Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Corporation

Hiromasa Tamaki

Tsutomu Kanno

Akihiro Sakai

Kohei Takahashi

Yuka Yamada

Hideo Kusada

Hiroki Sato

Yuriko Kaneko

Hyunjeong Nam

Miho Uehara

Atsushi Ono

Reiko Hagawa

Masashige Kawabe

Takeshi Kawabe

Fuyuki Ando

A thermoelectric conversion unit includes first fluid flow path sections facing each other; a second fluid flow path section between the first fluid flow path sections; a first thermoelectric module between the second fluid flow path section and one of the first fluid flow path sections; a second thermoelectric module between the second fluid flow path section and the other of the first fluid flow path sections; and heat transfer plates in the second fluid flow path section. The heat transfer plates face each other along a direction from the first thermoelectric module toward the second thermoelectric module. At least one of the heat transfer plates includes an opening, and a baffle projecting from a peripheral edge of the opening and being configured to baffle a second fluid passing through the opening to flow in a direction toward the first thermoelectric module or the second thermoelectric module.

Thermoelectric conversion unit

A thermoelectric conversion material according to the present disclosure includes Ge, Te, and Sb. The thermoelectric conversion material includes a first region and a second region. The content of Sb in the first region in terms of number density of atoms is higher than the content of Sb in the second region in terms of number density of atoms. The first region includes a dispersed phase.

Thermoelectric conversion material, thermoelectric conversion element, thermoelectric conversion module, and method for producing the thermoelectric conversion material

A thermoelectric power generation system includes a first flow path for a first fluid, a second flow path for a second fluid, a temperature of the second fluid being lower than a temperature of the first fluid, a thermoelectric module between the first flow path and the second flow path, and a controller configured to switch between a power generation mode and a heating mode. In the power generation mode, the thermoelectric module is caused to generate electric power, based on a difference between the temperature of the first fluid and the temperature of the second fluid. In the heating mode, a first surface of the thermoelectric module is heated using a Peltier effect caused by supplying electric power to the thermoelectric module. A distance between the first surface and the first flow path is shorter than a distance between the first surface and the second flow path.

Thermoelectric power generation system and control method therefor

A thermoelectric conversion material is a polycrystalline material composed of a plurality of crystal grains and has a composition represented by formula (I): MgSbBiA. In the formula (I), A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Se and Te, the value of m is greater than or equal to 0.01 and less than or equal to 0.5, the value of a is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 1.0, and the value of c is greater than or equal to 0.001 and less than or equal to 0.06. The thermoelectric conversion material has an Mg-rich region.

Thermoelectric conversion material and thermoelectric conversion device using same

A thermoelectric conversion unit includes a pair of low-temperature fluid flow path sections arranged to face each other, a high-temperature fluid flow path section arranged between the pair of low-temperature fluid flow path sections, a pair of thermoelectric modules each arranged between the high-temperature fluid flow path section and one of the pair of low-temperature fluid flow path sections in a one-to-one relation, and a rod-shaped convex fin and concave fin both arranged in the high-temperature fluid flow path section. The concave fin includes a recess fitted to the convex fin. An outer peripheral surface of the convex fin and an inner peripheral surface of the recess of the concave fin are in contact with each other, and a gap is formed between a tip of the convex fin and a bottom of the recess of the concave fin.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes a P-type thermoelectric conversion layer, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a first joining layer, and a second joining layer. The P-type thermoelectric conversion layer includes a thermoelectric conversion material containing Mg and at least one selected from the group consisting of Sb and Bi. The first metal layer and the second metal layer each include Cu or a Cu alloy. The first joining layer and the second joining layer each include Al or an Al alloy containing Mg.

Thermoelectric transducer, thermoelectric module, binder and method for manufacturing thermoelectric transducer

The present disclosure provides a thermoelectric conversion material having a composition represented by a chemical formula of LiMgSi. In this thermoelectric conversion material, either requirement (i) in which 0≤a≤0.0001 and 0.0001≤b≤0.25-or requirement (ii) in which 0.0001≤a≤0.25 and 0≤b≤0.25-is satisfied. The thermoelectric conversion material has an LiAlSitype crystalline structure.

Thermoelectric conversion technique

The thermoelectric conversion element according to the present disclosure comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a first intermediate layer, a second intermediate layer, and a thermoelectric conversion layer. The first intermediate layer is provided between the thermoelectric conversion layer and the first electrode. The first intermediate layer is in contact with the thermoelectric conversion layer. The first electrode is in contact with the first intermediate layer. The second intermediate layer is provided between the thermoelectric conversion layer and the second electrode. The second intermediate layer is in contact with the thermoelectric conversion layer. The second electrode is in contact with the second intermediate layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are composed of a CuZn alloy. The thermoelectric conversion layer is composed of a thermoelectric conversion material containing Mg. The thermoelectric conversion material contains at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Sb and Bi. The thermoelectric conversion material contains at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Se and Te. The thermoelectric conversion material has a LaO-type crystalline structure. A composition of the first intermediate layer is different from both a composition of the first electrode and a composition of the thermoelectric conversion layer. A composition of the second intermediate layer is different from both a composition of the second electrode and a composition of the thermoelectric conversion layer.

Thermoelectric conversion element and thermoelectric conversion module

The present disclosure provides a thermoelectric conversion material having a composition represented by a chemical formula of BaSrCaKMgBiSb. In the chemical formula, the following relationships are satisfied: 0.002&#x2264;a&#x2264;0.1, 0&#x2264;b, 0&#x2264;c, a+b+c&#x2264;1, and 0&#x2264;d&#x2264;2. In addition, the thermoelectric conversion material has a LaO-type crystal structure.

A thermoelectric conversion material has a composition represented by the chemical formula LiBiSi, in which the range of values a and b is: 0&#x2264;a&#x2264;0.0001, and &#x2212;a+0.0003&#x2264;b&#x2264;0.023; 0.0001&#x2264;a&#x3c;0.0003, and &#x2212;a+0.0003&#x2264;b&#x2264;exp[&#x2212;0.046&#xd7;(ln(a))&#x2212;1.03&#xd7;ln(a)&#x2212;9.51]; or 0.0003&#x2264;a&#x2264;0.085, and 0&#x3c;b&#x2264;exp[&#x2212;0.046&#xd7;(ln(a))&#x2212;1.03&#xd7;ln(a)&#x2212;9.51], and in which the thermoelectric conversion material has a BiF-type crystal structure and has a p-type polarity.

Thermoelectric conversion material and method of obtaining electrical power using thermoelectric conversion material

A thermoelectric conversion material has a composition represented by the chemical formula LiBiGe, in which the range of values a and b is: 0&#x2264;a&#x2264;0.0003, and &#x2212;a+0.0003&#x2264;b&#x2264;0.108; 0.0003&#x2264;a&#x2264;0.003, and 0&#x2264;b&#x2264;0.108; or 0.003&#x2264;a&#x2264;0.085, and 0&#x2264;b&#x2264;exp[&#x2212;0.157&#xd7;(ln(a))&#x2212;2.22&#xd7;ln(a)&#x2212;9.81], and in which the thermoelectric conversion material has a BiF-type crystal structure and has a p-type polarity.

A thermoelectric conversion material has a composition represented by the chemical formula LiBiSn, in which the range of values a and b is: 0&#x2264;a&#x3c;0.0003, and &#x2212;a+0.0003&#x2264;b&#x2264;0.016; or 0.0003&#x2264;a&#x2264;0.085, and 0&#x3c;b&#x2264;exp[&#x2212;0.079&#xd7;(ln(a))&#x2212;1.43&#xd7;ln(a)&#x2212;10.5], and in which the thermoelectric conversion material has a BiF-type crystal structure and has a p-type polarity.

A thermoelectric generator system according to the present disclosure includes first and second thermoelectric generator units, each including tubular thermoelectric generators. Each of the generators has a flow path defined by its inner peripheral surface, and generates electromotive force in an axial direction thereof based on a temperature difference between its inner and outer peripheral surfaces. Each unit further includes: a container housing the generators inside; and electrically conductive members providing electrical interconnection for the generators. The container has fluid inlet and outlet ports through which a fluid flows inside, and openings into which the generators are inserted. A buffer vessel is arranged between the first and second units, and has a first opening communicating with the flow paths of the generators in the first unit and a second opening communicating with the flow paths of the generators in the second unit.

Thermoelectric generator system

The present disclosure provides a thermoelectric conversion module that enables continued use of a thermoelectric generation system even when a part of a plurality of the thermoelectric conversion modules fails by being exposed to a higher temperature. The thermoelectric conversion module according to the present disclosure includes a substrate, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion element pairs electrically connected in series on the substrate, a pair of external terminals that carries out one of inputting and outputting of electric power, and a low melting point conductor. The low melting point conductor has a melting point that is substantially equal to a heat-resistant temperature of a p-type thermoelectric conversion element or an n-type thermoelectric conversion element. One of the pair of external terminals has a first connecting part connecting with the p-type thermoelectric conversion element positioned at one end of the plurality of thermoelectric conversion element pairs, whereas the other of the pair of external terminals has a second connecting part connecting with the n-type thermoelectric conversion element positioned at the other end of the plurality of thermoelectric conversion element pairs. The first and second connecting parts and the low melting point conductor are positioned in an inner region of the substrate. At least a part of the low melting point conductor is positioned between the pair of external terminals and is electrically insulated from at least one of the pair of external terminals.

Thermoelectric conversion module

The present invention provides a thermoelectric conversion material represented by the following chemical formula (I):BaCuGe&#x2003;&#x2003;(I) The present invention provides a p-type Ba&#x2014;Cu&#x2014;Ge clathrate thermoelectric conversion material having high thermoelectric conversion performance index.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Hiromasa Tamaki