Thermoelectric generator structures

In conclusion one must note that the search for further qualitative improvement of thermoelectric material is not restricted to creation of FGM structures formed by the monotonous macroscopic material inhomogeneities. Of exceptional interest is creation of the microscopic inhomogeneities with quantum well formation, as well as the inhomogeneous structures allowing to combine on the microscopic level both thermoelectric and emission ways of thermoelectricity generation in a solid body. These possibilities were discussed in detail at the VII International School on Thermoelectricity and published in the Journal of Thermoelectricity [5,6]. 

Here we will discuss the fabrication of high performance thermoelectric generator based on polymer materials and their composites. The design of molecule structure, modification of component, and micro structure of polymer material will be thoroughly discussed on the effect of thermoelectric performance. 

In practical applications a module consists in essence, of a large number of thermocouples connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel to form the multicouple structure shown schematically in figure 4 This is the basic building block of a thermoelectric generator which is shown schematically in figure 5. Heat from one of a variety of sources is supplied to one side of the module, the hot side, and rejected at a lower temperature from the other side, the cold side. Semiconductors employed in theimoelectrics are by their nature poor conductors of heat. Consequently very efficient thermal insulation has been developed to ensure that as much as possible of the heat from the hot source passes through the thermoelements. 

These anodes are coupled to the structure via the external source of electrical power. This source can be in the form of batteries, thermoelectric generators, generators or photovoltaic cells. Most commonly, however, alternating current line voltage is converted to direct current by a rectifier. 

We ll search for a solution of equation of motion in a stationary potential thermoelectric field with distributed potential. Such a field is generated in a plane-parallel structure (Fedulov, 2003) with distributed potential (fig. 1). The potential thermoelectric field in this structure can be described by the following independent expressions ... 

The thermoelectric effect, in theory, is still another method for investigating the effects of impurities on the ice structure, and of determining experimental parameters, such as effective charge and mobility ratios. Since the potentials generated are of similar magnitude to electrode contact potentials, the interpretation is diflBcult. 

---