초록 ▼

In a thermoelectric device such as a thermoelectric manifold having a plurality of stages of thermoelectric modules, not only are distributions of heat at endothermic and exothermic surfaces equalized to increase the heat exchange efficiency and also to suppress thermal strains in the thermoelectric

In a thermoelectric device such as a thermoelectric manifold having a plurality of stages of thermoelectric modules, not only are distributions of heat at endothermic and exothermic surfaces equalized to increase the heat exchange efficiency and also to suppress thermal strains in the thermoelectric modules, but also heat transmission between the thermoelectric modules is facilitated even though bowing occurs. For this purpose, in the thermoelectric device utilizing the plural thermoelectric modules, a fluid serving as a heat transfer medium is intervened between the thermoelectric modules and is utilized to achieve a transmission of heat from the exothermic surface of the thermoelectric module on a cooling side to the endothermic surface of the thermoelectric module on a heating side.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A thermoelectric device having a cooling end side and a heating end side, said thermoelectric device comprising:a plurality of thermoelectric modules each having an endothermic surface capable of becoming cooled when an electric current is supplied and an exothermic surface capable of becoming he

1. A thermoelectric device having a cooling end side and a heating end side, said thermoelectric device comprising:a plurality of thermoelectric modules each having an endothermic surface capable of becoming cooled when an electric current is supplied and an exothermic surface capable of becoming heated when the electric current is supplied, said thermoelectric modules being juxtaposed with the endothermic surface of one of said thermoelectric modules being in face-to-face relation with the exothermic surface of an adjacent one of said thermoelectric modules; a cavity defining member for defining a heat transfer cavity between adjacent thermoelectric modules, the heat transfer cavity being capable of containing therein a heat transfer medium; and an O-ring member mounted on said cavity defining member and held in engagement with a peripheral edge portion of one of said thermoelectric modules.