Thermoelectric module, thermoelectric device, heat exchanger and egr loop

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermoelectric module ( 1 ), comprising at least one thermoelectric element ( 3 ) allowing the generation of an electric current from a temperature gradient applied between two of its active faces ( 4 a, 4 p ), a first so-called hot circuit ( 2 ) able to allow the flow of a first fluid in a heat exchange relationship with one of said active faces and a sheath ( 8 ) surrounding said thermoelectric elements ( 3 ) and said hot circuit ( 2 ) such that the sheath ( 8 ) is arranged to establish thermal contact between a so-called cold liquid with a temperature lower than that of the first fluid, and the other of said active faces and to hermetically separate said cold liquid on the one hand and said thermoelectric element(s) ( 3 ) and said hot circuit ( 2 ) on the other hand. The invention also relates to a thermoelectric device comprising at least one module as described and a heat exchanger comprising such a device.

1 . A thermoelectric module , comprising:
 at least one thermoelectric element for generating an electric current from a temperature gradient applied between two of its active faces   a first hot circuit for allowing the circulation of a first fluid in heat exchange relation with one of said active faces and a cladding surrounding said thermoelectric element or elements and said hot circuit, such that the cladding is arranged to establish a thermal contact between a cold liquid, of a temperature lower than that of the first fluid, and another of said active faces, and hermetically separate said cold liquid and said thermoelectric element or elements and said hot circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The thermoelectric module as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the thermoelectric element is of annular form such that it comprises an inner face, corresponding to the active face in heat exchange relation with the hot circuit, and an outer face, corresponding to the other of said active faces. 
     
     
         3 . The thermoelectric module as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the thermoelectric element is of flattened cross section. 
     
     
         4 . The thermoelectric module as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the cladding is electrically insulating. 
     
     
         5 . The thermoelectric module as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the thermoelectric module comprises separators electrically insulating two neighboring thermoelectric elements at one of their active faces. 
     
     
         6 . The thermoelectric module as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the cladding comprises said separators. 
     
     
         7 . The thermoelectric module as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the cladding is heat-shrinkable. 
     
     
         8 . A thermoelectric device comprising;
 a casing; and   at least one thermoelectric module as claimed in  claim 1 ,   said module being inserted into the casing and said casing comprising a first zone in which said cold liquid is intended to be in contact with said cladding.   
     
     
         9 . The thermoelectric device as claimed in  claim 8 , in which said casing defines at least partly, a second circuit in which said cold liquid is intended to circulate. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger, comprising a thermoelectric device as claimed in  claim 8 , said easing comprising a second zone which the hot circuit is configured to be directly in contact with the cold liquid. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the first zone and the second zone are positioned in series in the direction of circulation of the hot fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the first circuit is configured such that the first zone is situated upstream of the second zone in the direction of circulation of the hot fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the exchanger is configured such that the cold liquid is intended to run parallel through the first zone and the second zone. 
     
     
         14 . The heal exchanger as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the exchanger comprises a partition separating the first zone from the second zone such that the cold liquid circulating in the first zone  0  and the cold liquid circulating in the second zone are separated. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the first zone and the second zone are situated in series in the direction of circulation of the cold liquid. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  10 , in which the first zone represents 40% to 90% of a volume defined by the interior of the casing, the second zone representing the remaining portion of said volume. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the hot fluid comprises EGR gases. 
     
     
         18 . An EGR gas recirculation circuit of a motor vehicle comprising a thermoelectric device as claimed in  claim 8 . 
     
     
         19 . An EGR gas recirculation circuit of a motor vehicle comprising a heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 10 .