Thermoelectric conversion unit, thermoelectric conversion module, and exhaust-gas electricity generation unit

Abstract

A plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules each includes a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements arranged adjacent to each other, first electrodes joined to first ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connect the first ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements, second electrodes joined to opposite, second ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connect the second ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements, and a heat absorber provided on first surfaces of the second electrodes which are opposite to second surfaces of the second electrodes that are joined to the thermoelectric conversion elements, wherein the thermoelectric conversion modules are arranged along a flow of heat in a manner that the heat absorbers of the thermoelectric conversion modules form a staggered array.

1 . A thermoelectric conversion unit, comprising a plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules each including:
 a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements arranged adjacent to each other,   first electrodes joined to first ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connect the first ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements,   second electrodes joined to opposite, second ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connect the second ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements, and   a heat absorber provided on first surfaces of the second electrodes which are opposite to second surfaces of the second electrodes that are joined to the thermoelectric conversion elements,   wherein the thermoelectric conversion modules are arranged along a flow of heat in a manner that the heat absorbers of the thermoelectric conversion modules form a staggered array.   
     
     
         2 . The thermoelectric conversion unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules are provided such that the heat absorber of a first thermoelectric conversion module is greater in surface area than the heat absorber of a second thermoelectric conversion module located upstream thereof with respect to the flow of heat. 
     
     
         3 . The thermoelectric conversion unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules are provided such that the heat absorber of a first thermoelectric conversion module is different in tilt angle to the second electrodes than the heat absorber of a second thermoelectric conversion module located upstream thereof with respect to the flow of heat. 
     
     
         4 . The thermoelectric conversion unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat absorber consists of a plurality of heat-absorbing fins. 
     
     
         5 . The thermoelectric conversion unit according to  claim 4 , wherein in each of the thermoelectric conversion modules, the heat-absorbing fins are arranged in a staggered array. 
     
     
         6 . The thermoelectric conversion unit according to  claim 4 , wherein in each of the thermoelectric conversion modules, the plurality of heat-absorbing fins are provided such that a first heat-absorbing fin and a second heat-absorbing fin located downstream thereof with respect to the flow of heat are different in tilt angle to the second electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The thermoelectric conversion unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat absorber has a height increasing in the direction of the flow of heat. 
     
     
         8 . A thermoelectric conversion module, comprising:
 a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements arranged adjacent to each other,   first electrodes joined to first ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connect the first ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements,   second electrodes joined to opposite, second ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connect the second ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements, and   a plurality of heat-absorbing fins provided on first surfaces of the second electrodes which are opposite to second surfaces of the second electrodes that are joined to the thermoelectric conversion elements,   wherein the heat-absorbing fins are arranged in a staggered array.   
     
     
         9 . The thermoelectric conversion module according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of heat-absorbing fins are provided such that a first heat-absorbing fin and a second heat-absorbing fin located downstream thereof with respect to a flow of heat are different in tilt angle to the second electrode. 
     
     
         10 . The thermoelectric conversion module according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of heat-absorbing fins are provided such that a first heat-absorbing fin is greater in surface area than a second heat-absorbing fin located upstream thereof with respect to a flow of heat. 
     
     
         11 . An exhaust-gas electricity generation unit provided between an engine unit and a discharge unit, comprising:
 a connecting pipe connecting the engine unit to the discharge unit and defining an exhaust-gas flow passage in which exhaust gas expelled from the engine unit flows,   a plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules provided on an inner surface of the connecting pipe, along a flow of heat, near the engine unit and near the discharge unit, and   a flow-velocity increasing means for causing the exhaust gas in the connecting pipe to have an increased flow velocity near the discharge unit than near the engine unit,   wherein the thermoelectric conversion modules have heat absorbers forming a staggered array.   
     
     
         12 . The exhaust-gas electricity generation unit according to  claim 11 , wherein the connecting pipe has a flow passage area decreasing from the engine unit side toward the discharge unit side, thereby functioning as the flow-velocity increasing means. 
     
     
         13 . The exhaust-gas electricity generation unit according to  claim 11 , wherein the flow-velocity increasing means comprises at least one gas-flow guide for guiding the exhaust gas from near the center line of the connecting pipe toward the inner surface of the connecting pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The exhaust-gas electricity generation unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the gas-flow guide is provided to extend from near the upstream end of the exhaust-gas flow passage toward the thermoelectric conversion modules and has an opening in a region where the gas-flow guide traverses the connecting pipe. 
     
     
         15 . The exhaust-gas electricity generation unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the gas-flow guide makes the flow passage area of the exhaust-gas flow passage gradually narrower from the engine unit side toward the discharge unit side of the connecting pipe.