侧和冷侧的电连接包括钼层的薄层和在钼上的铝涂层。 表面被磨碎以露出绝缘蛋壳壁，除了需要元件之间的连接。 在该优选实施例中，然后将密封件施加在热表面和冷表面上。 密封件优选地由非常薄的电绝缘层构成，并且在该电绝缘层上设置有薄金属层。

公开(公告)号：US4639542A

公开(公告)日：1987-01-27

申请号：US618991

申请日：1984-06-11

申请人： John C. Bass ,  Norbert B. Elsner

发明人： John C. Bass ,  Norbert B. Elsner

IPC分类号： H01L35/30 ,  H01L35/28

CPC分类号： H01L35/30 ,  F28D15/0275 ,  F23M2900/13003

摘要： A thermoelectric conversion system including a burner assembly and a number of thermoelectric conversion modules for converting thermal energy resulting from the operation of the burner assembly into electrical energy. The burner assembly includes a central combustion chamber and a number of longitudinally extending heat pipes each having an evaporator section and a condenser section with the evaporator sections positioned at spaced locations around the combustion chamber. The system also includes flow means for causing the hot gases provided by the combustion chamber to flow past the evaporator sections. The heat pipes and the conversion modules correspond in number, with each of the modules connected in heat transfer relationship with a corresponding heat pipe condenser section.

摘要翻译： 一种热电转换系统，其包括燃烧器组件和用于将由燃烧器组件的操作产生的热能转换为电能的多个热电转换模块。 燃烧器组件包括中央燃烧室和多个纵向延伸的热管，每个热管具有蒸发器部分和冷凝器部分，蒸发器部分位于围绕燃烧室的间隔位置处。 该系统还包括用于使由燃烧室提供的热气体流过蒸发器部分的流动装置。 热管和转换模块的数量相对应，每个模块与相应的热管冷凝器部分传热关系。

公开(公告)号：US06207887B1

公开(公告)日：2001-03-27

申请号：US09349428

申请日：1999-07-07

申请人： John C. Bass ,  Norbert B. Elsner

发明人： John C. Bass ,  Norbert B. Elsner

IPC分类号： H01L3534

CPC分类号： H01L35/32 ,  H01L35/34

摘要： A miniature thermoelectric module for generating electric power from low power heat sources in the range of a fraction of a Watt to a few Watts. The module comprises an array of thermoelectric elements, each element having a cross section of less than 0.001 square inch and a length of at least 0.25 inch. The elements are separated from each other with a polyimide insulator sheet in a checkerboard array. In a preferred embodiment, the modules are fabricated by hot pressing a stack of alternating plates of p and n doped thin plates all separated by thin sheets of a polyimide insulator material to produce a pressed stack of p and n doped layers. The stack is then sliced to produce layered plates which are then stacked with insulating polyimide layers positioned between the layered plates to produce the checkerboard array of p and n thermoelectric elements. Contacts are applied to electrically connect all of the elements. In a preferred embodiment, the contacts are applied by first sputtering a thin layer of gold, then welding gold tabs, and then blasting away the excess sputtered gold. In one preferred embodiment, the contacts connect all of the elements in series. In another preferred embodiment, the elements are connected in a series-parallel circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the module is utilized in a generation unit with a 1-Watt radioactive heat source to produce about 40 mW of electric power at 5.5 Volts which is converted to 12 Volts with a DC to DC converter.

摘要翻译： 一种微型热电模块，用于从几瓦特到几瓦的范围内的低功率热源产生电力。 该模块包括一组热电元件，每个元件具有小于0.001平方英寸的横截面和至少0.25英寸的长度。 这些元件用棋盘阵列中的聚酰亚胺绝缘片彼此分离。 在优选实施例中，通过热压由p和n掺杂的薄板的交替板堆叠而制成的模块，所有这些交替的板均由聚酰亚胺绝缘体材料的薄片隔开，以产生压制的p和n掺杂层。 然后将叠层切片以产生层压板，然后层叠板，其中层叠有位于层压板之间的绝缘聚酰亚胺层，以产生p和n热电元件的棋盘阵列。 应用触点以电连接所有元件。 在优选实施例中，通过首先溅射薄金层来施加触点，然后焊接金片，然后将多余的溅射金喷出。 在一个优选实施例中，触点将所有元件串联连接。 在另一优选实施例中，元件以串并联电路连接。 在优选实施例中，该模块用于具有1瓦放射性热源的发电单元中，以5.5伏特产生约40mW的电力，其用DC-DC转换器转换为12伏特。

公开(公告)号：US5856210A

公开(公告)日：1999-01-05

申请号：US823232

申请日：1997-03-24

申请人： Fredrick A Leavitt ,  John C. Bass ,  Norbert B. Elsner

发明人： Fredrick A Leavitt ,  John C. Bass ,  Norbert B. Elsner

IPC分类号： H01L35/32 ,  H01L35/34 ,  H01L21/00

CPC分类号： H01L35/34 ,  H01L35/32

摘要： A method for fabricating a thermoelectric module with thermoelectric elements installed in an gapless eggcrate. This gapless eggcrate provides insulated spaces for a large number of p-type and n-type thermoelectric elements. The absence of gaps in the walls of the spaces virtually eliminates the possibility of interwall shorts between the elements. Thermoelectric elements, both p-type and n-type, are inserted into the insulated spaces in the gapless eggcrate to provide the desired thermoelectric effects . Electrical connections are established on both the hot and cold sides of the module to connect the thermoelectric elements in series or parallel as desired. Normally, most or all of the elements will be connected in series. In a preferred embodiment the gapless eggcrate is formed from a high temperature plastic. P-type thermoelectric material is extruded and then sliced to form p-type thermoelectric elements, and n-type thermoelectric material is extruded and sliced to form n-type thermoelectric elements. The thermoelectric elements are loaded in the eggcrate in an arrangement to put them all in series when a metal spray is applied to the hot and cold sides. Two electrical leads are applied and electrical connections on both the hot and cold sides are provided using a metal thermal spray technique. A thin layer of molybdenum is sprayed on one of the surfaces and then a coating of aluminum is sprayed over the molybdenum. These steps are repeated for the other side. Then the surfaces are ground down to expose the insulating eggcrate walls except where connections between the elements are desired. A seal is then applied over both the hot and cold surfaces. The seal preferably is very thin electrically insulating layer and over this layer a layer of aluminum is provided.

摘要翻译： 一种用于制造具有安装在无缝隙的蛋鸡中的热电元件的热电模块的方法。 这种无缝隙的蛋鸡为大量的p型和n型热电元件提供绝缘空间。 在空间的墙壁上没有间隙实际上消除了元件之间的内部短路的可能性。 将p型和n型两种热电元件插入到无缝隙的蛋壳中的绝缘空间中，以提供所需的热电效应。 在模块的热侧和冷端两端都建立电气连接，以根据需要串联或并联连接热电元件。 通常，大部分或全部元素将被串联连接。 在优选的实施方式中，无间隙的卵切屑由高温塑料形成。 将P型热电材料挤出，然后切片以形成p型热电元件，并将n型热电材料挤出并切片以形成n型热电元件。 当将金属喷雾施加到热侧和冷侧时，热电元件以装配的方式装载在鸡蛋中以将它们全部串联。 使用两个电引线，并且使用金属热喷涂技术来提供热侧和冷侧的电连接。 在其中一个表面上喷涂薄层钼，然后在钼上喷涂一层铝。 对另一方重复这些步骤。 然后将表面磨平，以露出绝缘蛋壳壁，除非需要元件之间的连接。 然后将密封件施加在热表面和冷表面上。 密封件优选地是非常薄的电绝缘层，并且在该层上提供了一层铝。

公开(公告)号：US4611089A

公开(公告)日：1986-09-09

申请号：US619052

申请日：1984-06-11

申请人： Norbert B. Elsner ,  John C. Bass ,  Charles C. Morris

发明人： Norbert B. Elsner ,  John C. Bass ,  Charles C. Morris

IPC分类号： H01L35/30 ,  H01L35/32 ,  H02N11/00 ,  H01L35/02

CPC分类号： H01L35/30 ,  H01L35/32

摘要： A thermoelectric converter includes a heat source having a mating face and a heat sink also having a mating face. The converter also includes a thermoelectric conversion module positioned between these faces. The module includes an electrically insulative holder having a first side positioned adjacent the heat source and a second side disposed adjacent the heat sink. The holder includes spaced parallel first walls and spaced parallel second walls extending normal to the first wall so that these first and second walls define an array of compartments with each compartment containing a thermoelectric element. The module further includes a compressed resilient, thermally conductive pad positioned in each compartment.

摘要翻译： 热电转换器包括具有配合面的热源和也具有配合面的散热器。 转换器还包括位于这些面之间的热电转换模块。 模块包括电绝缘保持器，其具有邻近热源定位的第一侧和邻近散热器设置的第二侧。 保持器包括间隔开的平行的第一壁和垂直于第一壁延伸的间隔开的平行的第二壁，使得这些第一和第二壁限定隔室阵列，每个隔室包含热电元件。 模块还包括位于每个隔室中的压缩的弹性导热垫。