Thermoelectric generator, in particular for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A thermoelectric generator for a motor vehicle may include a housing. The housing may define a housing interior space. An outer thermal insulation may be arranged in the housing interior space. The outer thermal insulation may at least partially envelope an insulation interior space. A plurality of first stack discs and a plurality of second stack discs may be alternately stacked along a stack direction within the insulation interior space. The alternately stacked plurality of first stack discs and second stack discs may form a plurality of stack disc pairs. Each of the plurality of stack disc pairs may include a first stack disc and a second stack disc. The first stack disc and the second stack disc may define a gas flow path. At least one tube body may be positioned within at least one intermediate space defined between at least a first stack disc pair of the plurality of stack disc pairs and a second stack disc pair of the plurality of stack disc pairs adjacent to the first stack disc pair in the stack direction. The at least one tube body may define a coolant flow path. The at least one first stack disc pair may be in fluid communication with the at least one second stack disc pair via at least one connecting gas flow path. A thermoelectric module having at least one thermoelectrically active element may be disposed within the at least one intermediate space between the gas flow path and the coolant flow path. The thermoelectric module may include a hot side in thermal contact with the gas flow path and a cold side in thermal contact with the coolant flow path. An inner thermal insulation having at least one thermal insulation element may be disposed within the insulation interior space. The inner thermal insulation may be constructed and arranged to thermally insulate the gas flow path relative to the coolant flow path.