THERMOELECTRIC BATTERY Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC H01L35/28 

FIELD: thermoelectric instrumentation engineering; thermoelectric batteries.

SUBSTANCE: proposed thermoelectric battery has semiconductor thermal cells connected in series-to form electric circuit by means of switching plates. Electrical connection of circuit branches is made by contacting p branch, switching plate, and n branch. These p and n branches are brought in contact through their end surfaces with two respective opposing surfaces. Surface area of switching plates is slightly greater than cross-sectional area of p and n branches so that some of their ends are protruding beyond surface structure formed by thermoelectric battery branches. Odd-numbered switching plates protrude beyond one surface of structure and even-numbered ones, beyond other surface. Protruding parts of switching plates are covered with shielding layer made of insulating material of high thermal conductivity. Surface ratio of protruding parts of even- and odd-numbered switching plates is found from equation

where S₂, S₁, α₁, α₂, T₂, T₁, are surface areas, coefficients of heat transfer between surfaces and their surrounding media, and averaged temperatures of protruding ends of even- and odd-numbered switching plates, respectively; T_a is ambient temperature; ε is refrigerating factor for thermoelectric battery running as refrigerator or for that running as thermogenerator.

EFFECT: eliminated risk of in-service electric shock, facilitated heat transfer between switching plates and cooled part, as well as between the former and heat dump.

1 cl, 2 dwg