THERMOELECTRIC ENERGY CONVERTER Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC H01L35/32 

FIELD: electrical engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to thermoelectric energy converters. Essence: the thermoelectric converter contains at least one thermoelectric cell with in-series connected film thermoelectric branches (1, 2), made of semiconductor materials and located between heat exchange layers (11, 12). Branches (1, 2) are electrically insulated from the surface of heat exchange layers (11, 12) by film dielectric coatings (13, 14). Space between heat exchange layers and thermoelectric branches is filled with insulator (15). Each thermoelectric branch (1, 2) has two generating sections (3 and 4, 6 and 7), each of which forms a thermal contact with one of opposed heat layers. Generating sections are interconnected by electrically conducting parts (5, 8), made in the form of flat links, and form contact p-n junctions with nearby generating sections of adjacent thermoelectric branches. In the area of contact of p-n junctions generating sections are overlapped. Length of each contact p-n junction along the direction of connection of thermoelectric branches exceeds thickness of any generating section. Contact surface of p-n junction between generating sections is turned to the heat exchange layer surface. Thickness of each generating section is selected within the range of 50 N·m to 5 microns. Between contact surfaces of generating sections in the area of contact p-n junction a transition film layer of metal or metal alloy is formed.

EFFECT: technical result is increase in energy conversion specific efficiency and reduction of dimensions and weight of the device.

19 cl, 3 dwg