Patent EP0629627A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0160433A2
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Thermoelectric generator using variable geometry with support pedestals of materials different from the basic thermoelectric semiconductor elements
Assignee: Omnimax Energy Corp
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Filing: 1985-04-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A thermoelectric generator in which the effective figure of merit and/or the effective power coefficient is optimized by providing thermoelements made from semi-conductor materials supported on pedestals made from materials having good electrical and thermal conductivity properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Wallace Shakun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:01
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10N; H10N10/00; H10N10/80; H10N10/82; H10N10/81; H10N10/817; H10N10/85; H10N10/851
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A thermoelectric generator CHARACTERIZED BY two legs ot dissimilar thermoelements connected together at one of each of their respective ends, each of said thermoelements being supported throughout the majority of its length by a support pedestal, each of said support pedestals extending beyond the other end of each of said thermoelement legs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
A thermoelectric generator CHARACTERIZED BY two legs ot dissimilar thermoelements connected together at one of each of their respective ends, each of said thermoelements being supported throughout the majority of its length by a support pedestal, each of said support pedestals extending beyond the other end of each of said thermoelement legs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The thermoelectric generator of claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY each ot said support pedestals being connected to a corresponding support pedestal of a next adjoining- thermoelectric generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermoelectric generator of claim 1 CHARACTERIZED BY said thermoelements being selected from the group consisting of bismuth telluride, lead telluride, and silicon germanium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The thermoelectric generator of claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY said support pedestals being selected from the group consisting of aluminum and its alloys and copper and its alloys.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
The thermoelectric generator of claim 2, CHARACTERIZED BY the support and cross-sectional area of said support pedestals being selected by optimizing the effective figure of merit (Z eff ) of the thermoelectric generator in accordance with the following equation: wherein α n is the sum of the Seebeck coefficients of one series of legs of the thermoelectric generator and α p is the sum of the Seebeck coefficients of the other legs of the thermoelectric generator and R eff is the effective internal resistance of the system and K eff is the effective thermal conductance of the thermoelectric generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
The thermoelectric generator of claim 2, CHARACTERIZED BY the length and cross-sectional area of said support pedestals being selected by optimizing the effective power coefficient (ψ eff ) of the thermoelectric generator in accordance with the following equation: where α n is the sum of the Seebeck coefficients of one series of legs of the thermoelectric generator and α p is the sum of the Seebeck coefficients of the other legs of the thermoelectric generator and R eff is the effective internal resistance of the system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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