Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Thermoelectric – Electric power generator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-15
2001-09-11
Gorgos, Kathryn (Department: 1741)
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Thermoelectric
Electric power generator
C136S208000, C136S236100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288322
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to honeycomb-shaped electric elements and honeycomb-shaped thermoelectric elements having a plurality of through holes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, thermoelectric elements as one kind of electric elements have been rapidly developed for effective use of unused energy. The thermoelectric element has been desired to have greater electric power generation from the standpoint of increasing the energy conversion rate.
In order to enhance the electric powder generating rate, there is a method in which thermoelectric element units are connected to one another in series and in parallel to form a thermoelectric element composite composed of a plurality of the thermoelectric element units. Further, as described in JP-A 55-53,470 of NGK Insulators, Ltd., there is also available a method for obtaining a large amount of the electric power by a structure in which thermoelectric element units are formed from honeycomb-shaped structural bodies made of a p-type or n-type semiconductor material such that a part of each of the honeycomb-shaped structural bodies is designed as a high temperature fluid-passing zone, and the remainder as a low temperature fluid-passing zone to form a large temperature difference in the single thermoelectric element unit, and a plurality of the honeycomb-shaped structural bodies are connected to one another in series.
However, the method in which a plurality of the thermoelectric element units are connected to one another in series and in parallel, contact resistance occurs in joints between the adjacent thermoelectric element units preventing generation of sufficient electric power for the size of the entire thermoelectric element.
Further, the method described in JP 55-53,470 has the problems that the thermoelectric element becomes bulky due to the series connection, and that sufficient electric power generated cannot be generated relative to the size of the thermoelectric element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is aimed at the provision of an electric element that has a higher output density per unit volume and can give a high output even in a relatively small, size as well as the providing a thermoelectric element that has a high electric power generating rate per unit volume and can give a high output even in a relatively small size.
The present invention relates to a honeycomb-shaped electric element comprising a honeycomb-shaped structural body, the honeycomb-shaped structural body including crossing partition walls defining a number of through-holes arranged thereamong, the through-holes being arranged in at least three lines extending laterally substantially in the same direction, wherein partition wall portions of the through-holes in the at least three lines are made of at least an electrically conductive material and an insulating material such that the partition wall portions of the through-holes made of the electrically conductive material and those of the insulating material are so arranged that a current flow passage may be continuously formed in the same direction as the continuous lines extend. The current flow passage is preferably in a wavy form through the partition wall portions of the through-holes between a first line of the through-hole and a third line of the through-holes via a second line of the through-holes, the first, second and third lines being arranged in this order.
The present invention preferably relates to the honeycomb-shaped electric element, wherein the electric element comprises a plurality of electric element units provided inside the honeycomb-shaped structural body, the electric element units comprise the electrically conductive material and the insulating material, and a plurality of the electric element units are connected to one another in series and in parallel to form a circuit.
The present invention also relates to a honeycomb-shaped thermoelectric element comprising the above honeycomb-shaped electric element, in which the electrically conductive material comprises a p-type semiconductor material and an n-type semiconductor material, the thermoelectric element comprises a plurality of thermoelectric element units provided inside the honeycomb-shaped structural body, the thermoelectric element units comprise the p-type semiconductor material, the n-type semiconductor material and the insulating material, and a plurality of the thermoelectric element units are connected to one another in series and in parallel to form a circuit.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated upon reading the following description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, with the understanding that some modifications, variations and changes of the same could be easily made by the skilled person in the art to which the invention pertains.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4275259 (1981-06-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 196 46 905 A1 (1997-05-01), None
patent: 0 773 592 A2 (1997-05-01), None
patent: 2 033 659 A (1980-05-01), None
patent: 2 160 358 A (1985-12-01), None
patent: 55-53470 (1980-04-01), None
patent: WO 97/44993 (1997-11-01), None
Ito Shigenori
Kawasaki Shinji
Okumura Kiyoshi
Gorgos Kathryn
NGK Insulators Ltd.
Parkhurst & Wendel L.L.P
Parsons Thomas H
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